Introduction

Module I: Understanding Cloud Computing

Welcome to Module One of the Google Cloud Computing Foundations course, where we explore the fundamental concepts of cloud computing and its profound impact on contemporary technology and business landscapes. By completing this module, you will achieve the following learning objectives:

1. Defining Cloud Computing:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of cloud computing and its pivotal role in modern IT infrastructures.
• Explore how cloud computing facilitates ubiquitous access to computing resources via the internet, revolutionizing scalability and resource management.

2. Comparing Architectures:

• Physical Architecture:
  • Definition: Traditional IT infrastructure maintaining physical servers, storage devices, and networking components on-premises.
  • Key Points:
    • Requires dedicated physical space and on-site management, increasing operational overhead.
    • Provides direct control over hardware resources but can be less flexible and scalable compared to cloud alternatives.
• Virtual Architecture:
  • Definition: Involves virtualization of physical resources, enabling multiple VMs to operate on a single physical server.
  • Key Points:
    • Improves resource utilization by consolidating hardware resources into virtual environments.
    • Enhances flexibility and scalability through dynamic provisioning and management of virtualized instances.
• Container-Based Architecture:
  • Definition: Utilizes containers as lightweight, portable, and self-sufficient units for software deployment.
  • Key Points:
    • Promotes consistency across different computing environments, ensuring seamless transitions from development to production.
    • Facilitates efficient resource utilization and scalability by isolating applications and their dependencies.

3. Exploring Service Models:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
  • Provides virtualized computing resources including VMs, storage, and networks over the internet.
  • Offers flexibility and scalability without the need for managing physical hardware.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS):
  • Allows developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without concerns about underlying infrastructure.
  • Enables rapid application development with built-in scalability and security features.
• Software as a Service (SaaS):
  • Delivers software applications via the internet on a subscription basis, eliminating local installation and maintenance.
  • Enhances accessibility across devices, promoting collaborative and productive workflows.

4. Introduction to Google Cloud Services:

• Google Cloud Architecture:
  • Computing Services:
    • Compute Engine: Offers VMs for diverse computing workloads.
    • App Engine: Facilitates scalable web and mobile backend development.
    • Kubernetes Engine: Manages containerized applications across multiple servers.
  • Storage Services:
    • Cloud Storage: Provides secure, scalable object storage.
    • Persistent Disk: Delivers high-performance block storage for VM instances.
    • Cloud Filestore: Managed file storage ensuring file system interface reliability.
  • Big Data & ML Services:
    • BigQuery: Fully managed data warehouse for advanced analytics.
    • Dataflow: Managed service for real-time and batch data processing.
    • AI Platform: Supports building and deploying machine learning models seamlessly.

Conclusion:

• Conclude with a brief quiz to reinforce understanding and a comprehensive review of cloud computing fundamentals.
• Mastery of these concepts prepares you to advance through subsequent modules of the Google Cloud Computing Foundations course, gaining deeper insights and practical skills in leveraging Google Cloud technologies.