You Need To Know Networking Before Learning Cloud. Here’s Why.

Networking in the Cloud

I’m of the opinion that courses and articles on networking are boring.

Every medium I have learned from, used technical words that were overly complex, making things more difficult for beginners like you and me to understand. Or maybe I am a slow learner.

This is why I launched my first networking article, to ease you in before we directly tackle networking for cloud computing. In this article, We will answer these questions:

• Why is networking the backbone of cloud computing?
• How networking powers the cloud
• Why should anyone learning cloud know networking (and Linux) first?
• What are the networking essentials you need to know before learning cloud? Let’s get into it!

When you think of “cloud,” you are imagining a system of servers, storage and databases which your device accesses over the internet. A server is a computer that stores a huge amount of information. Every information you get from Google, Twitter, Instagram, Chatgpt, etc. are all stored in a server.

What makes access to this information possible? Networking. It Lets you interact with cloud-based resources like files, apps, or websites from anywhere. Without it, everyone would just be stranded on their phones, with no means to reach each other.

Why is Networking Essential for Cloud Computing

In cloud computing, networking is what allows cloud resources (storage, database, compute, virtual machines, etc) to communicate, distribute traffic, create private networks, and secure their communication.

Companies go as far as creating private networks on the cloud, to isolate sensitive information. This allows users to connect securely to the company network and use resources through the VPN. You could connect to your company’s network while at home, thanks to this VPN. But note that every user’s activity is being logged while connected.

Think of networking as the “roads” that connect one street to another, within an estate. Every time you send out a file, join a virtual meeting, access your email or watch a movie on Netflix, networking is the invisible power behind it.

Imagine trying to apply for a job in another country. Your device will need to find the company’s website server, establish a connection, make sure it’s secure, and then submit your application. This is all thanks to networking.

User-Network-Cloud Resource

Here’s how networking specifically empowers cloud services

• Data Access — networking lets you connect to your files, apps, and data from anywhere. Think of your Google Drive, Netflix, Instagram, Websites, or any cloud service which you can access from any country.
• Scalability — When cloud providers add more resources (like servers) to meet demand, networking ensures that all users can still access their services without downtime issues.
• Security — Networking services, like firewalls and virtual private clouds, protect your data and manages who can access which resource.

Here’s where I make a strong case.

Before jumping into cloud computing, it is wise to get a solid grasp of networking fundamentals. You will find yourself needing to use and understand terms like IP addresses, DNS, and VPNs regularly.

These basics, along with the knowledge of Linux which I have discussed here, becomes your major toolkit for troubleshooting and configuration. I call them the dynamic duo, because they are not just “nice-to-haves” for cloud computing. They are essentials that will save you hours of confusion later on, and that’s a promise I’m comfortable making.

Networking Essentials for Cloud Computing

If you are just starting out, here’s a list of networking topics to get you on the right track, and help you handle cloud configurations and troubleshooting issues effectively.

• IP Addressing : Every device on the internet gets an IP address to locate it, just like a house address. Understand the difference between IPv4 and IPv6 and learn how devices on a network are identified. Know the difference between public and private IP Addresses. This is key for assigning addresses to cloud resources and knowing how they communicate.
• Subnetting: By subnetting, you’re dividing your network into smaller, organized sections, each with a fixed number of IP Addresses (e.g in an organization, you divide network according to each department — finance, HR, sales, etc). So In cloud setups, subnetting lets you control network traffic, reduce network congestion and organize resources logically within a virtual private cloud (VPC).
• DNS (Domain Name System): DNS is like the phonebook of the Internet. It translates human-readable domain names (such as google.com, jovialcoder.medium.com etc) into IP addresses. DNS is used to connect cloud resources (like VMs, databases, storage etc). Knowing how it works is essential for setting up and troubleshooting cloud-based applications.
• Network Routing: Routing determines how data flows between different networks. In cloud environments, understanding routing tables and protocols helps you direct and manage traffic between various cloud resources. It ensures they reach their destination.
• Firewall and Security Rules: Firewalls restrict access to network resources based on predefined rules. Configuring firewalls and security groups correctly is crucial to protect resources from unauthorized access. Learn this.
• NAT (Network Address Translation): NAT lets multiple devices on a private network share a single public IP address. Learn how it’s widely used in cloud networks to manage IP addresses and secure private resources.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network): Learn how VPNs create secure connections over the internet to private networks. VPNs are used in cloud environments to allow secure private connections to cloud resources from any remote location.
• Load Balancing: Load balancers distribute network traffic across multiple servers to improve performance and availability. This is especially useful for applications with high traffic, ensuring they remain accessible and perform well. Understanding how load balancing works in cloud services is essential for managing large-scale applications. Also explore the types of load balancers.

This is where I drop my pen. Please take your time to learn networking fundamentals to make your cloud journey smoother in the long run. You don’t want to always come back to relearn these foundational stuff.

Before I Go…

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Also, be on the lookout for my next article on Public and Private IP Addresses. But before then, let me know your pain points in this article, and also topics you wish to learn in a simplified manner. Let me be your errand girl !