Cloud Architect & DevOps Engineer: Mastering Modern IT Infrastructure

Duration: 10 Weeks (or Self-Paced)
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Format: Video Lessons, PDFs, Demos, Hands-On Labs, Quizzes, and Final Project
Tools Used: AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Jenkins, Terraform, GitHub Actions, Ansible, CI/CD Pipelines

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Course Objective

Equip learners with in-demand skills in cloud infrastructure, deployment automation, DevOps lifecycle management, and infrastructure as code (IaC), enabling them to build, deploy, and manage scalable and reliable systems across cloud environments.

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Module 1: Introduction to Cloud Computing & DevOps

Topics Covered:

• What is Cloud Computing?

• Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS

• Deployment Models: Public, Private, Hybrid, Multi-Cloud

• What is DevOps?

• The DevOps Lifecycle: Plan → Develop → Build → Test → Release → Deploy → Operate → Monitor

• Cloud vs Traditional Infrastructure

Learning Outcome:
Gain a clear understanding of how cloud and DevOps reshape IT and software delivery.

Activities:

• Compare cloud vs on-premise infrastructure

• Identify 3 real-world companies using DevOps and cloud platforms

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Module 2: Cloud Platforms Overview (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Topics Covered:

• AWS Services Overview: EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, VPC

• Azure Services Overview: Virtual Machines, Blob Storage, App Services, Functions

• GCP Services Overview: Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Firebase, BigQuery

• Cloud Console Walkthrough

• Setting Up Free Tiers

Learning Outcome:
Become familiar with the three major cloud providers and their most commonly used services.

Activities:

• Create a free-tier AWS/Azure/GCP account

• Launch your first virtual machine on one platform

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Module 3: Virtualization, Containers & Microservices

Topics Covered:

• Virtual Machines vs Containers

• Introduction to Docker and Containerization

• Building, Tagging, and Running Docker Images

• Introduction to Microservices Architecture

• Containers vs Monoliths

Learning Outcome:
Understand how containerization transforms development and deployment workflows.

Activities:

• Install Docker and run a sample web app

• Break a monolithic app into small microservices (conceptual exercise)

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Module 4: Version Control and GitOps

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Git and GitHub

• Repositories, Commits, Branches, Merges, Pull Requests

• Git Workflows (Gitflow, Feature Branching)

• GitOps Overview: Infrastructure through Code

• Introduction to GitHub Actions for automation

Learning Outcome:
Use version control to manage code and infrastructure changes securely and collaboratively.

Activities:

• Push code to GitHub and create a pull request

• Write a basic GitHub Actions workflow to run tests

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Module 5: CI/CD (Continuous Integration & Continuous Delivery)

Topics Covered:

• CI/CD Concepts and Benefits

• CI/CD Pipeline Stages

• Jenkins: Setup, Jobs, Pipelines

• GitHub Actions for CI/CD

• Deployment Strategies: Blue/Green, Canary, Rolling Updates

Learning Outcome:
Build, test, and deploy code automatically using industry-standard CI/CD tools.

Activities:

• Create a CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins or GitHub Actions

• Deploy a test app to a cloud server automatically after each push

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Module 6: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with Terraform

Topics Covered:

• What is IaC and Why It Matters

• Introduction to Terraform

• Providers, Resources, Variables, and Outputs

• Provisioning AWS Resources with Terraform

• State Management and Remote Backends

Learning Outcome:
Use code to provision and manage cloud resources reproducibly.

Activities:

• Write a Terraform script to launch an EC2 instance

• Deploy a multi-tier web app infrastructure using Terraform

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Module 7: Configuration Management with Ansible

Topics Covered:

• Introduction to Configuration Management

• What is Ansible and How It Works

• YAML and Playbooks

• Installing Software and Managing Users via Playbooks

• Ansible Inventory and Roles

Learning Outcome:
Automate server configuration and app deployments with Ansible.

Activities:

• Write an Ansible playbook to install NGINX on a cloud server

• Create a role-based playbook for a full stack deployment

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Module 8: Container Orchestration with Kubernetes

Topics Covered:

• Why Kubernetes? Basics and Use Cases

• Pods, Services, Deployments, ReplicaSets

• Kubernetes Architecture and Components

• Minikube and kubectl Basics

• Helm Charts Overview

Learning Outcome:
Orchestrate and manage containerized applications at scale.

Activities:

• Deploy a Docker container to a Kubernetes cluster using Minikube

• Scale a deployment and expose it using a service

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Module 9: Monitoring, Logging & Cloud Security

Topics Covered:

• Importance of Observability in DevOps

• Monitoring Tools: Prometheus, Grafana

• Centralized Logging: ELK Stack, CloudWatch, Azure Monitor

• Cloud Security Basics: IAM, Encryption, Firewalls

• Compliance & Governance in the Cloud

Learning Outcome:
Monitor, troubleshoot, and secure your cloud-based environments.

Activities:

• Set up monitoring for a deployed application

• Analyze access logs and identify suspicious activity

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Module 10: Capstone Project & Career Guidance

Capstone Project Options:

• Deploy a full-stack web application with Docker and Kubernetes

• Create a CI/CD pipeline with Terraform and GitHub Actions

• Build and monitor a microservices-based app on AWS or Azure

• Automate infrastructure and deployment with Ansible

Final Assessment:

• Quiz covering all modules

• Capstone project submission and review

Career Preparation:

• Cloud & DevOps Resume and LinkedIn Tips

• Certification Paths:

  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect

  • Azure Fundamentals / DevOps Engineer

  • Docker Certified Associate

  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

• Portfolio and GitHub Readiness Checklist

Certificate of Completion:
Issued to learners who pass all modules and submit the capstone project.

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Bonus Resources:

• Cheatsheets: Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Git, YAML

• Free Cloud Tools Directory

• Sample Interview Questions & Solutions

• Weekly Cloud & DevOps Challenge Tasks

• Invite to Community Forum or Slack Group

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Teaching Methodology:

• Video Lectures (10–20 mins each)

• Visual Diagrams and Whiteboard Explanations

• Downloadable Notes and Templates

• Hands-On Labs via Virtual Machines or Cloud Accounts

• Weekly Checkpoints and Quizzes

• Group Discussions and Peer Review (if instructor-led)

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Target Audience:

• Students and IT enthusiasts interested in cloud and DevOps

• System administrators transitioning to DevOps roles

• Software developers aiming to automate and scale deployments

• Professionals preparing for cloud certifications or DevOps careers