This is a logical starting point if you aren’t familiar with cloud tech. Before discussing the cloud in terms of AWS or Azure, it is good to have a general understanding of what the word “cloud” really means. Don’t be surprised by the following infrastructure, service and deployment models, virtualization, storage and basic vocabulary.

Suitable for an absolute beginner, students, IT staff, web developers, sysadmins and career changers. Basic computer comfort is required; no prior knowledge of a computer language is necessary. As a result, each subsequent course is simpler after courses about IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, public vs. private cloud, elasticity.

IBM SkillsBuild is a free tech learning platform for students and professionals. This introduction teaches you the basics of Cloud, Cloud services, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud deployment models, Cloud virtualization and some real world examples, so that you can have a foundation before choosing a Cloud provider.

Perfect for students, novices, IT professionals, business people and software developers. This understanding of the cloud is applicable later on to cloud engineering, DevOps, software development, and cloud security.

Another good starting point prior to choosing a provider. Presents the basics of clouds, cloud infrastructure, cloud service and deployment models, virtualization, cloud storage, cloud scalability, and cloud applications.

Great for students, beginners, IT professionals, developers and career changers. When they get the basics right from one provider (AWS first, then Azure, and then Google Cloud), instead of trying to manage all three at the same time.

Cloud Fundamentals is a beginner to intermediate course that introduces students to the world of cloud computing.Cloud Fundamentals is an introductory-to-intermediate course to the world of cloud computing, with the possibility of earning a certificate upon course completion.

Saylor Academy is a more academic institution than other schools on this list offer, with a focus on tutorials. Be prepared for cloud concepts, cloud infrastructure, cloud architecture, cloud service models, and deployment models, cloud security, cloud virtualization, and cloud resource management.

It is for learners, self-directed learners, IT professionals, and those who prefer structured learning to the click of a button. This is self paced, work at your own speed.

This is a free Certificate of Cloud Fundamentals course offered by Simplilearn SkillUp.Simplilearn SkillUp Certificate of Cloud Fundamentals course is a free beginner’s-level course that focuses on the basics of Cloud Computing.

Designed for individuals who have limited to no experience with IT and are interested in the fundamentals of the cloud without getting lost in the buzz words. Briefly includes principles, services, infrastructure, virtualization, deployment, storage, and terminology.

Ideal for absolute beginners, non-IT professionals, career changers, and entry-level IT personnel who are not yet ready for provider-specific certification.

Another good entrypoint, if you are going with AWS, as AWS constructed it. Fits in nicely with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. Covers basics of AWS, global infrastructure, compute, storage, databases, networking, security, and pricing.

For AWS newbies, students, developers and business people. AWS certifications can be used to find jobs as cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, and solutions architects. Be aware that the training and the real test are not the same, and the test will be paid for.

A broader, organized trail which you don’t end up jumping between different AWS tutorials. Explains AWS core services, AWS security, AWS architecture, AWS pricing, AWS billing and cloud economics.

Ideal for AWS newcomers, students, and those who are preparing for AWS Cloud Practitioner only. An important point to note: Training is free, however, an exam isn’t. A logical sequence: Cloud Fundamentals, AWS Essentials, this learning plan, Exam preparation, Exam.

Azure is one of the largest names in cloud, and this is a great beginner’s introduction to both cloud concepts and Azure services. Can be used to prepare for AZ-900 exam. Deals with cloud concepts, Azure Services, Deployment models, Architecture, Management and Cloud pricing.

For Azure novices, IT students, developers, and anyone working in an environment dominated by Microsoft products. Experience with Azure isn’t required.

After the basic ideas are grasped, this deals with the actual architecture of Azure: regions, availability zones, compute, storage, networking, and databases.

For Azure newbies, cloud engineers and developers who have gone past the basics. In real cloud work, it is typically a combination of multiple services and knowing each service individually is important.

Cloud computing is more than about just virtual machines. There has to be somebody to govern, to monitor, to manage costs, and to organize resources; this path is exactly that: governance, monitoring, cost management, and resource organization.

Designed for Azure novices, cloud administrators, and IT experts. Untamed, unruly clouds quickly become messy and costly.

The course is open for free, although access may be restricted depending on the program, and it is offered with a certificate, with the availability of the latter varying from one program to another.

Google’s classroom to learn by doing. This foundation path introduces fundamental concepts of cloud and Google Cloud’s key infrastructure and foundation tools: Infrastructure, Computing, Storage, Networking, and Architecture.

Ideal for Google Cloud beginners, students and developers. Hands-on labs; the laboratory courses and credit availability vary, see current offerings before planning.

Not all people are hands-on-keyboard. The path is designed to provide business and strategy perspectives on cloud: digital transformation, business value, basics of data and AI, and modern infrastructure.

Designed for business professionals, managers, students and product managers. Some may be free and hands-on resources might require credits; please check the terms for up-to-date information.

The layer on which everything else is built. This walks through computing, storage, networking and Google Cloud infrastructure details.

Ideal for anyone looking to get started with the cloud, students, and developers looking towards cloud engineering. Becomes more useful as you venture towards administration, DevOps, or cloud security.

In this course, you will explore the cloud’s characteristics and key components, as well as its various types and applications.This course will introduce you to the features and elements of the cloud, its different types and applications.

OpenLearn is a free repository of content, from The Open University, which has an academic flavour but requires no registration or enrollment into anything. Examines cloud concepts, services, infrastructure, benefits, and the wider implications of technology.

Suitable for students, beginning programmers, self-learners and computer professionals looking for structure instead of a fast commercial tutorial.

Before specifying a particular cloud service provider, a general introduction to the terminology of the clouds. Includes basics, infrastructure, services, deployment, virtualization and storage.

Designed for beginners, students, IT professionals and career changers. There is no charge for learning, however the official certificate is an additional fee.

Principles of Cloud Computing is a free Alison course for intermediate learners of cloud computing that is part of the Cloud Computing program of study.Cloud Computing 1: Principles of Cloud Computing is a free Alison course in the Cloud Computing program of study designed for intermediate level students of cloud computing.

For learners who have some basic knowledge and wish to go beyond the scope of a short beginner’s course. Includes infrastructure, architecture, services, deployment, security and management.

For intermediate learners, professionals using IT, or those who wish to become cloud engineers. If IaaS, PaaS, SaaS and Deployment models are still unclear, then take a fundamentals course first.

When moving data to the cloud, this focuses on the very real concerns of security – risks, data protection, identity and access, security controls, and best practices.

For cloud novices with some experience; cyber security learners, and cloud administrators. This knowledge becomes increasingly relevant with the increasing portability of critical systems to the cloud.

Architecture is all about making the various pieces of clouds scalable, reliable and secure. Introduces architectural patterns, scalability, and availability requirements, as well as design principles.

Designed for cloud beginners with a certain level of experience, developers, and aspiring architects. Be sure to enroll in the free audit mode, because edX doesn’t offer the free audit unless you sign up for the course separately from the verified certificate.

It is a larger range of courses across various levels, not just one narrow course, ranging from fundamentals through to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, security and DevOps.

Great for beginners to advanced, or anyone wanting to fill a gap. It makes sense to go through fundamentals, a provider, architecture, security, DevOps.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth conceptual understanding, not just a walk-through, NPTEL offers courses at the university level from institutes in India. Includes topics of architecture, virtualization, distributed systems and resource management.

Aims at college students, IT professionals and intermediate learners who like academic style learning. Some knowledge of computing and networking is useful, as this is an intermediate level course.