S9. Cloud architecture and operations

Outcome: you can pick the right cloud design and explain cost, risk and migration.

Skills: cloud service and deployment models, shared responsibility, high availability and disaster recovery design, cost management, migration approaches, multicloud concepts, cloud security and IAM patterns.

Labs

1. Design a three-tier application on paper, then price it in the Azure calculator in two regions.
2. Compare the same design on a second cloud using its published pricing (no deployment needed).
3. Write a migration plan for the lab file server to Azure Files with a rollback.
4. Review a sample architecture and mark single points of failure.
5. Set up cost alerts and tag-based cost reports in Azure.

Prove it: an architecture document with diagram, cost estimate, risks and migration plan.

Certs: Cloud+ (architecture 23%, deployment 19%, operations 17%), AZ-104 (reinforcement).

Gate: Cloud+. Check the exam's retirement date before booking. CompTIA lists an estimated 2027.