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Research Assignment: Cloud Developer Certification Pathways Analysis

IN4023 Virtual Systems Administration

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Research Assignment: Cloud Developer Certification Pathways Analysis

DUE November 8
info

Cloud Architect Skills Index


I. FOUNDATION SKILLS


A. Computing Fundamentals

1. Operating Systems - Linux/Unix administration - Windows Server management - Shell scripting
2. Networking - TCP/IP protocols - DNS and DHCP - Load balancing - CDN technologies
3. Security - Identity and access management (IAM) - Encryption standards - Security protocols - Compliance frameworks

B. Programming & Development

1. Scripting Languages
- Python - PowerShell - Bash
2. Infrastructure as Code - Terraform - CloudFormation - ARM templates
3. API Integration - RESTful services - GraphQL - API gateways

II. CLOUD PLATFORM EXPERTISE

A. Multi-Cloud Architecture
1. AWS Services - EC2, S3, RDS - VPC, Route53 - Lambda, ECS
2. Azure Services - Virtual Machines - Azure Storage - Azure Functions
3. Google Cloud - Compute Engine - Cloud Storage - Cloud Functions

B. Specialized Services

1. Database Systems - Relational databases - NoSQL solutions - Data warehousing
2. Container Orchestration - Kubernetes - Docker - Container security
3. Serverless Architecture - FaaS platforms - Event-driven architecture - Microservices

III. ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
### A. Solution Design
1. System Architecture - High availability - Disaster recovery - Scalability patterns
2. Cost Optimization - Resource planning - Budget management - TCO analysis
3. Performance Optimization - Caching strategies - Performance monitoring - Optimization techniques

B. Integration & Migration
1. Cloud Migration - Migration strategies - Legacy system integration - Data transfer methods
2. Hybrid Cloud - On-premise integration - Network connectivity - Identity federation

IV. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
A. DevOps Practices
1. CI/CD Pipeline - Build automation - Deployment automation - Testing strategies
2. Monitoring & Logging - Metrics collection - Log analysis - Alerting systems
3. SRE Principles - SLAs/SLOs - Error budgets - Reliability engineering

B. Governance & Compliance 1. Security Operations - Security automation - Threat detection - Incident response
2. Compliance Management - Industry standards - Audit preparation - Documentation

V. BUSINESS & SOFT SKILLS
A. Project Management
1. Methodology - Agile practices - Project planning - Risk management
2. Stakeholder Management - Communication - Requirements gathering - Documentation

B. Leadership
1. Team Collaboration - Cross-functional teams - Technical mentoring - Knowledge sharing
2. Business Acumen - Cost analysis - ROI assessment - Business case development

VI. EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
A. Modern Architecture
1. AI/ML Integration - Machine learning ops - AI service integration - Model deployment
2. Edge Computing - Edge architecture - IoT integration - Edge security

B. Advanced Patterns
1. Event-Driven Architecture - Event processing - Message queuing - Stream processing
2. Zero Trust Security - Identity verification - Network segmentation - Access control

VII. CERTIFICATION PATHS

A. Platform Certifications

1. AWS - Solutions Architect Professional - DevOps Professional
2. Azure - Solutions Architect Expert - DevOps Expert
3. Google Cloud - Professional Cloud Architect - Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer

B. Specialty Certifications

1. Security - Security specialty certifications - Compliance certifications 2. Networking - Advanced networking - Network security

VIII. CONTINUOUS LEARNING
### A. Professional Development 1. Industry Trends - Technology forecasting - Best practices - Innovation tracking
2. Community Engagement - Technical communities - Open source contribution - Knowledge sharing

### B. Skill Enhancement 1. Advanced Training - Workshops - Hands-on labs - Technical deep dives
2. Research & Development - POC development - Technology evaluation - Architecture patterns

Note: This index represents core competencies required for Cloud Architects. Individual roles may emphasize different aspects based on organizational needs and technology stack.

