Course Title: Configure cloud services

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2025

Course Code: ISYS7598C

Course Title: Configure cloud services

School: 520T Future Technologies

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4424 - Certificate IV in Cyber Security

Course Contact: Lav TS

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 1409

Course Contact Email: lav.t.s@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

In this course you will gain the skills and knowledge required to configure core cloud services including compute, storage, databases and autoscaling according to business needs and workload.

The unit applies to cloud computing architects, developers and cloud engineers utilising cloud services and those engaged in deploying cloud computing solutions for a business.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

ICTCLD401 Configure cloud services

Element:

1. Select and secure access to cloud environment

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Create users and groups to create and manage infrastructure according to business requirements and needs

2.2 Create virtual multi-tier network to support core services and autoscaling

2.3 Create virtual machine according to business processing and operating system requirements

2.4 Define, add and expand storage on virtual machine according to business requirements and needs

2.5 Deploy a managed database within a virtual network according to business requirements and needs

2.6 Test external network access and access between resources within the virtual network and fix errors

Element:

2. Deploy virtual network

Performance Criteria:

  • 1.1 Discuss and compare different cloud computing solutions, models and services according to business requirements and needs

    1.2 Identify impact of shared security responsibility models

    1.3 Select best cloud computing solution and service according to business requirements and needs

    1.4 Access account on cloud platform according to business requirements and needs

    1.5 Identify user access protocols and policies according to business requirements and needs

    1.6 Configure access functions within the cloud environment according to users, groups and required permissions

    1.7 Identify and assign security responsibilities according to security policies, business protocols and work function

    1.8 Define workload according to business requirements and needs

Element:

3. Set up automatic scaling

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Configure and apply autoscaling to virtual machines to scale according to business-defined metrics

3.2 Test automatic scaling and fix errors as required

Element:

4. Finalise virtual network infrastructure

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Document and communicate work to required personnel

4.2 Seek and respond to feedback as required

4.3 Save and store user documentation according to organisational policies and procedures


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 


Details of Learning Activities

In this course, you will work on Cloud services concepts and configuration. The primary goal of this course is to progressively develop knowledge and skills on Cloud Services concept, Cloud systems configuration and Troubleshooting throughout the semester. You will be performing Lab exercises by yourself with guidance and some assistance. Key concepts will be explained is lectures, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples; Your class Teacher may be able to assist with guidance for any technical issue, but you will need to perform research for technical troubleshooting and devise feasible solutions.

Assignments, as described in Overview of Assessment (below), require an integrated understanding of the subject matter; and Private study, working through the course study materials as presented in classes and learning materials, and gaining knowledge and skills by practising conceptual and technical problems solving collaboratively. You are not required to complete all Lab Exercises of the Week in one sitting. You may continue and progressively complete the Labs.

Key concepts will be explained in lectures, classes or online, where syllabus material will be presented and the subject matter will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples; Tutorials and/or labs and/or group discussions (including online forums) focused on technical projects, network systems troubleshooting and problem-solving will provide practice in the application of theory and procedures, allow exploration of concepts with teaching staff and other students, and give feedback on your progress and understanding of the subject matter.

The supporting study documents and video tutorials will serve as guidelines only. You may be required to perform further online research on the Study Topic ie. Google search, YouTube video tutorials, LinkedIn learning tutorials, vendor websites, online forums, discussion and consultation with peers and your class teacher, etc. You are not required to complete all the Lab Exercises of the Week in one sitting. You may continue and progressively complete the Labs. You must complete and demonstrate all Lab Exercises by the end of the semester.

There are no hurdle requirements and no Exams for this course. However, there are two(2) Assessment Tasks. The student is required to satisfactorily respond to all Assessment Tasks to receive a Competency Grade (CA) for the Course.

This course involves extensive use of, but is not limited to -

  • AWS Academy - Cloud Foundations course study materials and Labs
  • AWS Learner Labs
  • AWS Cloud Services online documentation
  • other third-party Study materials, Guided Readings, Video Tutorials and Labs, which will be advised by the Class Teacher in class.


Teaching Schedule

WeekDateTopicAssessment / Learning activities
Week 1 14/07/2025 to 20/07/2025

Cloud Concepts Overview:

  • Introduction to Cloud Computing
  • Advantages of the Cloud
  • Introduction to AWS
  • Moving to the AWS Cloud

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 1 - Cloud Concepts Overview


Group Research and Discussion
Week 2 21/07/2025 to 27/07/2025 Cloud Economics and Billing:
  • Fundamentals of Pricing
  • Total Cost of Ownership
  • AWS Organizations
  • AWS Billing & Cost Management
  • AWS Technical Support Models 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 2 - Cloud Economics and Billing


Lab Exercise: AWS Pricing Calculator https://calculator.aws/#/Links to an external site.
Week 3 28/07/2025 to 03/08/2025 AWS Global Infrastructure Overview:
  • AWS Global Infrastructure
  • AWS Services & Service Categories 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 3 - AWS Global Infrastructure Overview


Lab Exercise: AWS Console and AWS CLI
Week 4 04/08/2025 to 10/08/2025

AWS Cloud Security:

  • AWS Shared Responsibility Model
  • AWS IAM
  • Securing Accounts
  • Securing Data
  • Working to Ensure Compliance 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 4 - AWS Cloud Security


