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Google Career Certificates

Unlock the potential of automation for computer fleet management in our all-encompassing course. Whether you're new to the field or seeking to expand your skills, this program provides a solid foundation in automation techniques, offering a pathway to becoming a versatile IT professional prepared to launch and support modern cloud based applications and systems.

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Unlock the potential of automation for computer fleet management in our all-encompassing course. Whether you're new to the field or seeking to expand your skills, this program provides a solid foundation in automation techniques, offering a pathway to becoming a versatile IT professional prepared to launch and support modern cloud based applications and systems.

You’ll start by discovering the art of automating computer deployment and management in a cloud-based environment. Then delve into the world of containerization with Docker and learn container orchestration with Kubernetes. Next gain expertise in configuration management tools and techniques to ensure system consistency and reliability. You will explore the world of monitoring, enabling proactive responses to potential issues. Finally, embrace the DevOps culture as you learn the principles of CI/CD. Become proficient in the art of automating software delivery pipelines, ensuring efficiency, quality, and consistency.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Automation in the Cloud
In this module, you’ll be introduced to the concept of automation at scale and how it can be successfully achieved. You’ll learn what it means to work at scale and how automation is needed to scale effectively. Next, you’ll be introduced to configuration management. You’ll learn the differences between unmanaged and managed configuration management. Then, you’ll dive into infrastructure as code and learn about the benefits it brings, like making your fleet of nodes more reliable and repeatable. This is a major benefit when managing systems at scale. In the next lesson, you’ll be introduced to Puppet. You’ll learn how to apply basic configuration management and how Puppet agents and masters interact with each other. Next, you’ll do a rundown of Puppet resources and classes. You’ll learn how resources are basic units for modeling your configurations and how classes are a collection of resources used to achieve a single goal. The final lesson will introduce you to the building blocks of domain-specific language. You’ll learn what Puppet facts are and how it uses a program called Facter to analyze, store and gather this information. Your final lesson will cover the driving principles of configuration management. You’ll learn about declarative, procedural, and idempotent principals and how they differ from each other.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers relevant industry practices and standards
Develops foundational skills for IT professionals
Provides opportunities for hands-on practice with industry tools such as Docker and Kubernetes
Introduces modern cloud-based technologies and concepts
May require additional resources to supplement learning materials
Builds on existing technical knowledge and experience

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Reviews summary

Configuration management and the cloud overview

According to learners, this course provides a broad and positive overview of essential concepts for modern IT infrastructure and DevOps. Students appreciate the career-relevant topics covered, including configuration management, cloud technologies, containerization (Docker/Kubernetes), and CI/CD practices. While it serves as a strong introduction, reviewers commonly note a lack of depth in certain areas, suggesting it's a starting point needing further study. The hands-on labs are seen as helpful for practical understanding, though some found the pace varied depending on their prior technical background. The course's focus on tools like Puppet was relevant for some but less so for others. Overall, it's considered a valuable foundational course for those entering or transitioning into cloud and DevOps roles.
Strong emphasis on Puppet for configuration mgmt.
"The sections on Puppet were quite detailed."
"As someone using Ansible, the Puppet focus wasn't ideal for my job."
"Good if you need to learn Puppet, otherwise that section might be less relevant."
Hands-on labs reinforce learning effectively.
"The labs were crucial for practicing the concepts."
"Really appreciated the hands-on work with the tools."
"Sometimes the lab environment had minor issues, but they were generally useful."
Good overview of key DevOps concepts.
"This course gave me a great starting point on CM, containers, and cloud."
"Learned about Puppet, Docker, K8s, and CI/CD basics all in one place."
"Helpful for understanding the landscape of modern infrastructure."
Teaches skills highly sought after in IT jobs.
"These are exactly the skills employers are looking for in cloud roles."
"The topics covered are highly relevant for a DevOps career path."
"Feel more confident applying for jobs after taking this."
Pace may require prior knowledge or extra effort.
"Might be tough if you're completely new to IT concepts."
"Moved a bit slow in the early modules, but sped up later."
"Having some Linux/CLI experience helps a lot with the labs."
Covers many topics but not in great detail.
"It's a good overview, but don't expect to become an expert in anything here."
"Some modules felt a bit rushed, like Kubernetes."
"I'll need more specialized courses to really master these topics."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Configuration Management and the Cloud with these activities:
Organize and review course materials
Organizing and reviewing course materials will help you better retain the information and identify areas where you need additional support.
Show steps
  • Gather and organize notes, assignments, and quizzes
  • Review the materials regularly to reinforce your understanding
Join a study group or online forum
Engaging with peers through study groups or online forums can provide valuable insights and support.
Show steps
  • Identify a study group or online forum related to course topics
  • Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share knowledge
Review Docker & Kubernetes
Reviewing Docker and Kubernetes will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course materials on containerization and orchestration.
Browse courses on Docker
Show steps
  • Go through online tutorials on Docker and Kubernetes
  • Set up a local environment and practice deploying and managing containers using Docker
  • Explore Kubernetes concepts such as pods, deployments, and services
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Explore DevOps best practices
Reviewing DevOps best practices will complement your understanding of the course materials on continuous integration and continuous delivery.
Browse courses on DevOps
Show steps
  • Identify resources and tutorials on DevOps best practices
  • Read articles, watch videos, or attend webinars on DevOps topics
Practice deploying and managing cloud instances
Hands-on practice with cloud deployment and management will enhance your understanding of the concepts covered in the course.
Browse courses on Cloud Deployment
Show steps
  • Create a cloud account and set up a project
  • Deploy a virtual machine instance
  • Configure and manage the instance, including scaling and load balancing
Build a Puppet configuration management script
Creating a Puppet script will reinforce your understanding of configuration management techniques and their practical application.
Browse courses on Puppet
Show steps
  • Identify a system or application that requires configuration management
  • Design and write a Puppet manifest to manage the configuration
  • Test and deploy the Puppet script
Attend a hands-on workshop on cloud automation
Attending a workshop will provide practical experience and insights beyond the course materials.
Browse courses on Cloud Automation
Show steps
  • Research and identify relevant workshops
  • Register and attend the workshop
Contribute to open-source projects related to DevOps
Contributing to open-source projects will allow you to apply your skills and collaborate with others in the field.
Browse courses on DevOps
Show steps
  • Identify open-source projects related to DevOps
  • Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute
  • Make code contributions, submit bug reports, or participate in discussions

