Cloud Computing Archives | Page 4 of 5

Back to basics: the importance of cloud fundamentals

Today, organisations globally are increasingly turning to cloud computing for its unmatched ability to streamline operations. It empowers users to access and deploy resources instantly, accelerating time-to-market and enabling rapid innovation.

It’s secure and highly agile; and it’s scalable to meet changing workload demands, ensuring optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. It’s the perfect choice for businesses looking to drive innovation, and stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.

Building a robust cloud environment starts with a solid understanding of the fundamentals. Without a solid understanding of these building blocks, businesses aren’t able to fully unlock each of these benefits.

Let’s unpack some of these foundational concepts, and learn how you can get started on your cloud learning journey.

What are cloud fundamentals?

Simply put, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet. This approach offers faster innovation, flexible resources, and the ability to run your infrastructure more efficiently.

Building a cloud environment needs a range of different “building blocks” —each piece representing a fundamental aspect of IT infrastructure. These foundational blocks can be put together in numerous creative and innovative ways, enabling the creation of diverse and robust cloud architectures tailored to specific needs and requirements.

Let’s take a look at some of these in more detail:

Computational power: Cloud environments provide the processing power necessary to execute computational tasks and run applications efficiently —without the need for extensive and high-maintenance on-prem infrastructure.

By leveraging scalable virtual machines offered by cloud providers, organisations can dynamically adjust compute resources to meet fluctuating workloads and performance demands, ensuring optimal performance and responsiveness.

Storage capacity: Cloud storage solutions offer seamless scalability and durability, allowing organisations to flex their storage capacity up or down as needed without the hassle of managing on-prem hardware.

Distributed storage options also help to ensure data reliability, while mitigating the risk of data loss due to hardware failures, system crashes or on-site malfunctions.

Database management: Databases play a crucial role in organising and managing data effectively. By offloading database management tasks to cloud providers, organisations can focus on leveraging data insights to drive innovation and business growth.

Cloud databases offer scalability, availability, and performance optimisation features, giving organisations greater capacity to make informed decisions using their data.

Networking: High-speed network connections within cloud environments ensure reliable and responsive service delivery to end-users worldwide.

Cloud networking enables organisations to deploy globally distributed applications with ease, supporting collaboration, scalability, and efficient resource utilisation across diverse geographical locations.

Security: Security is paramount in the cloud environment to protect sensitive data from unauthorised access, data breaches, and cyber threats. Cloud security measures include encryption, access control, identity management, and threat detection, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

By implementing robust security protocols, organisations can maintain a secure and compliant cloud environment, safeguarding their assets and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Why do the fundamentals matter?

Understanding cloud fundamentals lays the groundwork for successful cloud adoption and optimisation. By mastering these core concepts, organisations can build resilient and scalable cloud solutions that drive innovation, enhance agility, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

A solid understanding of the fundamentals provides organisations with the tools needed to support not only their current business needs, but also pave the way for future growth and innovation. In essence, cloud fundamentals serve as the bedrock upon which organisations can build a strategic and transformative cloud strategy that propels them towards sustainable success in the digital age.

Get started with cloud fundamentals:

By grasping the terminology, concepts, and architectural components of leading cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate cloud services effectively. Bespoke has courses available to teach learners the essential aspects of cloud computing. From describing cloud computing and its benefits, to exploring compute, networking, storage, and security services, the topics covered in these courses enable individuals and organisations to harness the full potential of cloud technology.

Kick-start your cloud journey with our AWS and Azure fundamentals courses. These 1-day courses are designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to navigate the cloud landscape.

Ready to get started? Take a look at our course options today, or get in touch to find a learning path tailored to your goals.

Using blended learning to accelerate your training goals

Cloud Computing, Learning and Development

As organisations increase their focus on ongoing learning and development, the adoption of blended learning is on the rise. Blended learning seamlessly integrates the best aspects of virtual, instructor-led sessions with self-paced online learning, creating a comprehensive and flexible educational experience.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of blended learning —for both students and organisations— and see how you can harness this approach to hit your training goals this year.

What is blended learning?

Blended learning combines the benefits of live instruction with the flexibility and support of self-paced learning. This hybrid approach gives learners access to real-time guidance and support from instructors during live virtual sessions, while also offering the convenience of online modules for autonomous study.

This happy medium gives students the best of both worlds: an engaging and supportive learning environment with additional resources to promote a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Especially in the tech space, gamified or game-based learning is also proving to be a helpful add-on to more traditional learning.

Why choose blended learning?

Blended learning offers numerous benefits over traditional in-person training or strictly digital self-paced learning approaches.

Research from Frontiers in Psychology, conducted in 2023 called “A meta-analysis of effects of blended learning on performance, attitude, achievement, and engagement across different countries” determined

‘that blended learning can lead to improved performance, attitude, and achievement in many countries’.

