Phase 1: Cloud Fundamentals
Before you can build anything in the cloud, you need to understand what the cloud actually is. This phase strips away the buzzwords and gives you the concrete mental models you'll use for everything else in this roadmap. By the end, you'll understand how cloud providers organize their infrastructure, how services are priced, and how to think about designing cloud-based systems.
What is Cloud Computing?
On-demand computing resources over the internet — what it means, why it exists, and how it changed the software industry forever.
Start here →Cloud Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
The three layers of cloud services — Infrastructure, Platform, and Software — and how to decide which layer you need for your use case.
Learn the models →Cloud Deployment Models
Public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud — understand the tradeoffs between each approach and when organizations choose one over another.
Explore deployments →Core Cloud Concepts (Regions & Zones)
Regions, availability zones, edge locations — how cloud providers organize their global infrastructure and why geography matters for your apps.
Map the cloud →Cloud Networking Basics
VPCs, subnets, security groups, load balancers, and DNS — the networking layer that connects everything in the cloud.
Explore networking →Frequently Asked Questions
What will I learn here?
This page covers the core concepts and techniques you need to understand the topic and progress confidently to the next lesson.
How should I use this page?
Start with the overview, then follow the section links to deepen your understanding. Use the table of contents on the right to jump to specific sections.
What should I read next?
Use the navigation below to continue to the next lesson or explore related topics.