OCR LEVEL 2
CAMBRIDGE TECHNICAL
CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA IN
IT
UNDERSTANDING CLOUD
COMPUTING
L/505/5652
LEVEL 2 UNIT 30
GUIDED LEARNING HOURS: 60
UNIT CREDIT VALUE: 10
TECHNICALS
aim and pUrpose of the Unit
Cloud computing is a fast - growing concept mainly due to the rapid developments in technology. In everyday usage of Internet technologies, many people are confused and fearful of using the ‘Cloud’. They do not appreciate that through everyday tasks such as email, file storage they are actually using the ‘Cloud’ to meet their needs. Understanding cloud computing aims to give learners an appreciation of what the ‘Cloud’ actually means, how it is used socially and in business. They should understand the technical implications of the use of Cloud technologies in business specifically as personal users tend to subscribe to free services. They should identify from the services and provision available how this will benefit business and appreciate the changing IT landscape for business.
Understanding Cloud Computing Level 2 Unit 30
assessment and grading criteria
learning outcome (lo)
The learner will:
pass
The assessment criteria are the pass requirements for this unit.
The learner can:
merit
To achieve a merit the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to:
distinction
To achieve a distinction the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to:
1 Understand what is meant by cloud computing
P1 explain cloud
computing D1 describe the relationship between cloud computing and visualisation.
P2 explain the different types of cloud 2 Know how cloud
computing relates to business
P3 explain how a business could use cloud computing
M1 explain where a business would not use cloud computing P4 compare cloud
computing and outsourcing services
M2 explain the benefits of clouds and cloud services from a business perspective
3 Understand the technical perspectives for different cloud types
P5 explain the difference between private and public types of clouds
D2 describe procedures for cloud computing deployment
P6 describe the technical challenges including risks for cloud computing
M3 explain methods to reduce these challenges/risks
D3 describe the impact of cloud computing on the application-development process 4 Understand how to identify a successful adoption of cloud
P7 explain steps that lead to a successful adoption of cloud computing
M4 describe the roles relating to cloud computing suppliers
lo1 Understand what is meant by cloud computing
Cloud computing terms e.g. virtualisation, automation, provisioning, dynamic infrastructure, elasticity, automation Cloud computing USP ‘s e.g. rapid service provisioning, service elasticity, usage-based billing, and ubiquitous service access
lo2 Know how cloud computing relates to business
Cloud services e.g. XaaS, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, BpaaS Uses of cloud
• Commercial e.g. lower IT costings, security, new markets • Social e.g. shopping, research, gaming
Business advantages e.g. virtualisation, provisioning, elastic scaling, service automation management, pervasiveness, flexible pricing
Service Delivery Impacts e.g. rapid service delivery, resource consolidation, elastic scaling, self-service, usage-based billing Business value • Scalability • Security • Hardware independence • Variable costs • Time to market
Distribution over the Internet
lo3 Understand the technical perspectives for different cloud types Cloud types • Private Differentiation • Advantages • Disadvantages Cloud computing layers • Application; • Platform; • Infrastructure
Cloud considerations e.g. security, automation, network, storage management, and virtualisation
Hardware used e.g. • Processing unit, • Elasticity, • Storage Networking
• Automation and self service • Cloud storage
• Application performance • Data integration
• Security
lo4 Understand how to identify a successful adoption of cloud
Selection criteria for cloud computing
Deployment of organisational goals e.g. use of SaaS, PaaS, IaaS Organisational IT skills e.g. service level agreements, self-service permissions, performance review, compliance
Understanding Cloud Computing Level 2 Unit 30
Planning considerations e.g; • Key requirements
• Considerations e.g. hardware, virtualisation technology, storage, networking, service management, assess application workloads, application interactions Cloud supplier • Differentiators e.g; • Services available • Costings • Structure • Agreements
Understand what is meant by cloud computing
Tutors should start by discussing cloud computing and encourage learners to identify examples and usage around the core idea of the Cloud. Their ideas may be inaccurate or off target in their interpretations but the tutor can guide these to the actual terminology, services and options available. Tutors should then discuss virtualisation and what this means both technically and in a business context. Then, working in small groups, tutors should encourage learners to look at the most widely used cloud services then present back in visual form to the wider group. The perspectives that the learner may apply will be based on the focus of their research and understanding and the different perspectives should provide a basis for wider discussion. The tutor should then explain how cloud computing and virtualisation work together in the business environment and how they are linked. The learners should also explore the technology that supports cloud computing and is required for the range of the services they have discussed and how these technologies may drive the choice of service required.