This is just one study, but there is a lot of research out there over the past 20 years that consistently shows that blended learning delivers better outcomes.

Let’s dive into a few of the top benefits:

It’s more interactive: Blended learning creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment, where participants actively engage with instructors and peers during virtual sessions. This real-time interaction helps to drive meaningful discussions, promotes collaborative problem-solving — leading to better overall learning outcomes.

It’s flexible and accessible: One of the key advantages of blended learning is its inherent flexibility, allowing learners to access course materials and participate in sessions from anywhere. This accessibility eliminates geographical barriers and accommodates diverse schedules, making education more inclusive and convenient for all participants.

Better learner engagement: Blended learning is delivered through multiple learning modalities: like live instruction, multimedia presentations, and interactive online activities. This means that the courses and sessions can easily cater to different learning styles and preferences, resulting in higher levels of participation.

Improved knowledge retention: A blended approach promotes deeper learning and knowledge retention by providing students with multiple opportunities to review and reinforce key concepts. Through a combination of live discussions, hands-on exercises, and self-paced study, participants can solidify their understanding of the material and apply it to real-world scenarios more effectively.

It’s scalable for teams of all sizes: Blended learning is highly scalable and adaptable to teams of all sizes. Whether training a small group or a large workforce, organisations can craft blended learning pathways to meet their own needs and objectives. This scalability ensures that training initiatives remain cost-effective and efficient, even as organisational needs evolve over time.

Getting Started with Blended Learning:

The best part about choosing a blended approach to your training? There are tons of resources at your disposal to make it simple and straightforward to create a learning path to suit your needs. At Bespoke, we offer a wide range of expert-led live virtual courses that fit perfectly with self-paced study options as well.

AWS Blended Learning

For AWS students, we recommend starting with the Ramp-Up guide that matches the learning journey you want to take. You can filter the Ramp-Up guide by role, solution or industry. Once you select a guide, you will see that the learning journey encompasses a combination of digital training, self-paced labs, game-based learning, reading resources, and of course, instructor-led training for when you are ready to get certified.

This is why we always recommend pairing your live, instructor-led course with the AWS Skill Builder platform. Individuals can sign up on the AWS website and choose a free or premium paid account, and managers looking for a subscription for 5 or more learners can go directly through Bespoke and order their AWS Skill Builder team subscription.

Microsoft Azure Blended Learning

Azure students have Microsoft Learn, where you are able to filter by products, roles, levels, subjects and types. Once you filter based on your learning goal, you can mix and match learning paths to suit the outcome you wish to achieve. Having that combination of self-paced learning and instructor-led Microsoft Azure courses ensures you are best positioned to achieve certification when you are ready.

With both AWS and Microsoft Azure, it is clear that choosing a comprehensive blended learning approach is needed to excel in today’s digital landscape.

Are you ready to get started with your blended learning journey? Get in touch with our team today to explore pathways and find the best option for you and your team.

Boost your cloud development efficiency with AWS SDKs

Cloud Computing

Harnessing the capabilities of AWS SDKs (Software Development Kits) is a game-changer that can enhance productivity and innovation in your team. Let’s unpack how using AWS SDKs can boost development efficiency and give your team a competitive edge in their cloud development projects.

What are AWS SDKs?

AWS SDKs are ready-made tools and libraries provided by AWS to help integrate AWS services into applications. The SDKs are designed to cater to various programming languages, making it accessible for developers across a wide variety of tech stacks. Within AWS SDKs, you’ll find an array of resources and functionalities that empower developers to leverage AWS services in their development more effectively. This might include things like:

API clients
Code samples
De-buggers
Profilers
Deployment tools
And more

Teams use SDKs to enhance development across all types of projects, like mobile apps, web development, cloud environments, game development and IoT programming. As developers learn to leverage these tools effectively, they can unlock a new level of efficiency in their work, and take their projects to the next level.

Why use AWS SDKs?

SDKs act as the building blocks that empower developers to harness the full potential of the AWS platform. By embracing SDKs in your team’s development projects, you can increase consistency across applications, reduce costs and speed up production. Let’s take a closer look at some of these benefits:

SDKs are adaptable to your project

AWS offers a range of SDKs across most of the popular programming languages such as Java, Python, .NET, and more. This means that your developers can easily integrate AWS services into projects, irrespective of the programming language they’re using. This adaptability across a range of languages is a game-changer, allowing teams to pivot effortlessly between projects and leverage the strengths of different programming languages based on project requirements.

They streamline development

AWS SDKs act as force multipliers, streamlining development workflows and reducing redundant tasks. Developers can work more efficiently, leading to faster feature delivery and reduced development cycles. This efficiency ensures that teams can focus on crafting innovative solutions rather than grappling with intricate service integrations.

