How to Learn Cloud Computing as a Beginner in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide with Real AWS Practice
In the past year, more and more companies are shifting to cloud-based infrastructure—think Netflix, Amazon, Dropbox—and this trend is only growing. According to Gartner, worldwide spending on public cloud services is expected to reach nearly $600 billion in 2025. That means cloud computing isn’t just the future—it’s happening right now.
If you’re curious about cloud tech or considering a tech career, there’s an excellent entry point: the AWS-focused Introduction to Cloud Computing course led by seasoned instructor Neal Davis.
In this article, I’ll walk you through why this particular course stands out, how it’s structured, who it’s really for, and whether it’s worth your time and money. Buckle up, because we’re going deep into the cloud—without getting lost in the fog.
What Is the “Introduction to Cloud Computing” Course?
This beginner-friendly course is hosted on Udemy and designed to teach core concepts of cloud computing with a heavy emphasis on Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud platform.
Created by Neal Davis—founder of Digital Cloud Training and a cloud guru with 20+ years of hands-on IT experience—the course focuses on simplifying complex topics using visuals, diagrammatic explanations, and hands-on exercises on actual AWS accounts.
Let’s be real: most cloud computing courses are either too theoretical or geared toward experienced developers. This one hits the sweet spot—ideal for total beginners who want to understand both the big picture and how to apply it practically.
What You’ll Learn Inside the Course
Here’s a breakdown of what the course covers:
- Cloud Computing Evolution: From traditional data centers to virtualization and how that led to modern cloud services.
- Cloud Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS): Learn the foundations of the services model pyramid.
- Different Cloud Deployment Types: Public, private, hybrid, and community deployments.
- Key Features of Cloud Tech: On-demand self-service, elasticity, scalability explained simply.
- Hands-On with AWS Free Tier: Practice with real-world AWS services—no prior AWS experience required.
- Visualization Over Text: Instead of boring bullet-point slides, expect engaging animations and diagrams that simplify everything.
As someone who’s reviewed dozens of online courses, I can say that visual learners will especially love this format.
Why the Emphasis on AWS?
Amazon Web Services is the dominant cloud service provider, used by top Fortune 500 companies. Learning AWS fundamentals can:
- Future-proof your career
- Make you job-ready faster
- Serve as the first step toward AWS certifications (like the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner)
And unlike many beginner courses that stop at theory, this one includes hands-on AWS demos that you can follow step-by-step—even using a free AWS account.
Who Should Take This Course?
Here’s who’ll get the most out of the course:
- Complete Beginners with No IT Background: The course is designed with a simple structure and clear visuals.
- Aspiring Cloud Engineers: It can serve as the first course before more advanced AWS certification training.
- College Students Studying Computer Science: One review even said this course covered more in 20 minutes than an entire university lecture.
- Career Changers: If you’re in IT and looking to pivot into cloud roles, this is a no-risk starting point.
⚠️ Note: Some course info mentions needing “1-2 years of IT experience,” but several reviewers made it clear that the material is beginner-friendly. You don’t need a programming background or deep IT knowledge, just curiosity and commitment.
Pros & Cons (What I Liked & Didn’t)
✅ Pros:
- Very beginner-friendly and approachable
- Strong focus on AWS—the current industry standard
- Hands-on labs that don’t require paid tools
- Taught by a recognized AWS instructor with over 150,000 reviews
- Good pacing and structure of topics (no overwhelming jargon)
- Outstanding visuals and explanations
❌ Cons:
- Some mixed messaging on prerequisites (e.g., mentions basic IT understanding)
- Not extremely in-depth on every concept—it’s an intro course after all
- Multiple similar versions of this course online, which can cause confusion—this one is specifically the Udemy + Neal Davis version
How Does It Compare to Other Cloud Courses?
You can find dozens of beginner cloud computing courses on platforms like Udemy and Coursera. So what makes this one worth your attention?
- ✔️ It’s designed for the total beginner, not an IT pro.
- ✔️ Most other courses are either too formatted for certification prepping or too focused on theory.
- ✔️ This is a balance of concept + application + practice—with top student feedback.
SEO research (source: https://www.udemy.com) shows that this course maintains consistently high ratings (avg. 4.7 stars) even among fierce competition.
Real Student Reviews (That Sold Me)
Some reviews that stood out:
🗣 “I’m a second-year CS student at a top UK university. This lecturer explained my entire network module in 20 minutes—better than a dozen actual lectures.”
🗣 “The course flow is great—starts from scratch but leads into advanced AWS topics naturally.”
🗣 “Plenty of hands-on demos. Spin up real AWS environments and see how it all works—no fluff.”
These testimonials aren’t outliers either—over 150,000 ratings point to consistent satisfaction among learners.
Pricing & Refund Policy
You won’t see the course price upfront unless you’re logged into Udemy, but the good news is that Udemy constantly runs promotions. You can often pick this course up for under $20.
You get:
- Lifetime access
- All future updates for free
- 30-day money-back guarantee
So even if you’re not sure, you aren’t risking much—and that’s rare in online education.
Final Verdict: Is “Introduction to Cloud Computing” Worth It?
Absolutely—especially if you’re looking for a practical, digestible, and affordable way to start or transition into cloud computing.
Neal Davis does an outstanding job of translating complex ideas into visual explanations that stick. Add in the AWS hands-on labs, beginner-friendly structure, and stellar student feedback—and this becomes one of the best cloud courses for beginners.
If your goal is to land a cloud role, understand AWS, or prep for more advanced certifications, this course gives you a rock-solid foundation.
Ready to Start Building Your Cloud Career?
If cloud computing feels like a good fit for your future, don’t wait. The demand for cloud professionals is skyrocketing, and starting today could be the smartest tech move you make this year.
References
Now over to you: Are you jumping into the cloud this year?
Drop your questions or thoughts in the comments section below. I read every one.