Assignment Overview

In this research assignment, you will investigate and analyze the certification pathways for becoming a Certified Cloud Developer across the three major cloud platforms: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Your research will culminate in a professionally formatted LaTeX research paper that examines both technical requirements and career progression opportunities.
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Learning Objectives

​This assignment addresses the following course VLOs:
- VLO 1: Identify and analyze requirements for computing environments
- VLO 7: Apply project management principles in computing environments
- VLO 9: Support integration of multiple software components
- VLO 10: Install, configure, and maintain computing systems

Required Research Areas

1. **Certification Pathways Analysis**
- AWS Certified Developer pathway
- Microsoft Azure Developer pathway
- Google Cloud Developer pathway
- Comparative analysis of requirements, costs, and preparation time
- Prerequisites and recommended experience levels

2. **Technical Skill Requirements**
- Core programming languages required
- Cloud-native development concepts
- DevOps and CI/CD pipeline knowledge
- Security and compliance requirements
- Containerization and orchestration technologies

3. **Career Progression**
- Entry-level positions and requirements
- Salary ranges and market demand
- Career advancement opportunities
- Geographic job market analysis
- Remote work opportunities

4. **New Graduate Focus**
- Entry points for recent graduates
- Internship programs at major cloud providers
- University partnership programs
- Graduate training programs
- Time-to-certification estimates

Deliverables
1. **LaTeX Research Paper (15-20 pages)** - Title page - Abstract - Table of contents - Introduction - Methodology - Analysis sections covering all required research areas - Conclusions and recommendations - References (APA format) - Appendices (if needed)
2. **Presentation Materials** - 5-minute presentation slides - Key findings summary - Visual certification pathway diagram
Research Resources - Cloud provider certification documentation - Industry salary surveys - Job market analysis tools - Academic databases - Professional networking platforms - AI research tools: - ChatGPT for initial research direction - GitHub Copilot for code examples - Google Bard for market analysis - Anthropic Claude for technical documentation analysis
Technical Requirements
1. **Document Format** - LaTeX format using IEEE or ACM template - PDF output - Professional formatting - Proper citation management
2. **Research Quality** - Minimum 15 credible sources - Mixed source types (academic, industry, surveys) - Current information (within last 2 years) - Original analysis

Grading Rubric

RESEARCH DEPTH (30 points)

- Comprehensive coverage of all required areas (10 points) - Quality and variety of sources (8 points) - Currency of information (within 2 years) (6 points) - Original insights and analysis (6 points)
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS (25 points) - Accurate technical details of certification paths (8 points) - Quality of comparative analysis between platforms (7 points) - Practical recommendations and insights (5 points) - Clear understanding of cloud concepts (5 points)
CAREER ANALYSIS (20 points) - Market research quality and depth (6 points) - Salary data analysis and trends (5 points) - Career progression pathways (5 points) - New graduate opportunities and entry points (4 points)
DOCUMENT QUALITY (15 points) - LaTeX formatting and professional appearance (4 points) - Writing quality and clarity (4 points) - Logical organization and flow (4 points) - Citations and references accuracy (3 points)
PRESENTATION (10 points) - Slide quality and organization (3 points) - Delivery and professionalism (3 points) - Time management (2 points) - Q&A handling (2 points)
TOTAL: 100 points
Scoring Guide: 90-100 points: Exceptional - Exceeds expectations in all areas with original insights 80-89 points: Proficient - Meets all requirements with strong execution 70-79 points: Competent - Meets basic requirements with some areas for improvement 60-69 points: Developing - Meets minimum requirements with significant gaps Below 60 points: Insufficient - Does not meet minimum requirements
Note: To pass this assignment, students must achieve a minimum of 60 points total AND score at least 50% in each major category.
Scoring Guide
- **Exceptional (90-100%)**: Exceeds expectations in all areas with original insights - **Proficient (80-89%)**: Meets all requirements with strong execution - **Competent (70-79%)**: Meets basic requirements with some areas for improvement - **Developing (60-69%)**: Meets minimum requirements with significant gaps - **Insufficient (<60%)**: Does not meet minimum requirements
Submission Requirements
1. **Files to Submit** - LaTeX source files - PDF output - Presentation slides - Research notes (optional)
2. **Submission Deadlines** - Proposal: Week 3 - Draft: Week 8 - Final Paper: Week 12 - Presentation: Week 13
Academic Integrity
- All sources must be properly cited - Original analysis required - AI tool usage must be documented - Plagiarism will result in zero grade
Support Resources
1. **Technical Support** - LaTeX tutorials and templates - Cloud certification study groups - Virtual lab environments - Industry mentorship connections
2. **Research Support** - Library research guides - Writing center services - Career services resources - Industry expert office hours
Feedback Process
- Proposal feedback: Week 4 - Draft feedback: Week 9 - Peer review session: Week 11 - Final presentation feedback: Week 13
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