Tap into speedy deployment

AWS SDKs empower teams to prototype and iterate quickly. With a rich set of tools at their disposal, developers can rapidly build, test, and refine cloud applications. This agility is particularly crucial in dynamic environments where the ability to pivot swiftly in response to changing requirements can make all the difference.

Optimal resource utilisation

Using SDKs, teams can optimise resource utilisation in the cloud. AWS SDKs provide the tools to align resources with application requirements, allowing teams to easily scale resources based on demand. This optimisation directly translates into cost savings, a critical factor for any innovation-focused team.

AWS SDKs helps to future-proof your team

Mastering AWS SDKs helps to future-proof your team’s skillset. As AWS continues as a leader in the cloud computing industry, developers proficient in AWS SDKs are well-positioned to adapt to new projects, applications and features seamlessly. The ability to evolve with the AWS ecosystem ensures that individuals remain valuable assets, capable of tackling emerging challenges and embracing cutting-edge technologies.

Upskilling in AWS for development excellence

Learning the ins and outs of AWS SDKs is a crucial aspect of any AWS developer’s training journey. If you’re seeking avenues to upskill your team and deepen their AWS expertise, we have tailored training programs designed for learners at every stage.

For beginners, Bespoke’s AWS Technical Essentials course is the ideal starting point. This course lays the groundwork for a solid understanding of AWS, preparing your team to embark on a journey of cloud development mastery.

From here, those eager to continue building their skills can explore Bespoke’s Developing on AWS course. Here, team members will expand on their AWS knowledge and learn how to use AWS SDKs for efficient cloud development.

For the more advanced developers seeking to elevate their expertise, Bespoke’s Advanced Developing on AWS course is tailored to deliver advanced development strategies. In this program, your team members will learn how to optimise AWS resources, streamline workflows, and dive deeper into the use of SDKs to supercharge development projects.

Final thoughts

Understanding AWS SDKs is not just about learning a new skill; it’s about unlocking efficiency and innovation in cloud development. By streamlining workflows, accelerating prototyping, and optimising resource utilisation, AWS SDKs are a core component of any effective developer’s toolkit.

Elevate your team’s practices, stay ahead of the curve, and embrace the future of cloud application development by upskilling your team in AWS.

Your future-ready team starts here. To get started with AWS SDKs and cloud development, explore our upcoming training courses or get in touch today for a customised cloud training plan.

Top free training resources for Microsoft Azure

Cloud Computing

Are you embarking on your Microsoft Azure learning journey?

Whether you’re a beginner starting out, a long-time user or a leader looking to expand your team’s Azure expertise, we’ve gathered a collection of top-notch free training resources to help you take those Azure skills up a notch.

1. Microsoft Learn

If you’re just dipping your toe in the water of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Learn is a good place to start. It’s a self-paced learning environment that offers a wide range of modules across a variety of Azure specialties. From data and security, to AI or DevOps, you can search for and tailor your learning by area of interest, role, and skill level —so it works for learners at any stage.

While Microsoft Learn provides a comprehensive variety of course content, and offers a great foundational knowledge for those just starting out, it lacks the guidance and structure of instructor-led environments. And with so many courses, modules or lessons to choose from, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start.

For those who thrive on interaction, structure and real-time feedback, the self-driven style of Microsoft Learn might not be the right fit. But for those looking to brush up on a particular skill, or learn some foundational concepts, it’s worth checking it out.

Explore Microsoft Learn

2. Virtual Training Days

Once you’ve established a foundational knowledge base, Virtual Training Days provide an opportunity to build on your skills in particular areas. Hosted by Microsoft Learn, these events drill down into one or two concepts per session, helping to fine-tune your understanding of Microsoft Cloud technologies.

With so many topics to cover and limited sessions running at any one time, finding one to suit your needs can be a challenge. But, if you manage to find a session on the right topic on the right day: lock it in!

Check out Virtual Training Days

3. Azure Documentation

For a more advanced understanding and a deeper dive into Azure functionalities, learners can explore the Azure Documentation library. You can search and filter by specific products and gain comprehensive insights into the nitty-gritty details of Azure functionality. Its extensive coverage is a definite plus, but a word of caution: this isn’t a space for the beginner learner —or the faint of heart.

Before diving into documentation, it’s recommended that you have a good foundational understanding first. It’s a technical document: highly detailed and highly informative, but a lot to absorb straight off the bat.

Explore Azure Documentation

Final thoughts

While these free resources are a good starting point for your Azure journey, there is no denying they lack the interactivity and structure that helps learners to learn better.

When it comes to Cloud training, you get what you pay for: nothing can compare with the depth and engagement of instructor-led sessions. With expert guidance, real-world examples, and interactive labs, Bespoke’s instructor-led training provides a more immersive and effective learning experience.

