Cloud Deployment & Infrastructure

Cloud Platforms & Infrastructure as Code

IaC Fundamentals

Overview

Establish foundational understanding of cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and master Infrastructure as Code principles using Terraform. Learn to provision and manage cloud resources declaratively, enabling version control, repeatability, and collaboration for infrastructure management. Develop skills in designing scalable cloud architectures while understanding cost optimization strategies and security best practices across major cloud providers.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
Terraform Course - From Beginner to Certified	freeCodeCamp	Comprehensive Terraform training covering HCL syntax, resource management, state files, and provisioning infrastructure on AWS with practical examples.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Infrastructure as Code Explained	TechWorld with Nana	Clear explanation of IaC concepts comparing Terraform, Ansible, and other tools with practical examples and use cases.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
IaaS vs PaaS vs SaaS Explained	IBM Technology	Comprehensive comparison of cloud service models with practical examples and decision criteria for choosing the right approach.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Google Cloud Digital Leader Training	Google Cloud	Foundational overview of Google Cloud Platform covering compute, storage, networking, AI/ML services, and architectural patterns.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Terraform Modules	HashiCorp	Official documentation on creating reusable infrastructure components with Terraform modules, including best practices and patterns.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning
Cloud Cost Optimization Strategies	AWS	Comprehensive guide to managing and optimizing cloud costs including resource tagging, monitoring, and automated cost controls.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning

Infrastructure Foundation Project

Task Manager Cloud Infrastructure Setup

Design cloud architecture for Task Manager application including compute, storage, and networking components
Create Terraform configurations for provisioning VPC, subnets, security groups, and compute instances
Implement infrastructure modules for reusability across development, staging, and production environments
Set up remote state management and workspace organization for team collaboration
Configure monitoring and cost tracking for infrastructure resources with alerting thresholds
Document infrastructure decisions and create runbooks for common operations

Start Infrastructure Project

Containerization with Docker & Kubernetes

Container Orchestration

Overview

Master containerization technology starting with Docker fundamentals and advancing to Kubernetes orchestration. Learn to containerize applications, manage container lifecycles, and orchestrate complex multi-service applications. Develop expertise in Docker Compose for local development, Kubernetes deployments for production, and container security best practices. Build scalable, portable applications that run consistently across environments.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
Docker Tutorial for Beginners	freeCodeCamp	Comprehensive Docker introduction covering containers, images, Dockerfiles, Docker Compose, and deployment to cloud platforms.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Kubernetes Complete Course	TechWorld with Nana	Full Kubernetes course covering pods, services, deployments, ingress, ConfigMaps, secrets, and production best practices.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
What is Container Orchestration?	IBM Technology	Clear explanation of container orchestration concepts, benefits, and why Kubernetes became the industry standard.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Docker Images and Containers	Docker	Official Docker documentation explaining image layers, Dockerfiles, and container lifecycle management with best practices.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Kubernetes Security Best Practices	CNCF	Comprehensive guide to securing Kubernetes clusters including RBAC, network policies, pod security standards, and runtime security.	Advanced	Optional	Start Learning
Helm Charts for Kubernetes	Helm	Learn to package and manage Kubernetes applications using Helm charts for templating and application lifecycle management.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning

Containerization Workshop

Task Manager Containerized Deployment

Create optimized Dockerfiles for frontend and backend components with multi-stage builds
Develop Docker Compose configuration for local development with database, caching, and monitoring
Design Kubernetes manifests for production deployment including pods, services, and ingress
Implement ConfigMaps and Secrets for environment-specific configuration management
Set up Horizontal Pod Autoscaling and resource limits for performance optimization
Create Helm charts for simplified deployment and version management across environments

Start Containerization Workshop

CI/CD Pipelines & Automated Deployment

DevOps Automation

Overview

Build robust CI/CD pipelines that automate the entire software delivery lifecycle from code commit to production deployment. Master GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, and Jenkins for creating automated workflows that include testing, building, security scanning, and deployment. Learn GitOps principles and implement automated rollbacks, blue-green deployments, and canary releases for safe, reliable software delivery.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
CI/CD Crash Course for Beginners	Laith Academy	Comprehensive introduction to CI/CD concepts with practical pipeline examples and automated deployment strategies.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
GitHub Actions Tutorial	freeCodeCamp	Complete GitHub Actions course covering workflows, actions marketplace, secrets management, and CI/CD pipeline creation.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Quickstart for GitHub Actions	GitHub	Official GitHub documentation for creating your first workflow with triggers, jobs, steps, and marketplace actions.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
What is GitOps?	Red Hat	Explanation of GitOps principles using Git as single source of truth for declarative infrastructure and application deployment.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
What is Release Management?	IBM Technology	Comprehensive overview of release management processes, stages, and best practices within DevOps workflows.	Beginner	Optional	Start Learning
Deployment Plan Best Practices	Atlassian	Guide to creating comprehensive deployment plans including checklists, rollback procedures, and risk mitigation strategies.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning

CI/CD Pipeline Engineering

Task Manager Automated Deployment Pipeline

Design comprehensive GitHub Actions workflow with build, test, security scan, and deploy stages
Implement automated testing integration with coverage reporting and quality gates
Create environment-specific deployment pipelines for development, staging, and production
Set up automated rollback mechanisms and blue-green deployment strategies
Configure monitoring and alerting for pipeline failures with notification systems
Document deployment procedures and create incident response runbooks

