Intro to Cloud Computing Curriculum

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Curriculum

Intro to Cloud Computing

Understand cloud fundamentals, services, and how businesses use cloud infrastructure.

Duration: 12 Weeks

Level: Beginner

Study Time: 2 hours/week + labs

School: Hexadigitall Academy

Welcome to Intro to Cloud Computing! 🎓

This curriculum is designed to take you from core understanding to confident delivery through weekly applied practice, measurable outcomes, and portfolio evidence.

Each week builds progressively with practical tasks, implementation checkpoints, and reflection points so you can convert knowledge into repeatable professional performance.

Your success is our priority. Stay consistent with weekly execution, document your work, and use feedback loops to continuously improve your delivery quality.

Essential Resources

Cloud architecture reference implementations and Well-Architected Framework reviews
Infrastructure-as-Code templates and cloud service comparison matrices
Cost optimization playbooks and resilience validation runbooks

Learning Roadmap

Early Weeks: Core cloud services, networking fundamentals, and basic deployments
Middle Weeks: Advanced architectures, multi-region deployment, and disaster recovery
Late Weeks: Cost optimization, governance frameworks, and production readiness
Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking
Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics
Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview
Cloud Databases and Managed Services
Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability
Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness
Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics
Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution

Detailed Weekly Curriculum

Each week includes outcomes and practical lab work aligned to the curriculum structure.

Week 1

Cloud Computing Basics and Shared Responsibility

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Identify the principles of Cloud Computing Basics and Shared Responsibility and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Explain Cloud Computing Basics and Shared Responsibility in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Apply trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Cloud Computing Basics and Shared Responsibility, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Cloud Computing Basics and Shared Responsibility with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 2

Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Identify the principles of Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Explain Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Apply trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 3

Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Models

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Identify the principles of Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Models and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Explain Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Models in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Apply trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Models, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Public, Private, and Hybrid Cloud Models with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 4

Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Identify the principles of Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Explain Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Apply trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Core Cloud Services: Compute, Storage, and Networking with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 5

Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Analyze Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Evaluate trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Identity, Access, and Account Security Basics with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 6

Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Analyze Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Evaluate trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Virtual Machines, Containers, and Serverless Overview with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 7

Cloud Databases and Managed Services

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of Cloud Databases and Managed Services and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Analyze Cloud Databases and Managed Services in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Evaluate trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Cloud Databases and Managed Services, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Cloud Databases and Managed Services with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 8

Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Apply the principles of Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Analyze Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Evaluate trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Document a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Scalability, Elasticity, and High Availability with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 9

Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Analyze the principles of Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Evaluate Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Create trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Defend a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Monitoring, Logging, and Cost Awareness with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 10

Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Analyze the principles of Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Evaluate Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Create trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Defend a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Security, Compliance, and Backup Basics with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 11

Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Analyze the principles of Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Evaluate Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Create trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Defend a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Comparing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Week 12

Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution

2 hours/week + labs

Learning Outcomes

Analyze the principles of Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution and link them to course outcomes with scaffolded guidance and beginner-safe checkpoints.
Evaluate Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution in a guided scenario using realistic tools, constraints, and quality gates.
Create trade-offs, risks, and decision points for Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution, then record rationale for stakeholder review.
Defend a portfolio-ready architecture decision record for Capstone: Design a Simple Cloud Solution with measurable success criteria and next actions.
Track measurable progress using rubric scores, defect/risk trends, and evidence completeness each week.
Run a short retrospective focused on what to retain, improve, and scale into the following week.
Incorporate peer or mentor feedback and revise the week deliverable to professional publication quality.
Publish the week output into your cumulative portfolio with concise outcome narrative and proof artifacts.

Capstone Projects

Project 1: Foundational Cloud Environment Build

Provision a baseline cloud environment with compute, storage, networking, and IAM controls for a small application.

Environment architecture diagram
Provisioning and validation evidence
Security baseline checklist

Project 2: Resilience and Operations Upgrade

Enhance the baseline with monitoring, backups, scaling strategy, and cost tracking to improve operational readiness.

Monitoring and alert configuration set
Backup and recovery validation notes
Cost optimization and trade-off report

Project 3: Capstone: End-to-End Cloud Solution Proposal

Deliver a complete cloud design and proof-of-concept deployment with clear decisions on security, reliability, and budget management.

Final architecture and implementation package
Stakeholder presentation and defense
Roadmap for scaling and hardening