Cloud Computing Infrastructure

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Questions and Answers

What is a major driver of cloud adoption?

The ability to add or remove resources as needed (correct)

The requirement for slow provisioning processes

The need for manual server procurement

The necessity for redundant systems

What is the concept that contrasts with manual server procurement and provisioning processes?

Infrastructure as code (correct)

Hardware as a service

Platform as a service

Software as a service

Why is disaster recovery easier to implement in the cloud?

Because redundant systems can be run in separate physical locations (correct)

Because redundant systems cannot be run in separate physical locations

Because cloud providers have a limited global presence

Because cloud providers have a local presence

What is emphasized by the DevOps approach to system administration?

Agility and repeatability Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of cloud providers' global presence?

Businesses can release services in multiple geographic areas Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of cloud computing that allows for optimization of operating costs?

The ability to add or remove resources as needed Signup and view all the answers

What is a benefit of built-in autoscaling features available on some cloud platforms?

Streamlining the provisioning process Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of cloud computing?

The cloud is not a panacea for quickly reducing costs or improving performance Signup and view all the answers

What do cloud providers define in addition to web consoles?

Command-line wrappers Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to be familiar with command-line tools?

Because they lend themselves to automation and repeatability Signup and view all the answers

What do cloud vendors provide to help developers use their APIs?

Software development kits (SDKs) Signup and view all the answers

How do you normally access UNIX and Linux systems running in the cloud?

Using SSH with public key authentication Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'region' in the context of cloud providers?

A location in which a cloud provider maintains data centers Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a web console session provided by some cloud providers?

To help in cases where you mistakenly lock yourself out with a firewall rule or broken SSH configuration Signup and view all the answers

Why are SDKs useful for developers?

Because they simplify or automate specific sets of tasks Signup and view all the answers

What can you use scripts for when working with cloud providers?

To automate and repeat tasks Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature of relational databases offered by cloud providers?

Built-in multizone redundancy and encryption for data at rest Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using distributed analytics databases like AWS Redshift and GCP BigQuery?

Incredible ROI Signup and view all the answers

What is the principle of least privilege in access control?

Granting access only to the resources needed Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)?

Defining roles for systems Signup and view all the answers

Which cloud platform's service is based on Microsoft's Active Directory?

Azure Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of AWS CloudFormation?

Orchestrating larger collections of resources Signup and view all the answers

What type of databases are Redis and memcached?

In-memory and NoSQL databases Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of using APIs and CLI tools for automation?

They are often clumsy and impractical for orchestrating larger collections of resources Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of choosing a public cloud over a private or hybrid cloud?

Easiest administration and highest value Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)?

Users are responsible for managing everything above the hardware Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary responsibility of users in a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) model?

Managing their own code Signup and view all the answers

Which type of cloud service includes hosting and managing software, with users paying a subscription fee for access?

SaaS Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary interface used by most cloud providers?

Web-based GUI Signup and view all the answers

What is a typical delivery method for IaaS resources?

Virtual private servers (VPSs) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of using a cloud service?

Easier administration Signup and view all the answers

What type of application falls into the SaaS category?

Hosted web application Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of CloudFormation templates?

To describe and configure cloud resources and their dependencies Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge of working with CloudFormation templates?

They have strict syntax requirements and are prone to human error Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using Terraform over CloudFormation?

Terraform is more cloud-agnostic Signup and view all the answers

What triggers the execution of a cloud function?

An event, such as an HTTP request or object upload Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between the traditional server model and the serverless model?

The amount of infrastructure required Signup and view all the answers

How does the owner pay for cloud function execution?

By the period of time the function executes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary advantage of using serverless functions?

They do not require server maintenance Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe cloud functions that do not require any long-lived infrastructure?

Serverless functions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cloud Computing Characteristics

Cost savings are reflected in the price of cloud services and the providers' profits.
Layered management features simplify and facilitate infrastructure configuration.
Cloud providers offer APIs and user-facing tools for resource provisioning and release.
Infrastructure as code allows for automation of the entire system lifecycle.
Elasticity enables businesses to optimize operating costs by adding or removing resources during peak or off-peak periods.

Cloud Benefits

Cloud providers have a global presence, allowing businesses to reach new markets.
Disaster recovery is easier to implement in the cloud due to redundant systems in separate locations.
Cloud pairs well with DevOps, emphasizing agility and repeatability.

Cloud Platform Choice

Public clouds offer the highest value and easiest administration.
Recommended for most organizations over private or hybrid options.

Cloud Service Fundamentals

Cloud services are grouped into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
IaaS provides raw compute, memory, network, and storage resources.
PaaS allows developers to submit custom applications, and the vendor manages the OS and network.
SaaS provides hosted software, and users pay a subscription fee for access.

Access to the Cloud

Cloud providers offer web-based GUIs, APIs, and command-line tools for access.
APIs are used for automation and repeatability.
SDKs are available for many popular languages to help developers use APIs.
Third-party tools simplify or automate specific tasks.

Regions and Availability Zones

Cloud providers maintain data centers around the world, organized into regions.
Regions are named after the territory of intended service.
Data centers are concentrated, but named after the region.

Identity and Authorization

Administrators, developers, and technical staff need to manage cloud services.
Access controls should conform to the principle of least privilege.
AWS IAM defines users, groups, and roles for systems.
Other cloud platforms have fewer authorization features.

Automation

APIs and CLI tools are the basic building blocks of custom automation.
AWS CloudFormation addresses the problem of orchestrating larger collections of resources.
CloudFormation templates are powerful but error-prone.
Third-party services like Terraform target this problem.

Serverless Functions

Cloud function services, also referred to as "serverless" features, are a model of code execution that does not require long-lived infrastructure.
Functions execute in response to an event, such as an HTTP request or object upload.
The owner pays for the period of time the function executes, with no server or operating system to maintain.

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Description

This quiz covers the infrastructure of cloud computing, including hardware foundation, management features, and resource provisioning. It also touches on the cost savings of cloud services.