Cloud computing enables access via the Internet to a pool of computing resources owned and managed by service providers using server virtualization technology. The 'cloud infrastructure' is composed of hardware, storage, networks, interfaces, and services that provide the means through which users access the infrastructure, computing power, applications, and services on demand and independent of location. Cloud computing usually involves the transfer, storage, and processing of information on the provider's infrastructure, which is outside the customer's control (Ref: Cloud Computing: A Records and Information Management Perspective, IEEE SECURITY & PRIVACY, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011, pp 63-66)

This course covers emerging issues and technologies related to Cloud Infrastructure. We will learn design principles for building energy efficient, highly available, reliable secure cloud infrastructure. Topics include: Large Datacentres and IaaS, Networking and Load Balancing in Cloud Datacentre, Energy Efficiency and cooling of Large Cloud Infrastructure, Availability/Relaibility of Infrastructure resources, access protocols and Homomorphic Cryptography for secure Cloud Infrastructure, Exascale systems, Big Data and Resource provisioning in modern cloud infrastructure.