Introduction to Cloud Computing & Core AWS Services
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Introduction to Cloud Computing & Core AWS Services
This course is part of AWS For Everyone Specialization
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What you'll learn
Understand the key principles of cloud computing and its service models
Learn to configure and manage AWS core services like S3, EC2, and IAM
Gain practical experience in AWS networking, including VPC, route tables, and VPNs
Learn how to monitor and optimize cloud services using AWS CloudWatch and CloudTrail
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January 2026
9 assignments
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There are 7 modules in this course
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A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Unlock the power of cloud computing with this comprehensive introduction to AWS services. This course covers everything from the basics of cloud computing, AWS infrastructure, and service models to in-depth lessons on essential AWS services like storage, compute, networking, and security. Through a mix of video tutorials and hands-on examples, you’ll gain practical knowledge of core AWS services such as EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, and more. The course is organized to ensure gradual learning, starting with foundational concepts like cloud models and AWS’s global infrastructure, progressing into more specialized areas such as data storage options, compute resources, and networking configurations. As you move forward, you'll explore how to manage access control using IAM, monitor AWS services, and dive deep into AWS databases such as RDS and DynamoDB. Each module is designed to build on the last, helping you establish a strong, real-world understanding of cloud computing on AWS. Ideal for beginners to cloud computing or anyone looking to enhance their AWS skills, this course is suited for aspiring cloud engineers, developers, and IT professionals. There are no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of computer science and IT concepts will be beneficial. This is a beginner-level course that provides a comprehensive foundation in AWS cloud services. By the end of the course, you will be able to set up cloud storage, manage compute instances, configure VPCs for networking, secure AWS environments with IAM, and monitor AWS services using CloudWatch and CloudTrail.
In this module, we will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of cloud computing, including its definitions and core models. We will also examine AWS’s global infrastructure and explore the three primary cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. By the end of this section, you'll have a clear understanding of the foundational elements of cloud computing.
What's included
3 videos2 readings1 assignment
3 videos•Total 84 minutes
- Introduction to Specialization•25 minutes
- AWS Global Infrastructure•30 minutes
- Cloud Services Model - IaaS, PaaS, SaaS•30 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
- Introduction to the Course 'Cloud Computing & Core AWS Services'•10 minutes
- Full Specialization Resources•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Basics of Cloud Computing - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore the essential cloud storage services, focusing on Amazon S3 and its key features. You will learn about various storage types, pricing models, and how to effectively manage data using storage classes, lifecycle policies, and advanced features like versioning and replication. This section will also introduce Amazon S3 Glacier for long-term archival storage.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 151 minutes
- Storage Types•23 minutes
- Amazon S3 Basics•23 minutes
- Bucket Policy and Static Website•26 minutes
- Amazon S3 Pricing•7 minutes
- Storage Classes•27 minutes
- Lifecycle Policies•9 minutes
- Versioning, Replication, Transfer Acceleration•29 minutes
- Amazon S3 Glacier•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Core Services - Storage - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will cover the essentials of Amazon EC2 instances, guiding you through the process of selecting, launching, and managing virtual machines in the cloud. Additionally, we will explore Amazon EBS storage and snapshots for backup and data management. Finally, we’ll examine EC2 pricing models to help you optimize costs while utilizing compute resources effectively.
What's included
5 videos1 assignment
5 videos•Total 125 minutes
- Amazon EC2 Instances•28 minutes
- Launch and Amazon EC2 Instance•21 minutes
- Amazon EBS Storage•29 minutes
- Amazon EBS Snapshot•16 minutes
- Amazon EC2 Pricing•31 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Core Services - Compute - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will introduce you to cloud networking basics, focusing on Amazon VPC and its associated features. You’ll learn how to set up isolated network environments, configure route tables, NAT gateways, and implement security protocols. Additionally, we will explore advanced networking features like VPN, Direct Connect, VPC endpoints, and VPC peering for secure and scalable cloud communication.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 192 minutes
- Networking Basics•15 minutes
- Amazon VPC•28 minutes
- Route Table and NAT Gateway•30 minutes
- Security Group and Network ACL•40 minutes
- Private, Public and Elastic IP Addresses•20 minutes
- VPN and Direct Connect•19 minutes
- VPC Endpoints•25 minutes
- VPC Peering•16 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Core Services - Networking - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and its role in cloud security. You will learn how to manage user access and permissions, create policies based on the principle of least privilege, and utilize roles and identity providers for secure, temporary access. The section will also cover the shared responsibility model, providing a clear understanding of security responsibilities between AWS and the customer.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 131 minutes
- Shared Responsibility Model•12 minutes
- AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management)•15 minutes
- User, UserGroups, Policy•31 minutes
- IAM Policies•19 minutes
- Policy Evaluation Logic•12 minutes
- Roles•30 minutes
- Identity Provider•9 minutes
- Summary•2 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Security in Cloud - AWS IAM - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will explore the different database services available in AWS, including relational databases through Amazon RDS and NoSQL solutions with Amazon DynamoDB. You’ll learn how to configure and scale databases, with a focus on high availability features like Multi-AZ and Read Replicas. Additionally, we’ll dive into DynamoDB’s data model, secondary indexes, and capacity modes to help you make the right database choices for your applications.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
8 videos•Total 205 minutes
- Relational vs Non-Relational Databases•23 minutes
- Amazon RDS•27 minutes
- Multi-AZ and Read Replica•33 minutes
- Amazon Aurora•26 minutes
- Amazon DynamoDB•29 minutes
- Partition Key and Sort Key•17 minutes
- Secondary Index•28 minutes
- Capacity Mode•21 minutes
1 assignment•Total 15 minutes
- Databases in AWS - Assessment•15 minutes
In this module, we will cover the essential tools and techniques for monitoring resources in AWS. You’ll learn how to create custom metrics and configure alarms to proactively manage performance. Additionally, we will explore AWS CloudWatch Logs for log storage and access, and AWS CloudTrail for tracking API calls to support governance, compliance, and risk auditing.
What's included
5 videos1 reading3 assignments
5 videos•Total 127 minutes
- Monitoring in Cloud•16 minutes
- Custom Metrics•34 minutes
- Alarms•19 minutes
- CloudWatch Logs•31 minutes
- AWS CloudTrail•28 minutes
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
- Conclusion to the Course 'Cloud Computing & Core AWS Services'•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Monitoring in AWS - Assessment•15 minutes
- Full Course Assessment•60 minutes
- Full Course Practice Assessment•15 minutes
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Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services such as storage, processing power, and software over the internet, allowing businesses and individuals to access and use these resources without needing to own physical hardware. This model is highly relevant today because it provides scalability, flexibility, cost-efficiency, and allows companies to innovate without the overhead of maintaining their own infrastructure.
This course, "Introduction to Cloud Computing & Core AWS Services," covers the fundamental concepts of cloud computing and introduces AWS’s core services. Topics include cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), AWS storage services, compute resources like EC2, networking components such as VPC, and AWS security measures. By exploring these concepts, learners will gain practical knowledge in using AWS for cloud solutions.
After completing this course, you will be able to understand key cloud computing concepts, use AWS core services effectively, manage cloud storage, launch and configure EC2 instances, implement networking solutions in AWS, and ensure security using IAM. This foundational knowledge will allow you to start working with cloud infrastructure and AWS in a practical capacity.
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