PE2-6.1 Introduction to Cloud Computing
You can define cloud computing and its essential characteristics, trace its origins, and state the goals, benefits, risks and challenges along with RAS and the components of a cloud.
The definition matters more than usual here because 'cloud' is marketing language for a set of specific properties — on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service — and something lacking them is just someone else's server. Get the risks in view alongside the benefits from the start: vendor lock-in, data residency and the fact that your outage is now someone else's incident queue. The comparison with traditional IT providers is the practical frame students will meet at work.
Work through these
Introduction to cloud computing and its origins
What the term means and where the idea came from. The origins matter because most of the concepts predate the name by decades.
Definition of cloud; basic concepts
A working definition and the vocabulary the rest of the subject uses. Settle these before the service model topic, which assumes them.
Goals and benefits
The case for it, stated as benefits rather than marketing. Elasticity and paying for what you use are the two that are genuinely new.
Risks and challenges
The other side, stated honestly beside the benefits. Dependence on one provider and loss of direct control are the ones that are hard to reverse.
RAS: reliability, availability and serviceability
Three properties a service is judged on, which give a vocabulary for the agreements topic later. They are the same three used in ordinary systems engineering.
Cloud components
The parts a cloud is assembled from, which grounds the abstraction in machines and networks. It helps to remember there is always someone else's computer underneath.
Essential characteristics of a cloud
The defining characteristics, which is the standard list used to decide whether something is a cloud at all. Useful as a checklist against what a vendor tells you.
Comparing cloud providers with traditional IT service providers
How this differs from buying hosting, which is the comparison a reader with experience will want. Self-service and elasticity are the distinguishing features.
Sign in to keep your progress.
Free resources
We haven't checked most of these for screen reader use yet.
Links last checked 30 Aug 2026.
Stuck here?
Ask a mentor. A real person answers, and they can see exactly which topic you're on. Usually within a couple of working days.
Checking your session…
Topics shown in module order.