Know how cloud computing relates to business
With an understanding of cloud computing and the virtual business environment, the tutor should introduce the more specific usage of cloud computing by different businesses and explore the types of businesses that could use cloud effectively to improve or support their business and then identify the services that each may use. Giving specific business examples, whether small or large, will enable the learner to appreciate the benefits to a business and where certain services are not appropriate or suitable. They should understand why this is the case and the problems that the wrong choice of service may cause these identified businesses.
earlier research to identify the differences to a business. They should also understand the benefits of the services which different business choose. The tutor could introduce this as group discussion, smaller group research and presentations or a quiz to cover services, scope, benefit and appropriateness. Tutors should then broaden the cloud discussions to cover public and private clouds, how once decided a business would implement the solutions and identify stages. During discussions on the stages and the order and way in which the deployment should be carried out will then lead the learner to identify potential problems with the order in which it is carried out. The tutor should question and discuss proposals and changes which the learners make to the tasks, methods and implementations identifying what they perceive to be problems if not carried out logically.
It is important the tutor reviews the technologies explored earlier in relation to the choice of service and extend the discussion of technology influencing choice of service to the risks and challenges that this may generate. A small business scenario should be explored as should a variety of sector types to fully understand risks. The learners should discuss how these technological challenges could be overcome and how risks could be reduced, monitored, considered or kept to a minimum.
A lighter topic for learners to consider is that of application or app development. Researching the history of applications to include user and systems software through to apps is a good learning tool to ensure the learners appreciate the rapid evolution of technology for communication and business needs.
Understanding Cloud Computing Level 2 Unit 30
Understand how to identify a successful adoption of cloud
Tutors should encourage learners to identify a business and the cloud services they are to adopt and then identify stages of implementation for the adoption of the service. Examples for three services will give the different perspectives and could be researched and presented by smaller groups, pairs or individuals with group consolidation of ideas.
The main focus so far has been on the customer, their needs for the business, the technologies they work with and how they can best embrace cloud computing. To some extent, the learners may have considered how services will be supplied to the business but in small groups, they should research the services and offers available from different types of suppliers. They should consider both commercial and social suppliers, what they offer, costings responsibilities etc.
terms and concepts associated with cloud computing. The learner may choose to explain this relating to advances in technology, business practice and social communications if this assists their explanation.
For P2 learners must explain the different types of cloud. This could be a presentation or a leaflet and could link and support evidence produced for P1. They should clearly identify the different cloud types and services available and potentially give examples of where they are used.
For distinction assessment criterion D1 learners must describe the relationship between cloud computing and virtualisation. They should be able to evidence their understanding of virtualisation and what this means in addition to the relationship with cloud computing. This may be in the form of a report and may also be supported by visual images, diagrams etc.
assessment criteria p3, m1, p4, m2
For P3 learners must explain how a business could use cloud computing. They must consider the different types of cloud and understand where the different services would support different business types. This could be in the form of annotated diagrams and supporting text or a report.
For merit assessment criterion M1 learners must explain where a business would not use cloud computing. This may be in the form of a report or presentation and the learner may choose to use this as an extension of P3. There must be a clear explanation of why particular business types and structures would not choose to use particular cloud services.
For P4 learners must compare cloud computing already explained in P2 and compare them with outsourcing services available. They should identify where a type and structure of business would choose to adopt and implement certain cloud services and where they would choose to outsource the services ensuring that their understanding and ideas are
representation with annotations.
For distinction assessment criterion D2 learners must describe the deployment process of Cloud computing services for an organisation.
For P6 learners must describe the technical challenges including risks for cloud computing. This could be the form of a poster or leaflet and may be from a business or user perspective.
For merit assessment criterion M3 learners must explain methods to reduce these challenges/risks. This may be an extension of the evidence from P6 and may also be in a visual format with annotations and supporting text.
For distinction assessment criterion D3 learners must describe the impact of cloud computing on the application-development process. This may be a report or presentation and may take the approach of comparing the historical application development process and tasks to the cloud based alternatives.
assessment criteria p7, m4
For P7 learners must explain steps that lead to a successful adoption of cloud computing. This is best evidenced using visual representations with text to describe stages and processes.
For merit assessment criterion M4 learners must describe the roles relating to cloud computing suppliers. This should consider the roles they have, services they provide, their risks etc. This may be in the form of a report or presentation.
Understanding Cloud Computing Level 2 Unit 30
mapping within the qUalification to the other Units
Unit 4: Installing computer hardware Unit 5: Installing computer software Unit 6: Setting up an IT network
Unit 15: Supporting organisations with IT Unit 18: IT security
Unit 19: Mobile communications technology Unit 21: Doing business online
linKs to nos
4.1 Systems Architecture
4.8 IT/Technology Infrastructure Design and Planning 5.4 Systems Integration
6.1 Information Management
7.1 IT/Technology Service Operations and Event Management 7.6 Availability Management
7.7 IT/Technology Capacity Management 7.11 Supplier Management