Lab Exercise: AWS IAM

Activity: Create an S3 static website
Week 5 11/08/2025 to 17/08/2025

AWS Networking and Content Delivery:

  • Networking Basics
  • Amazon VPC
  • VPC Networking

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 5 - Networking and Content Delivery


Lab Exercise: Amazon VPC

Activity: Create a vanilla VPC and add subnets
Week 6 18/08/2025 to 24/08/2025

AWS Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2):

  • AWS Compute Services Overview
  • Amazon EC2

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 6 - Compute


Lab Exercise: Amazon EC2

Activity: Create an EC2 with a template
Week 7  25/08/2025 to 31/08/25

AWS Cloud Storage:

  • Amazon EBS
  • Amazon S3
  • Amazon EFS / FSx

 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 7 - Storage


Lab Exercise: AWS Storage

 Assessment Task 1 Release - Task expectations discussion
  01/09/2025 to 07/09/2025

Mid-semester break

 
Week 8 08/09/2025 to 14/09/2025

AWS Cloud Foundations Review

  • Assessment Task1 

Assessment Task1 
Week 9

15/09/2025

to

21/09/2025
Week 10 22/09/2025 to 28/09/2025

AWS Databases:

  • Amazon RDS

 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 8 - Databases


Lab Exercise: AWS RDS Database

Activity: Create database and EC2 connecting to the database through CLI. 
Week 11 29/09/2024 to 05/10/2025

AWS Cloud Architecture:

  • AWS Well-Architected Framework Design Principles:
    • Operational Excellence
    • Security
    • Reliability
    • Performance Efficiency
    • Cost Optimization
    • Reliability & High Availability

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 9 - Cloud Architecture


Lab Exercise: Create VPC, DB, EC2 with a web server using CloudFormation
Week 12 06/10/2025 to 12/10/2025

Auto Scaling and Monitoring :

  • Elastic Load Balancing
  • Amazon CloudWatch
  • Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling 

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations
Module 10 - Auto Scaling and Monitoring


Lab Exercise: Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancer

Activity - Create EC2 autoscaling using template

Assessment Task 2 Release
Week 13 13/10/2025 to 19/10/2025

AWS Cloud Foundations Review

  • Assessment Task2
 Assessment Task2
Due for submission on 30/05/2025
Week 14 20/10/2025 to 26/10/2025
Week 15 27/10/2025 to 03/11/2025
Week 16 04/11/2025 to 10/11/2025

Feedback and resubmissions

  
Week 17 11/11/2025 to 17/11/2025

No scheduled class

  

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

  • AWS Academy: AWS Cloud Foundations course modules and Labs
  • AWS Learner Labs
  • AWS Online Documentation
  • Instructor-guided readings and labs


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1 : IAM, EC2, Virtual Storage ; Due : Week9

This practical assessment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to configure core cloud services including compute, and storage according to business needs and workload. 

Assessment Task 2 : VPC, EC2, RDS, Autoscaling ; Due : Week15

This practical assessment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to configure core cloud services including compute, storage, databases and autoscaling according to business needs and workload. 


Assessment Matrix

Element

Performance criteria

 

 

 

 

Assessment

Task 1: AT 1

Assessment

Task 2: AT 2

1. Select and secure access to the cloud environment

1.1 Discuss and compare different cloud computing solutions, models and services according to business requirements and needs

 

Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

Q2, Q3

1.2 Identify the impact of shared security responsibility models

 

Q6

 

1.3 Select the best cloud computing solution and service according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 1, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2, Q1, Q4

1.4 Access the account on the cloud platform according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 1, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2

1.5 Identify user access protocols and policies according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 1, Q7

 

1.6 Configure access functions within the cloud environment according to users, groups and required permissions 

 

Part 1, Q7

 

1.7 Identify and assign security responsibilities according to security policies, business protocols and work functions

 

Part 1, Q7

 

1.8 Define workload according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 1, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2

2. Deploy a virtual network

2.1 Create users and groups to create and manage infrastructure according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 1, Q7

 

2.2 Create a virtual multi-tier network to support core services and autoscaling

 

 

Part 1, Part 2

2.3 Create a virtual machine according to business processing and operating system requirements

 

Part 2

 

2.4 Define, add and expand storage on a virtual machine according to business requirements and needs

 

Part 2

 

2.5 Deploy a managed database within a virtual network according to business requirements and needs

 

 

Part 2

2.6 Test external network access and access between resources within the virtual network and fix errors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1

3. Set up automatic scaling

3.1 Configure and apply autoscaling to virtual machines to scale according to business-defined metrics

 

 

Part 2

3.2 Test automatic scaling and fix errors as required

 

 

Part 2

4. Finalise virtual network infrastructure

4.1 Document and communicate work to the required personnel

 

Part 1, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2

4.2 Seek and respond to feedback as required

 

Part 2

Part 1, Part 2

4.3 Save and store user documentation according to organisational policies and procedures

 

Part 1, Part 2

Part 1, Part 2

Other Information

While it is not mandatory to complete the AWS Cloud Foundations and get the completion badge, it is highly recommended. The $50 credit in the Learner lab is not replenishable. Be diligent in the usage of the resources.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview