Cloud Infrastructure Planning & Design: Architecting Multi-Service Solutions

Cloud Infrastructure Planning & Design: Architecting Multi-Service Solutions

About the Course

The Cloud Infrastructure Planning & Design (CIPD) course is a specialist-level program designed for technical professionals who intend to master the art of architecting robust cloud environments. Unlike foundational courses that focus on “what” the cloud is, this course dives deep into the “how”—providing a structured design methodology to translate complex business requirements into high-performing technical solutions.

The curriculum utilizes an “open” architecture approach, focusing on the three critical layers of a modern cloud: the Infrastructure Layer, the Application Platform, and the Cloud Management Platform (CMP). Students learn to navigate the critical trade-offs between “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) builds and Converged/Hyper-Converged (CI/HCI) solutions, ensuring that every design choice is backed by data-driven metrics like TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and ROI (Return on Investment).

By the end of this five-day intensive, architects will be proficient in gathering requirements, analyzing workload patterns, and designing for advanced capabilities such as multicloud integration and automated disaster recovery. This training is the definitive preparation for professionals aiming for the Dell Technologies Proven Professional Cloud Architect Specialist status.

Audience Profile

This course is intended for:

• Cloud Architects and Infrastructure Designers responsible for large-scale deployments.

• Consultants providing strategic guidance on cloud migrations and hybrid cloud adoption.

• Senior Systems Engineers with 3+ years of experience in virtualization, networking, or storage design.

Learning Objectives

Domain 1: Design Methodology and Assessment

• Apply a structured design project lifecycle, from initial assessment to final design validation.

• Conduct comprehensive data collection and metric analysis using industry-standard tools.

• Perform Business Value Analysis to align technical designs with financial constraints (TCO/ROI).

Domain 2: Compute, Storage, and Network Architecture

• Evaluate and select compute, storage, and networking technologies for “Do-It-Yourself” solutions.

• Design for Converged (CI) and Hyper-Converged Infrastructure (HCI) to accelerate deployment.

• Address workload-specific constraints, including latency, throughput, and elasticity.

Domain 3: Management and Application Platforms

• Design a robust Cloud Management Platform (CMP) that provides orchestration, metering, and a self-service portal.

• Define requirements for modern application development platforms (PaaS) to support cloud-native apps.

• Implement governance and security controls within the management plane.

Domain 4: Hybrid Cloud and Disaster Recovery

• Develop multicloud strategies that enable seamless workload portability.

• Design disaster recovery and business continuity solutions tailored for cloud-based services.

• Address the unique challenges of data synchronization and networking in hybrid environments.

Certification Exam

This course is the official training for the D-CI-DS-23 (Dell Cloud Infrastructure Design 2023) exam. This specialist-level certification validates a candidate’s ability to design a cloud infrastructure that supports multiple types of services and successfully navigate Organizations’ digital transformations.

Note: The exam code D-CI-DS-23 replaced the previous DES-2T13 exam to align with the latest Dell Technologies Proven Professional framework.

Prerequisites

• Experience: 3+ years in storage, OS, virtualization, networking, or business continuity.

• Recommended Certifications:

  • Associate – Cloud Infrastructure and Services (D-CIS-FN-23)

  • Associate – Information Storage and Management (D-ISM-FN-23)

  • VCP (VMware Certified Professional) or CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)