Google Cloud Native Fundamentals (Coursera)

This course is ideal for developers looking to build their knowledge in modern cloud technologies, IT professionals aspiring to become cloud engineers or architects, technology leaders seeking to stay at the cutting edge, and anyone interested in understanding and implementing cloud-native concepts.
The first module, "Cloud Native Architecture & Docker Containerization," lays the groundwork by elucidating cloud-native architecture's underlying principles and its key constructs. Here, Docker's potential is unleashed, demonstrating its prowess in containerization.
Progressing to the second module, "Kubernetes & Service Mesh," the spotlight is on Kubernetes and its orchestration capabilities. This section offers a deep dive into the world of service mesh, emphasizing Istio, elucidating how it can be harnessed for traffic management, telemetry, and security.
Concluding with a dedicated lesson on "Best Practices and Case Studies," this course brings forward strategies and real-world instances of successful cloud-native deployments, offering solutions to commonly encountered challenges.
Enriched with expert advice, a thriving community of learners, and hands-on exercises, by the course's conclusion, participants will be well-versed in cloud-native principles and tools, poised to excel as cloud-native practitioners.

What you'll learn

• Dive deep into cloud-native architecture, understanding its principles, benefits, and pivotal concepts like microservices and containerization.
• Master Docker for containerization, learning to build images, manage containers, and harness Docker's networking and storage capabilities.
• Learn Kubernetes for orchestration, deploying applications on Google Kubernetes Engine, managing pods, services, and ensuring scalable applications.
• Explore service mesh, focusing on Istio, to implement traffic management, observability, security, and policy enforcement in cloud-native contexts.

Syllabus

Introduction to Cloud Native Architecture.
In this module, you'll start your cloud-native journey by understanding what cloud-native architecture really is. You'll learn about its principles, benefits, and the key concepts that underpin it, such as microservices, containers, and orchestration. This grounding in theory will prepare you for the next part of the module where you will be introduced to Docker, a leading platform for containerization. Here, you will learn the practical skills necessary to build Docker images, manage containers, work with Dockerfiles and Docker Compose, and delve into Docker's networking and storage options. This module provides a balanced mix of theory and practice that lays a solid foundation for your understanding of cloud-native principles and Docker.

Kubernetes & Service Mesh
The second module builds on your understanding of containers by introducing you to Kubernetes, the go-to orchestration tool used in modern cloud-native environments. You will learn about its core components, deploying applications on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), managing pods, services, and deployments, and how to effectively scale applications and manage workload distribution. But it's not just about orchestration; this module also introduces you to the concept of a service mesh with a focus on Istio. You will learn how to implement traffic management, observability, telemetry, security, and policy enforcement. The module concludes with an exploration of best practices and real-world case studies, where you will learn how to tackle common challenges and understand the practical aspects of implementing a cloud-native architecture. This module ensures you gain hands-on experience and practical knowledge to navigate through cloud-native environments effectively.