Student’s can follow an engaging, personalised learning pathway, and get the support and guidance they need along the way —so when it comes time for exams and certifications, they’re more than ready for what’s coming.

If you’re looking to upskill your team in Microsoft Azure, start with our training directory.

Kick-start their Azure training journey with instructor-led, practical courses designed to enhance their skills and improve efficiencies in the cloud team. Or, get in touch today for a personalised learning pathway to set your organisation up for success.

3 benefits of using cloud environments for machine learning

Cloud Computing

Using cloud environments for machine learning can offer several benefits that can contribute to improved efficiency, scalability, and flexibility in your organisation.

Machine learning (ML) and unpacking its capabilities has proven to be a hot topic at many tech conferences, including Microsoft’s Ignite and AWS’s re:Invent. Many are keen to learn to utilise machine learning as a tool within the larger toolkit of artificial intelligence, to achieve intelligent behaviour in systems.

We’ve unpacked 3 main benefits for utilising your cloud environment for machine learning, which could easily drive innovation and efficiency:

1. Machine learning has better access to data

Machine learning, being data-centric, needs a huge amount of data —to train, to learn, to run. Cloud computing platforms offer robust, large-scale storage solutions that can seamlessly accommodate the massive amounts of data required for operating today’s sophisticated machine learning models.

In a cloud environment, ML applications can easily gain access to datasets large enough to deliver valuable insights and patterns, helping the application to ‘learn’ faster, and adapt quickly to changing stimulus and demands.

As we venture further into the data-intensive landscape of machine learning, the cloud is an indispensable ally, clearing the way for raw data to offer meaningful intelligence.

2. Cloud offers greater flexibility and scalability

Cloud computing platforms, like AWS and Microsoft, provide on-demand access to computing resources, allowing organisations to scale up or down based on computational requirements. During intensive training phases, organisations can allocate additional resources to ensure quick responses. For less demanding queries, resources can be scaled down to optimise cost efficiency.

The ability to allocate resources dynamically in the cloud not only ensures optimal performance but also reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for organisations to invest in and maintain on-site infrastructure that may not be used very much. This elasticity in resource provisioning is a key advantage, enabling businesses to adapt to changing computational demands —and fast.

3. Utilising the cloud unlocks faster processing

Machine learning workloads are resource-intensive and use significant processing power during both training and deployment. Cloud computing platforms are equipped to deal with this demand, as they leverage parallel processing and distributed computing capabilities to supercharge the execution of machine learning algorithms.

The cloud’s parallel processing capabilities enable the simultaneous execution of multiple tasks, cutting processing times. This accelerated speed is crucial for real-time decision-making, allowing organisations to derive insights quickly and respond promptly to changing conditions in more dynamic environments.

Cloud platforms may also integrate specialised hardware, such as Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) or Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which can help to boost machine learning workloads. These hardware accelerators enhance the speed and efficiency of machine learning tasks, contributing to faster model training and improved overall performance.

Final thoughts

Using the cloud’s scalability, flexibility, and processing power, businesses can access or build ML capabilities beyond what would be possible using traditional infrastructure.

The combination of machine learning and cloud computing can drive innovation, efficiency, and transformative insights for organisations that take advantage of this powerful pairing.

Are you ready to equip your team with the power to harness machine learning? Get started with our Machine Learning Pipeline on AWS course or our Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals today.

Mastering architecture: key strategies for cloud optimisation

Cloud Computing, Learning and Development

As you are aware, the world of cloud computing is ever-expanding. There are new technologies, systems and configurations being developed and deployed every day.

As more businesses shift to cloud and multi-cloud environments, the ongoing care of your company’s cloud architecture is essential. And, while the ‘perfect’ cloud architecture looks different for every company, here are a few tips to help you set your organisation up for success.

What is Amazon Web Services? A World Leading Cloud Platform

Cloud Computing

So, what is Amazon Web Services?

Amazon Web Services, usually referred to as AWS, is one of the world’s leading cloud providers. It’s both the most comprehensive and widely used cloud platform. All around the world organisations use the AWS Cloud’s products and services to lower costs, increase availability and drive innovation.

Learn the AWS Platform and Future Proof your Career

Cloud Computing, Learning and Development

Learn the AWS Platform to stay in-demand and safeguard your career.

Globally, there’s a huge difference between current levels of cloud integration and people with the skills to use it. According to research carried out by Global Knowledge, 70% IT decision makers report that their teams have a skills gap. This skills gap is costing them precious time and money.

Introduction to AWS Security

Cloud Computing

It’s critical that anyone involved with AWS Cloud understands AWS Security best practice. See, just as cloud changes the way organisations run workloads, it also changes how they need to approach security. This also impacts how they approach AWS Security Training.