This module addresses topics of:

Core cloud computing topics and themes
AWS Certified Solutions Architect industry certification
Compliance requirements
Technical, organisational, legal and sustainability issues
Monitoring techniques
Backup and troubleshooting a Cloud environment
Disaster recovery techniques
Security requirements
Container Services
Case studies and research related to the cloud computing domain
Address of the design of complex network problems and solutions
Virtualisation
Adoption Models
Elastic computing
Risk management activity, address of issues, and design for security
Networking standards, and quality process procedures
Storage options

BCS / TechSkills / Employability elements:

Address of cloud systems design and modelling
Commercial and business issues associated to the design of cloud computing systems
Security considerations in relation to cloud network infrastructure
Evaluation of the design and implementation of cloud-based systems
legal, social, ethical, sustainability, and professional issues associated to cloud computing
Practical problem solving within cloud computing

CLASS-TEST – A written test covering theory and practical application of topics demonstrated within the module around cloud, virtualisation and communication technologies. Specifically, you will be given example scenarios with set answers to choose from, as well as questions where you will need to devise your own written answer. For the scenarios you will have the target of choosing or defining the best efficient solution to a set problem.

PRESENTATION – Based on a provided team-based case study enabling you to demonstrate your ability to compare and evaluate proposed solutions for a given scenario. This will involve the analysis, design, evaluation, and subsequent presentation to justify a created cloud-based design artefact for an enterprise scenario.

Formative assessment opportunities will be provided throughout the module. In generating the presentation staff will review slides and also schedule a practice for presentation delivery. Related to the class-test there will be pre-circulated sample questions and group feedback as to potentially good answers. There will also be a mock test so you can gauge your learning.

All teaching sessions will blend theory and practical learning. You will be introduced to curriculum concepts and ideas and will then be able to apply theory to practical examples within the same sessions. In addition, you will be provided with a range of resources for independent study such as case studies, academic papers and industry stories. There will be a mixture of practical and theoretical formative (mock or practice) exercises which will help you build knowledge and confidence in preparation for summative (formal) assessment.

1. Formulate through investigation the key technical, organisational, legal and sustainability issues associated with the adoption of cloud and virtualised systems within organisations.

Knowledge & Understanding

2. Design and implement cloud-based and virtualised infrastructure solutions working within a team for business scenarios, applying problem-solving, planning and commercial awareness.

Application & Problem-Solving
Digital Literacy

3. Critically compare through research and evaluate cloud and virtualisation technologies to assess risks and communicate appropriate solutions based on research to a provided team-based scenario.

Critical Reasoning & Collaboration
Research Skills

A networking lab

Remote connection to cloud resources for independent study activities

Department of Computing's Grid room

Networking rack room

Kairo, Z. (2025), Computer Networking Mastery: The Complete Networking Playbook: 2025 Professional Guide to TCP/IP, Cloud Infrastructure (AWS & Azure), Security & Troubleshooting with Real World Case Studies, Independently Published

CISCO, (2025), CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate Glossary Booklet: 1st Edition - 2025, IPS Specialist Publishing

Amos, R. (2025), CISCO CCNA 200-301 STUDY GUIDE: A Complete Exam Prep with 300+ Practice Questions, Detailed Answers, and In-Depth Explanations to Pass on Your First Try, Independently Published

Lewis, J. (2025), Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK v5) Study Guide 2025-2026: Your All-in-One Prep to Success with Practice Questions, Detailed Explanations, and Expert Strategies, Independently Published

Cloud Computing is an area of increasing importance within the enterprise environment. Within the module you will look at the hypervisor technologies which are currently used to understand how these interact with hardware and allow a virtualized OS to work either natively or through a host OS.  This module will help you look at the usage of Cloud Computing and use Amazon Web Services (AWS) as a base for the practical work. Within this module you will look at the usage cases of the different aspects of this technology and learn to understand the impact of decisions which are made. As a part of this course, you will be learning how to use the Amazon Web Services cloud environment as a member of the AWS Academy program. You will also be studying towards your AWS Certified Solutions Architect industry certification, should you wish to pursue this.