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IBM: Introduction to Cloud Computing

Beginner 9 hours English Completion CertificateFREE

About this course

A broad, vendor-neutral introduction to cloud computing: service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment models (public, private, hybrid), core infrastructure (VMs, storage, networking, CDNs), emerging trends (microservices, serverless, DevOps, application modernization), and cloud security/monitoring basics. Includes a hands-on project deploying an application on IBM Cloud.

The honest take: despite featuring IBM Cloud in the hands-on labs, the conceptual content covers AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and others even-handedly — this is a genuinely vendor-neutral primer, not an IBM Cloud sales pitch, which makes it a reasonable starting point regardless of which cloud platform you end up specializing in.

What you'll learn

Define cloud computing and explain its essential characteristics and business case
Describe cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
Distinguish public, private, and hybrid cloud deployment models
Explain core cloud infrastructure components: VMs, storage, networking, CDNs
Identify cloud security, monitoring basics, and career paths in cloud computing

This course includes

9h
On-demand video
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
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Instructor

RA
Rav Ahuja
edX instructor
learners courses instructor rating

Rav Ahuja is IBM's Global Program Director for the IBM Skills Network, leading curriculum strategy for AI, data science, and cloud courses on edX.

Requirements

  • Basic computer literacy — no prior cloud computing or programming knowledge needed

Who this course is for

  • Complete beginners exploring cloud computing
  • Executives and managers wanting cloud literacy
  • Aspiring cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, or cybersecurity analysts

About this provider

ED
edX
Non-profit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT. 45M+ learners worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions

No — it covers AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and IBM Cloud even-handedly conceptually; the hands-on lab specifically uses IBM Cloud.
No — basic computer literacy is the only requirement.
3 weeks at 2-4 hours per week.
Yes — a final project deploying an application on IBM Cloud, shareable as a portfolio piece.
119,528 learners enrolled as of this listing.
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