Cloud Computing 101: Foundations and Concepts

Wednesday 20 May 2026, 16:00 → 18:00 Africa/Mogadishu

Zoom

This session, Cloud Computing 101: Foundations and Concepts, is part of the SomNOG Capacity Building Series and introduces the fundamentals of cloud computing. It begins by explaining what the cloud is and how it differs from traditional IT systems, followed by key concepts such as on-demand access, scalability, and pay-as-you-go pricing, along with an overview of major cloud providers including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

The session further covers core service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), deployment models (public, private, hybrid), and essential building blocks such as compute, storage, and networking. It also introduces basic cloud security concepts, including the shared responsibility model, and discusses real-world use cases to illustrate how cloud computing is applied in practice. The session concludes with an interactive discussion to reinforce learning.

16:00 → 16:15 Introduction to Cloud Computing

• What is the cloud
• Differences from traditional IT systems

16:15 → 16:25 Key Cloud Concepts

• On-demand access
• Scalability
• Pay-as-you-go pricing

16:25 → 16:45 Overview of Cloud Providers

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud

16:45 → 17:05 Cloud Service Models

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)

17:05 → 17:15 Deployment Models

• Public cloud
• Private cloud
• Hybrid cloud

17:15 → 17:25 Core Cloud Components

• Compute
• Storage
• Networking

17:25 → 17:35 Cloud Security Basics

• Shared responsibility model

17:35 → 17:55 Real-World Use Cases

17:55 → 18:00 Interactive Discussion and Wrap-up