Career center

Learners who complete Configuration Management and the Cloud will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Site Reliability Engineer
Site Reliability Engineers design, build, and maintain computer systems to ensure reliability and performance. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Site Reliability Engineers.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for DevOps Engineers.
Cloud Architect
Cloud Architects design, build, and manage cloud computing environments. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Cloud Architects.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Systems Administrators.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Software Engineers.
Network Engineer
Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Network Engineers.
Data Engineer
Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data systems. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Data Engineers.
Security Engineer
Security Engineers design, build, and maintain security systems. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Security Engineers.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Database Administrators.
IT Manager
IT Managers are responsible for managing and overseeing IT departments. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for IT Managers.
IT Consultant
IT Consultants provide expert advice and guidance to businesses on how to use IT to achieve their business goals. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for IT Consultants.
Cloud Security Analyst
Cloud Security Analysts are responsible for protecting cloud computing environments from security threats. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Cloud Security Analysts.
Cloud Infrastructure Architect
Cloud Infrastructure Architects design, build, and maintain cloud computing infrastructure. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Cloud Infrastructure Architects.
Cloud Application Developer
Cloud Application Developers design, develop, and maintain cloud-based applications. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Cloud Application Developers.
Cloud Automation Engineer
Cloud Automation Engineers design, build, and maintain cloud-based automation systems. This course may be useful in teaching you the basics of cloud-based systems, configuration management, and monitoring, all of which are essential skills for Cloud Automation Engineers.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Configuration Management and the Cloud.
From Google experts provides insights into the practices and tools used by Google to ensure the reliability of its large-scale systems. It covers topics such as incident management, capacity planning, and performance monitoring.
Provides a practical approach to managing cloud-based servers using infrastructure-as-code (IaC) techniques. It covers popular tools like Terraform and Ansible and explains the best practices for automating server management tasks.
This comprehensive textbook provides a rigorous and in-depth treatment of cloud computing concepts, technologies, and architecture. It valuable resource for students and professionals seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying principles and mechanisms of cloud computing.
This comprehensive guide provides an in-depth introduction to Kubernetes, a popular container orchestration platform. It covers the core concepts of Kubernetes, including cluster management, deployment strategies, and service discovery.
Provides a practical guide to developing cloud-native Java applications using Spring Boot and Kubernetes. It covers the entire development lifecycle, from design and architecture to deployment and monitoring.
This novel uses a story-based approach to explain the principles and practices of DevOps. It provides insights into the challenges and benefits of DevOps and how to implement it successfully in organizations.

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