Networking and Cloud Computing Course

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Network Standards Bodies

Surveys organisations that define networking standards and explains why interoperability depends on them. Sets context for protocol discussions ahead.

Lesson 2 • Core Network Hardware Components

Identifies routers, switches, hubs, and access points and explains their roles. Provides the hardware context needed for later protocol study.

Lesson 3 • Network Topologies and Architectures

Covers physical and logical layouts of networks. Connects topology choice to performance and fault tolerance outcomes.

Lesson 4 • What Networks Are and Why They Matter

Defines a network, its purpose, and real-world use cases. Establishes the vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • The TCP/IP Model in Practice

Maps the four-layer TCP/IP model to real protocols and compares it to OSI. Prepares students to work with the model used on the modern internet.

Lesson 2 • The Seven Layers of the OSI Model

Defines each OSI layer's responsibilities and associated protocols. Builds the reference framework used in all subsequent protocol analysis.

Lesson 3 • Purpose of Layered Network Models

Explains why abstraction layers simplify network design and troubleshooting. Motivates the OSI and TCP/IP models before detailing them.

Lesson 1 • IPv4 Address Structure and Classes

Breaks down the 32-bit IPv4 address format and historical class system. Provides the foundation for subnetting calculations that follow.

Lesson 2 • IPv6 Addressing Fundamentals

Introduces the 128-bit IPv6 format, address types, and notation rules. Positions IPv6 as the long-term replacement for IPv4 in modern networks.

Lesson 3 • Address Assignment and Management

Covers static assignment, DHCP, and APIPA for IPv4 and SLAAC for IPv6. Connects address management practices to network reliability and scalability.

Lesson 4 • Subnetting a Network

Applies subnet math to divide an address block into usable subnets. Students practice allocating subnets to meet host-count requirements.

Lesson 1 • Network Address Translation and Proxies

Covers NAT types and how proxies mediate traffic between clients and servers. Explains how these services extend private networks and add a security layer.

Lesson 2 • Transport Layer Protocols: TCP and UDP

Contrasts TCP's reliable, connection-oriented delivery with UDP's lightweight approach. Guides students in selecting the right protocol for a given application.

Lesson 3 • Routing Concepts and Protocols

Explains static and dynamic routing and introduces OSPF and BGP at a conceptual level. Prepares students to understand how packets find paths across networks.

Lesson 4 • DNS: The Internet's Directory Service

Explains how DNS resolves hostnames to IP addresses and describes its hierarchy. Connects DNS to every application-layer service students will encounter.

Lesson 1 • Firewalls and Packet Filtering

Explains stateless and stateful firewalls and how rules control traffic flow. Connects firewall placement to network zone design introduced later.

Lesson 2 • VPNs and Secure Remote Access

Describes site-to-site and remote-access VPN architectures and their protocols. Prepares students to design secure connectivity for remote workers and branch offices.

Lesson 3 • Access Control and Authentication

Introduces AAA, 802.1X, and multi-factor authentication for network access. Links identity-based controls to the principle of least privilege.

Lesson 4 • Encryption and Secure Protocols

Covers symmetric and asymmetric encryption and their use in TLS and IPsec. Provides the cryptographic grounding needed to understand VPNs and cloud security.

Lesson 1 • Cloud Economics and Pricing Models

Explains pay-as-you-go, reserved, and spot pricing and introduces total cost of ownership analysis. Prepares students to evaluate cloud costs against on-premises alternatives.

Lesson 2 • Major Cloud Providers Overview

Surveys the leading hyperscale providers and their core service categories without endorsing any single vendor. Gives students a market-aware perspective for provider selection.

Lesson 3 • Cloud Deployment Models

Compares public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud deployments by control, cost, and compliance fit. Connects deployment choice to organisational requirements.

Lesson 4 • What Cloud Computing Is

Defines cloud computing using the five essential NIST characteristics and contrasts it with on-premises infrastructure. Sets the conceptual baseline for all cloud chapters.

Lesson 1 • Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Connectivity

Explains dedicated interconnects, VPN gateways, and SD-WAN for linking on-premises to cloud. Prepares students to design connectivity for hybrid enterprise architectures.

Lesson 2 • Cloud Security Groups and Network ACLs

Contrasts stateful security groups with stateless network ACLs for traffic control. Applies firewall concepts from Chapter 5 to cloud-native enforcement mechanisms.

Lesson 3 • Virtual Private Cloud Architecture

Explains how a virtual private cloud isolates resources within a public cloud. Connects VPC design to the IP addressing and subnetting skills from earlier chapters.

Lesson 4 • Cloud Storage and Content Delivery

Introduces object, block, and file storage types and explains how CDNs reduce latency. Ties storage selection to application architecture decisions.

Lesson 1 • Cloud Monitoring and Logging

Introduces cloud-native logging, metrics, and alerting tools for operational visibility. Establishes the observability foundation needed for incident response and optimisation.

Lesson 2 • Incident Response and Disaster Recovery

Defines RTO and RPO and maps cloud features to recovery strategies. Equips students to design and test a basic cloud disaster recovery plan.

Lesson 3 • Cloud Identity and Access Management

Covers IAM users, roles, policies, and federation for controlling cloud resource access. Extends the RBAC and least-privilege concepts from Chapter 5 to cloud-native IAM.

Lesson 4 • Data Protection in the Cloud

Addresses encryption at rest and in transit, key management, and data classification. Connects cryptographic concepts from Chapter 5 to cloud storage and database security.