If you have ever heard the phrase "the cloud is just someone else's computer" and wondered if that is really true, this free course answers the question "What is the cloud?" with a clear, standards based approach. It covers the core definitions that come together to mean cloud, using real world examples and a simple blackboard style.

This Course Offers

• A Clear, Conceptual Foundation: You will learn the key definitions and standards that define cloud computing, cutting through the buzzwords to understand what cloud actually means.
• Real World Examples: The course uses examples from the real world to illustrate cloud concepts, making abstract ideas more concrete and understandable.
• A Non Technical, Accessible Approach: Using a web browser and an electronic blackboard, the instructor talks and draws, explaining concepts without requiring technical prerequisites.
• A Broad Perspective for IT Professionals: The course covers the broadness of the cloud topic, helping developers, architects, operations staff, managers, and CIOs understand its implications.

Why We Love This Course

1. It is incredibly popular and well reviewed. With over 415,000 students and more than 95,000 reviews, this course has helped an enormous number of IT professionals understand the fundamentals of cloud computing.
2. It is free. You can learn the conceptual foundation of cloud computing from a highly rated instructor without any financial commitment.
3. It focuses on answering the core question. Instead of diving into specific vendors or services, the course answers "What is the cloud?" in a clear, standards based way that applies across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and any other platform.
4. It uses a unique, engaging teaching style. The blackboard drawing approach is highly effective for explaining abstract concepts, as noted by many positive reviews.

If you are an IT professional, manager, or anyone who wants to understand what cloud computing actually is, this free, highly rated course provides a clear, conceptual foundation. Note that the course was last updated in 2016, so it does not cover the latest developments like serverless, edge computing, or AI services.

• IT professionals including developers, architects, operations staff, and managers who want a clear conceptual understanding of cloud computing.
• CIOs and business leaders who need to understand what cloud means for their organization.
• Anyone who has heard the phrase "the cloud is just someone else's computer" and wants to understand if that is accurate.
• Students and career changers who want a free, high quality introduction to cloud concepts before diving into specific platforms.

• A basic understanding of IT principles is helpful.
• Access to the internet for material linked from the course is required.
• No technical prerequisites are needed. The course is designed for a broad audience.

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