Cloud Computing Architecture is a field of study focused on the design of architectural solutions for cloud computing-based environments, which are inherently distributed and service-based. Among others, cloud-based solutions must consider connectivity, latency and bandwidth constraints, quality attributes such as availability and performance, and non-technical aspects such as pricing and SLAs (Service-Level Agreements).

This unit will focus on the practices and technologies required to architect and deploy secure and robust applications on cloud-provisioned environments, with the aim best leveraging the available cloud resources. Among others, students will learn how to design architectures to achieve high availability, scalability (including auto scaling), infrastructure automation (infrastructure as software), decoupling, and web-scale storage. The main pillars of Cloud Computing Architecture will also be addressed: security, reliability, performance efficiency and cost optimisation. The ultimate goal is to design cloud-based solutions using appropriate architectural design principles and best practices to address customer requirements and deliver quality cloud-based solutions.

Students will have hands-on experience using computing, networking, storage, and database services provided by some of the top cloud providers worldwide, as well as hands-on experience with the deployment and management of cloud services.

This unit will be co-taught with 11368 Cloud Computing Architecture (UG).

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Evaluate cloud computing architectural principles, constraints, and best practices;
2. Compare, evaluate, and design cloud-based solutions using appropriate architectural design principles and best practices to address customer requirements and deliver quality cloud-based solutions;
3. Analyse and design architectures to achieve high availability, scalability (including auto scaling), infrastructure automation (infrastructure as software), decoupling, and web-scale storage;
4. Analyse and design architectures based on the main pillars of Cloud Computing: security, reliability, performance efficiency and cost optimisation; and
5. Evaluate, compare, and develop high quality cloud-based architectural solutions for professional software systems.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - adopt an informed and balanced approach across professional and international boundaries
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology

Skills development

The graduate attributes of this unit address communication, analysis, and inquiry, problem-solving, working independently and with others, professionalism, and social responsibility.

Prerequisites

11510 Enterprise and Cloud Computing PG AND
10088 Introduction to Network Engineering G

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

11368 Cloud Computing Architecture

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

Basic network engineering, basic security and support in IT.