EXIN cloud foundation exam at Motopp

To become a successful software engineer, you also need to know how companies use software and what you need to consider when making software architecture decisions. Since a lot of software is used in ‘the cloud’, understanding what cloud infrastructure is is useful for any IT professional. We have therefore added the cloud computing foundation exam from EXIN to the Motopp IT training programme.

The Motopp IT knowledge programme

Motopp is an IT training organisation that helps people new to the Netherlands start a career in IT. To help people start their career, they receive 14-20 weeks of full time training. We helped design the Motopp training programme based courses we teach at Vrije Universiteit and Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. The programme includes learning how to programme in Python, but it also includes other topics that will help people work in professional organisations. The current programme includes project management, business requirements, design, IT service management (see our service management and ITIL introduction), testing, security and privacy. We decided to add cloud as a knowledge item since there is official certification available and since an understanding of cloud is useful for many roles.

What is cloud and why is it interesting

Some people say: “The cloud is just someone-else’s computer”. This is indeed the case: cloud computing means the use of shared computing resources over the internet. The advent of web browsers and fast internet connections has made it possible to use computer programmes over long distances. Companies such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft and IBM have created large datacenters where software can be run at scale. Cloud computing is supposed to be more efficient because capacity can be booked as needed: Amazon supposedly entered the cloud computing market because they need a lot op computer power in the Christmas season, but not elsewhere. Cloud providers often provide interesting additional services. In previous research we have looked at cloud based image recognition.

Cloud computing comes with many benefits but also with a few challenges: Security and privacy are for example harder to control in cloud computing, and there can be less customisation options. You might need to change your software if you intend to use it in the cloud. For these reasons it is important to have a general understanding of cloud. The topic of cloud computing also offers a nice way to get introduced to IT management: most IT management topics, from investments, business cases, standardisation and supplier dependencies can be learned from looking at cloud computing.

Cloud computing foundation content

The cloud foundation material (‘body of knowledge’) structured in  five chapters:

1. Principes of cloud computing
2. Implementing and managing cloud computing
3. Using the cloud
4. Cloud security, identity and privacy
5. Evaluation of cloud computing

The focus of each chapter is not on specific technical details, but rather on the principles and management aspect.

Chapter 1 for instance includes a historical perspective, including mainframes (the first shared computers) and invention of computer networks. It also contains a good explanation of the main service models (IaaS, PaaS and SaaS), the pros and cons of cloud computing and and explanation of related concepts such as multi-tenancy and service oriented architecture.

Chapter 2 explain the hardware components and software components of a cloud solution, and also explains IT service management.

Chapter three contains more technical information, including the famous OSI model of network layers, an explanation of thin clients (computers without a harddisk that boot from network) and what it would mean for a service provider to provide cloud services.

Chapter four discusses security risks and security measures. The overview of security measures is limited to three elements: user training, security by design and PEN-testing. It is a gentle introduction to information security, but should probably be augmented with a more in-depth training. The Security+ certification is probably a useful next step.

Chapter five emphasises that you should not just look at costs but also at strategic benefits: Cloud computing is not necessarily cheaper, but it can be more flexible. In this chapter you also learn about the differences between operational expenses and capital expenses.

The study guide is freely available here: EXIN cloud computing foundation.

Motopp accreditation

The cloud computing foundation course is designed by EXIN. EXIN is an independent organisation that manages exam design and certification criteria. They do this for many different topics, ranging from IT service management to dynamic project management.

EXIN does not train people: Other organisations can become accredited training partners, and then they host the exams according to the instructions of EXIN. EXIN then provides the certificates.

Motopp was recently accepted as an accredited examination organization. For the Motopp candidates this means that they receive an internationally recognised certificate, and they also get exam experience that will be useful when they decide to get additional certification. The focus of Motopp is to help people start their career, by providing the skills for a first role. Like other professionals they should do continuous learning.

For Motopp the independent exam is useful to ensure the quality of the training provided and to check that the training is effective. Dave and I (pictured on the left) are the main trainers and are now accredited trainers for the cloud computing certification. They have successfully passed the exam and will develop and use the training material.