This unit introduces cloud computing as the provision of computing resources. Students are exposed to modern systems architectures and software development kits that, together, provide cloud computing frameworks. They learn about different aspects of the design, development, provisioning and management of cloud-based applications.

Students gain a sound understanding of cloud-based computing and the opportunities that it provides for a diverse range of computing applications.

Special attention is made to security of cloud-based applications and the different strategies that are available in these deployments.

Students will learn how to carry out operations on the cloud by developing software and utilising application programming interfaces for the services provided by the cloud platform.

Students are able to (1) apply services and architectures offered by virtualisation and cloud platforms to business and research problems; (2) write code to utilise application programming interfaces to interact with the cloud platform; (3) explain how cloud platforms can be used by organisations to achieve efficiencies in developing, operating and scaling modern applications; (4) propose new ways of modifying, extending or combining existing methodologies and implementation techniques; (5) apply international standards documents and application programming interface documentation; and (6) examine the potential for, and practicality of, developing cloud computing architectures for specific applications.