Detailed Course Outline
Module 0 - Introduction to the Professional Cloud Architect Certification
Topics:
- Role of a Professional Cloud Architect and scenario introduction*
- Certification value and benefits
- Certification process
Objectives:
- Describe the purpose and benefits of the PCA certification.
- Explain the certification process.
Module 1 - Designing and planning a cloud solution architecture
Topics:
- Scenario: Defining initial technical and business design considerations for Cymbal’s migration to a cloud solution
Objectives:
- Identify considerations involved in designing solution infrastructure that meets business and technical requirements.
- Describe options for designing network, storage, and compute resources leveraging Google Cloud.
- Explain the elements of a migration plan.
- Recognize the potential for future solution improvements.
- Determine the skills you need to develop in order to design and plan solution architecture leveraging Google Cloud.
Module 2 - Managing and provisioning a solution infrastructure
Topics:
- Scenario: Provisioning and deploying the cloud solution per Cymbal’s requirements
Objectives:
- Identify considerations involved in configuring network topologies, individual storage systems, and compute systems.
- Determine the skills you need to develop in order to manage and provision solution infrastructure.
Module 3 - Designing for security and compliance
Topics:
- Scenario: Identifying the security and compliance considerations pertinent to Cymbal’s cloud solution
Objectives:
- Explain recommended design practices to ensure security across a cloud solution.
- Recognize aspects of designing for compliance.
- Determine the skills you need to develop in order to apply Google’s recommended approach to designing for security and compliance.
Module 4 - Analyzing and optimizing technical and business processes
Topics:
- Scenario: Analyze costs, KPIs, etc. and identify opportunities for optimization
Objectives:
- Describe the technical and business processes involved in solution production.
- Identify ways to optimize processes and develop procedures to ensure reliability of solutions in production.
- Determine the skills you need to develop to optimize technical and business processes involved in producing a cloud solution.
Module 5 - Managing implementation/Ensuring solution operations and reliability
Topics:
- Scenario: How the PCA helps establish best practices for Cymbal’s solution deployment and ongoing operations
Objectives:
- Describe best practices for development and operations teams to ensure successful solution deployment.
- Explain methods to interact with Google Cloud programmatically.
- Explain methodologies for managing configuration and code updates and tools available for monitoring and analyzing KPIs.
Module 6 - Your Next Steps
Topics:
- Learn how to break down a case study to pinpoint business and technical requirements, and find differentiators
- Finalizing your study plan
- Creating a weekly study sheet
- Registering for the exam
Objectives:
- Create a personalized study plan.
- Review next steps.