Compute
Compute resources provide the processing power required to run applications, services, virtual machines, containers, and workloads.
Examples
- • Virtual Machines
- • Cloud Servers
- • Containers
- • Serverless Computing
Cloud Computing Fundamentals
What is Cloud Infrastructure?
Learn how cloud infrastructure works and understand the core components that power modern cloud applications, including compute, storage, networking, security, virtualization, and management.
Level: Beginner
Topics: 6 Core Components
Cloud Infrastructure
Core Architecture
Applications
Compute
Networking
Storage
Security
Management
Introduction
Understanding cloud infrastructure
Cloud infrastructure is the collection of technology resources used to build, run, connect, secure, and manage applications and services in a cloud environment.
Core infrastructure components include compute resources, storage, networking, virtualization, management software, and security services.
Instead of managing all physical hardware directly, organizations can use cloud platforms to provision and manage infrastructure through web consoles, APIs, command-line tools, and automation.
Core Components
Six major components of cloud infrastructure
These components work together to provide the foundation required for cloud applications and services.
Storage
Cloud storage provides services for storing application data, files, databases, backups, and other digital resources.
Examples
- • Object Storage
- • Block Storage
- • File Storage
- • Backup Storage
Networking
Cloud networking connects infrastructure, applications, users, and services through virtual networks, routing, DNS, and secure connectivity.
Examples
- • Virtual Networks
- • Subnets
- • Load Balancers
- • DNS
Virtualization
Virtualization allows physical infrastructure resources to be abstracted and divided into virtual machines and other software-defined resources.
Examples
- • Hypervisors
- • Virtual Machines
- • Virtual Networks
- • Virtual Storage
Security & Identity
Security services help control access, protect infrastructure, manage identities, and secure applications and cloud resources.
Examples
- • IAM
- • Access Policies
- • Encryption
- • Security Groups
Management & Monitoring
Management services help organizations configure, monitor, automate, maintain, and optimize cloud infrastructure.
Examples
- • Monitoring
- • Logging
- • Alerting
- • Automation
Architecture
A simplified cloud infrastructure architecture
Cloud environments are commonly organized into logical layers that support applications, services, compute resources, networking, storage, and underlying infrastructure.
Layer 1
Applications
Websites, APIs, mobile applications, enterprise systems, and cloud-native services.
Layer 2
Platform & Services
Managed databases, messaging services, analytics, serverless services, and other cloud platforms.
Layer 3
Compute & Containers
Virtual machines, containers, Kubernetes clusters, and serverless compute.
Layer 4
Networking & Security
Virtual networks, subnets, routing, firewalls, identity, access control, and secure connectivity.
Layer 5
Storage & Data
Object storage, block storage, file storage, databases, backups, and disaster recovery.
Layer 6
Physical Infrastructure
Data centers, servers, physical networking equipment, and hardware managed by cloud providers.
Benefits
Why use cloud infrastructure?
Cloud infrastructure provides organizations with flexible ways to provision and manage technology resources.
Scalability
Cloud infrastructure can provide resources based on changing application and workload requirements.
Flexibility
Organizations can select different services, architectures, deployment models, and infrastructure configurations.
Automation
Infrastructure can be provisioned and managed using automation tools and Infrastructure as Code.
Global Availability
Cloud providers operate infrastructure across multiple regions and locations.
Infrastructure Design
How cloud infrastructure is designed
Building cloud infrastructure usually involves planning workloads, networking, compute, storage, security, and operational management.
Define Requirements
Identify application requirements including performance, availability, security, scalability, storage, and networking needs.
Design the Network
Create virtual networks, subnets, routing rules, gateways, and security boundaries.
Deploy Compute Resources
Choose the appropriate compute platform such as virtual machines, containers, Kubernetes, or serverless services.
Configure Storage
Select object, block, file, or database storage based on application and data requirements.
Secure the Infrastructure
Configure identity management, permissions, network security, encryption, secrets, and access policies.
Monitor and Optimize
Use monitoring, logging, alerting, automation, and cost optimization to operate the infrastructure effectively.
Automation
Infrastructure as Code
Infrastructure as Code allows teams to define and manage infrastructure using configuration files instead of manually configuring every resource.
Tools such as Terraform can be used to create, update, and manage infrastructure through version-controlled configuration.
Example Infrastructure Workflow
1Define Infrastructure
2Write Configuration
3Initialize Tools
4Review Changes
5Deploy Infrastructure
6Monitor and Manage
Next Step
Build your cloud infrastructure knowledge
Continue learning about cloud service models, deployment models, networking, storage, compute, security, and cloud architecture.