Start CI/CD Pipeline Engineering

Cloud Security & Monitoring

Security Operations

Overview

Implement comprehensive security strategies for cloud-native applications including identity and access management, network security, and compliance frameworks. Master cloud monitoring and observability using tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and cloud-native monitoring services. Learn to implement security scanning, vulnerability management, and incident response procedures while maintaining performance and reliability through effective monitoring and alerting systems.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
Cloud Security - Full Course	freeCodeCamp	Comprehensive cloud security course covering threat modeling, IAM, network security, and security posture management.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
Prometheus Monitoring Complete Course	TechWorld with Nana	Full Prometheus course covering metrics collection, alerting rules, Grafana integration, and monitoring best practices.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
Container Security Best Practices	NIST	Official NIST guidelines for securing containerized applications including image scanning, runtime security, and compliance.	Advanced	Required	Start Learning
Grafana Fundamentals	Grafana Labs	Complete Grafana tutorial covering dashboard creation, data sources, alerting, and visualization best practices.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
DevSecOps Implementation Guide	OWASP	Comprehensive guide to integrating security into DevOps workflows including security testing automation and compliance.	Advanced	Optional	Start Learning
Cloud Compliance and Governance	AWS	Cloud governance framework covering compliance requirements, audit procedures, and regulatory considerations.	Advanced	Optional	Start Learning

Security & Monitoring Implementation

Task Manager Security & Observability Platform

Implement comprehensive security scanning in CI/CD pipeline including SAST, DAST, and dependency checks
Configure IAM policies and RBAC for secure access control across all environments
Set up Prometheus monitoring stack with custom metrics for application and infrastructure
Create Grafana dashboards for real-time visibility into performance, errors, and security events
Implement automated alerting and incident response procedures with escalation policies
Document security policies and create disaster recovery and business continuity plans

Start Security & Monitoring Implementation

Scalability & Cost Optimization

Performance Engineering

Overview

Design and implement scalable cloud architectures that can handle varying loads while optimizing costs through intelligent resource management. Learn auto-scaling strategies, load balancing, caching mechanisms, and performance optimization techniques. Master cost monitoring, resource rightsizing, and sustainable architecture patterns that balance performance requirements with budget constraints while maintaining high availability and reliability.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
Auto Scaling and Load Balancing	AWS	Comprehensive guide to implementing auto-scaling groups and load balancers for high availability and cost optimization.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
Cloud Performance Optimization	Google Cloud	Best practices for optimizing cloud application performance including caching strategies, database optimization, and CDN usage.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
Kubernetes Horizontal Pod Autoscaler	Kubernetes	Official documentation on implementing HPA for automatic pod scaling based on CPU, memory, and custom metrics.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
FinOps for Cloud Cost Management	FinOps Foundation	Financial operations framework for cloud cost visibility, optimization, and governance across engineering and finance teams.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
Caching Strategies and Implementation	System Design Interview	Comprehensive overview of caching patterns including CDN, application-level caching, and distributed caching strategies.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning
Serverless Cost Optimization	AWS	Advanced strategies for optimizing serverless architectures including function sizing, cold start mitigation, and pricing models.	Advanced	Optional	Start Learning

Performance & Cost Optimization Challenge

Task Manager Scalability & Cost Engineering

Implement Horizontal Pod Autoscaling based on CPU, memory, and custom application metrics
Design and deploy content delivery network for static assets with edge caching
Configure Redis caching layer for database query optimization and session management
Set up cost monitoring dashboards with budget alerts and resource optimization recommendations
Implement load testing scenarios to validate scaling behavior under various traffic patterns
Create cost optimization strategy document with rightsizing recommendations and reserved capacity planning

Start Performance & Cost Challenge

AI Integration & Deployment

AI Operations

Overview

Learn to integrate and deploy AI capabilities into production applications using modern MLOps practices and cloud AI services. Master API integration with services like Claude, OpenAI, and cloud-native AI platforms. Develop skills in model deployment patterns, A/B testing for AI features, and responsible AI practices including bias monitoring, explainability, and ethical AI deployment in enterprise environments.

Learning Resources

Course Title	Provider	Description	Level	Mandatory	Action
Building with Claude: Quickstart	Anthropic	Official guide to integrating Claude API into applications including setup, authentication, and best practices for production use.	Beginner	Required	Start Learning
AI Deployment and Best Practices	Google Cloud Tech	Best practices for deploying AI/ML models on cloud platforms including performance optimization and cost considerations.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
AI Service Integration Patterns	Microsoft Azure	Architectural patterns for integrating AI capabilities including Model-as-a-Service, RAG, and event-driven AI architectures.	Advanced	Required	Start Learning
Responsible AI Practices	Google AI	Principles and practices for developing and deploying AI responsibly including fairness, accountability, and privacy considerations.	Intermediate	Required	Start Learning
MLOps Platform Overview	DigitalOcean	Comparative overview of MLOps platforms including SageMaker, Vertex AI, Kubeflow, and MLflow for model deployment.	Intermediate	Optional	Start Learning
AI Model Monitoring and Observability	AWS	Advanced techniques for monitoring AI model performance, drift detection, and maintaining model quality in production.	Advanced	Optional	Start Learning

AI Integration Capstone

Task Manager AI Enhancement Platform

Integrate Claude API for intelligent task categorization and priority recommendation features
Implement A/B testing framework for AI features with performance metrics and user feedback collection
Build AI model monitoring dashboard for tracking usage, performance, and cost metrics
Create responsible AI governance framework including bias detection and ethical AI guidelines
Deploy AI features with proper error handling, fallback mechanisms, and rate limiting
Document AI integration architecture and create operational runbooks for AI feature management

Start AI Integration Capstone