Cloud native architecture has been described as the future of application development, and this program was designed to help you take advantage of that growing need for skilled cloud native architects.

What jobs will this program prepare me for?

The need for a strong cloud native culture in an enterprise organization is greater than ever. The skills you will gain from this Nanodegree program will qualify you for jobs in several industries as countless companies are trying to keep up with digital transformation.

How do I know if this program is right for me?

The course is for individuals who are looking to advance their careers as cloud native architects. This is an intermediate course that requires fluency in basic python programming as well as a basic understanding of http, the command line, and developing web applications.

Do I need to apply? What are the admission criteria?

No. This Nanodegree program accepts all applicants regardless of experience and specific background.

What are the prerequisites for enrollment?

A well-prepared learner will meet the following prerequisites: Understand the basics of http (like client, server, and internet request) Basic Python (data types, Functions, REST requests, web development) Ability to use Git, Linux machines, and Linux Command Line Familiar with Web application development in any language Familiarity with Docker, exposure to a CI/CD pipeline is not required for success in this program but is a helpful prerequisite skill to have.

If I do not meet the requirements to enroll, what should I do?

If you believe you need more preparation, here are some additional Udacity programs that can get you up to speed: Intro to Computer Science, Linux Command Line Basics, Intro to Programming and Front End Web Developer.

How is this Nanodegree program structured?

The Cloud Native Application Architecture Nanodegree program is comprised of content and curriculum to support 4 projects. We estimate that students can complete the program in 4 months working 10 hours per week. Each project will be reviewed by the Udacity reviewer network. Feedback will be provided and if you do not pass the project, you will be asked to resubmit the project until it passes.

How long is this Nanodegree program?

Access to this Nanodegree program runs for the length of time specified above. If you do not graduate within that time period, you will continue learning with month-to-month payments. See the Terms of Use and FAQs for other policies regarding the terms of access to our Nanodegree programs.

Can I switch my start date? Can I get a refund?

Please see the Udacity Program FAQs for policies on enrollment in our programs.

What software and versions will I need in this program?

There are no software and version requirements to complete this Nanodegree program. All coursework and projects can be completed via Student Workspaces in the Udacity online classroom.

Cloud Native Application Architecture

Nanodegree Program

Meet the growing demand for cloud native architects and learn to identify the best application architecture solutions for an organization’s needs.

Enroll Now

Estimated time
4 Months
At 10 hours/week
Enroll by
June 14, 2023
Get access to the classroom immediately upon enrollment
Skills acquired
Cloud Observability, Microservices Security, Kubernetes

In Collaboration With

What you will learn

Cloud Native Application Architecture
Estimated 4 months to complete
You’ll master the skills necessary to become a successful cloud native architect. Learn to run and manage scalable applications in a cloud native environment, using open source tools and projects like ArgoCD, gRPC, and Grafana.
Related Nanodegree programs
Prerequisite knowledge
HTTP, Python, Git, Linux, Docker.
1. Cloud Native Fundamentals
  Throughout this course, students will learn how to structure, package, and release an application to a Kubernetes cluster, while using an automated CI/CD pipeline. Students will start by applying a suite of good development practices within an application, package it with Docker and distribute it through DockerHub. This will transition to the exploration of Kubernetes resources and how these can be used to deploy an application. At this stage, students will be comfortable using k3s to bootstrap a lightweight and functional Kubernetes cluster. Next, students will examine template configuration managers, such as Helm, to implement the parameterization of Kubernetes declarative manifests. Towards the end of the course, students will learn the fundamentals of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) with GitHub Actions and ArgoCD and completely automate the release process for an application.
2. Message Passing
  In this course, students will learn how to refactor microservice capabilities from a monolithic architecture, and employ different forms of message passing in microservices. To begin, students will create a migration strategy to refactor a service from a monolith to its own microservice and implement the migration. Next, students will be introduced to industry standard best practices for message passing in a service architecture and finally, students will focus on design decisions and the implementations of different forms of message passing in development and production systems.
3. Observability
  This course covers the fundamentals of observability in distributed systems. Today, Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for Cloud Native applications and is widely used for distributed systems. To be effective as an observability expert, it is critical to understand how to monitor and respond to the health and performance of both your Kubernetes clusters and the applications hosted on them. This course will teach students how to collect system performance data using Prometheus, how to collect application tracing data using Jaeger, and how to visualize the results in a dashboard using Grafana.
4. Microservices Security
  Learn how to harden a Docker and Kubernetes microservices architecture. To begin, students will learn STRIDE to threat model and reason about microservice security. Next, students will dig deep to explore the Docker and Kubernetes attack surface and be introduced to industry open-source tools such as Docker-bench and Kube-bench to evaluate and harden Docker and Kubernetes weaknesses. Students will then learn about software composition analysis with Trivy and Grype to evaluate image layers and common application security vulnerabilities and provide remediation. Finally, students will deploy runtime security monitoring to introspect running microservices for security signals and learn how to respond to a security incident.
- According to a 2020 Capgemini survey of 900 business leaders, enterprise cloud native apps will more than double in the next year.

All our programs include

Real-world projects from industry experts
With real-world projects and immersive content built in partnership with top-tier companies, you’ll master the tech skills companies want.
Real-time support
On demand help. Receive instant help with your learning directly in the classroom. Stay on track and get unstuck.
Career services
You’ll have access to Github portfolio review and LinkedIn profile optimization to help you advance your career and land a high-paying role.
Flexible learning program
Tailor a learning plan that fits your busy life. Learn at your own pace and reach your personal goals on the schedule that works best for you.

Program offerings

Class content
- Real-world projects
- Project reviews
- Project feedback from experienced reviewers
Student services
- Student community
- Real-time support
Career services
- Github review
- LinkedIn profile optimization

Succeed with personalized services.

We provide services customized for your needs at every step of your learning journey to ensure your success.

Experienced Project Reviewers
Real-Time Support

Get timely feedback on your projects.

Personalized feedback
Unlimited submissions and feedback loops
Practical tips and industry best practices
Additional suggested resources to improve

1,400+
project reviewers
2.7M
projects reviewed
88/100
reviewer rating
1.1 hours
avg project review turnaround time

Learn with the best.

Katie Gamanji
Ecosystem Advocate for Cloud Native Computing Foundation
Katie's focus is to foster the growth and visibility of the End User Community while bridging the gap with other ecosystem units. In past roles, Katie contributed to the build-out of platforms that gravitate towards cloud-native principles and open-source tooling.
Justin Lee
Data Platform Engineer
Justin Lee designs and builds modern scalable systems and consults for Fortune 500 companies. He currently works in the Silicon Valley as a platform engineer to enable large volumes of users' data workflows. He has a BS in Computer Science from UCLA and is often mentoring and teaching developers through Codementor.
Nick Reva
Engineering Manager, Security Engineering | CISO Staff at Snap Inc.
Nick brings 15 years experience in Security Engineering. He currently leads teams that build highly scalable security services in cloud native environments at Snapchat and previously SpaceX. Nick also advises well established security companies including HackerOne and the fastest growing Open Source Security product company Deepfence.
Jay Smith
App Modernization Specialist at Google Cloud
Jay has over 15 years experience in technology and open source solutions. Currently Jay helps Google Cloud customers modernize their application platforms using best practices in cloud native technologies.