Comprehensive Cloud Computing Foundations

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! 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. This comprehensive course takes you on a deep dive into cloud computing, starting with foundational concepts such as virtual instances, service models, and resource management. The initial lessons cover the differences between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, ensuring you understand the core cloud delivery models that are revolutionizing IT infrastructure. You'll explore practical applications through detailed demonstrations on Linode for setting up cloud accounts, deploying virtual instances, and administering them securely. As you progress, you'll move into server management and security, mastering Linux fundamentals and learning how to configure user accounts, enable secure SSH authentication, and lock down server access. You’ll also gain insights into web server technologies, understanding the distinctions between NGINX and Apache, alongside the essentials of database management using SQL and NoSQL. The step-by-step approach ensures a robust understanding of the back-end infrastructure that powers cloud systems. In the final sections, you’ll focus on advanced topics like scaling cloud resources, implementing firewalls, and securing your servers using industry best practices. Whether you're installing LAMP stacks or enabling network firewalls, the course equips you with the tools and knowledge necessary to manage and expand cloud infrastructures efficiently. With its balance of theory and practical tasks, this course prepares you to handle real-world cloud environments confidently. This course is designed for IT professionals, system administrators, and developers looking to expand their cloud computing expertise. Prior experience with Linux and basic networking concepts is recommended but not required.