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Cloud Upskilling · For IT and systems teams

Cloud Upskilling: 12-Week Online Bootcamp for Alberta IT Teams

Twelve weeks of practical, live online training for the IT and systems staff you already have. Core cloud skills, networking, identity, security, monitoring and automation, on Microsoft Azure or on AWS, all while your team keeps working.

Example per staff member
$1,670
may be your organization's share, if approved
Program, all-in$6,670
Grant may reimburse, if approvedup to $5,000
Employer's share, if approvedabout $1,670
The Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant may reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs, up to $5,000 per staff member per fiscal year (April to March), if approved. The Government of Alberta decides all applications. Apply before training starts: training that starts early can't be reimbursed.
12 weeks144 instructional hours
Onlinetrain without leaving work
Liveclasses with a qualified instructor
Completion recordfrom AEC

Built for working IT teams, not for career changers

Cloud Upskilling builds on the skills your staff use every day.

It is for

  • IT support, systems, network and office technology staff
  • People already working at an Alberta employer
  • Employers that want to grow the team they have

It is not

  • An entry-level or career-change program
  • A certificate or a diploma, or credit toward either
  • Training that uses real company or customer data

What your team will learn

Nine modules over 12 weeks, in this order. For hours, cost and topics of every module, see the full course outline for Azure or AWS.

W1Cloud
W2Network
W3Core
W4Core
W5Build
W6Build
W7Identity
W8Security
W9Monitor
W10Automate
W11Lab
W12Lab
Week 1

Cloud Concepts and Business Value

Explain cloud models, shared responsibility, availability and cost, and choose where a workload fits.

Week 2

Networking for Cloud Administrators

Read and plan IP addressing, DNS and secure connectivity so cloud networks work with on-premises ones.

Weeks 3 and 4 Key module

Cloud platform fundamentals: core services, pricing and governance (Azure or AWS)

Navigate the cloud platform portal, describe core services, and read pricing, SLAs and governance tools.

Weeks 5 and 6 Key module

Compute, storage and virtual networking (Azure or AWS)

Deploy and manage virtual machines, storage accounts and virtual networks on your chosen platform.

Week 7

Identity and access (Azure or AWS)

Set up users, groups, roles and multifactor sign-in so only the right people reach cloud resources.

Week 8

Cloud Security and Compliance

Apply core security controls and shared-responsibility practices to a cloud environment.

Week 9

Monitoring, Backup, Recovery and Cost Control

Monitor cloud services, protect data with backup and recovery, and control spend.

Week 10

Automation: Command Line and Infrastructure as Code

Automate repeatable cloud platform tasks with command-line tools and templates.

Weeks 11 and 12

Applied Cloud Administration Lab

Plan, deploy, secure, monitor and document a complete small cloud environment for a realistic business scenario.

Your cloud platform, your choice

Weeks 3 to 10 are taught on the platform your organization uses.

Same plan, same hours, same cost. Taught by AEC instructors in practice cloud environments with practice data only.

How it works for your staff

Real teaching, built around a working team.

Live online classesEach week includes live classes with a qualified instructor, where staff can ask questions and practise.
Instructor-guided labsHands-on work in practice cloud environments. The instructor checks the lab work the same week.
About 12 hours a week144 instructional hours in total, plus about 1 to 2 hours a week of homework and quizzes.

Ready to enrol your staff?

See the steps from first call to grant claim.

How to enrol your staff

Questions employers ask

Tap a question to see the answer.

Who is Cloud Upskilling for?

Staff who already work at an Alberta employer in IT support, systems, network or office technology roles. It isn't an entry-level program for career changers.

Is this a certificate or a diploma?

No. Staff receive a completion record from Alberta Educational Centre. The program is upskilling for current staff. It is not a certificate or a diploma and gives no credit toward either.

How much time does it take each week?

About 12 instructional hours a week with a qualified instructor, through live online classes and instructor-guided labs, plus about 1 to 2 hours of homework and quizzes.

Azure or AWS?

You choose. Both versions follow the same plan, hours and cost and are taught by AEC instructors in practice cloud environments. AEC is not affiliated with Microsoft or Amazon Web Services.

Is an exam included?

No. No external certification exam is included. The program builds skills used in cloud administration.

Do we have to send a whole team?

No. One staff member is fine, and several can train together.

How does the grant work?

Eligible Alberta employers can apply for the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant. For approved applications, it may reimburse up to 75% of eligible costs, up to $5,000 per staff member per fiscal year (April to March), if approved. Your organization's share may be about $1,670. The employer applies before training starts, and the Government of Alberta decides every application. We walk you through it.

Is real company data used in training?

Never. All labs use practice data in practice cloud environments.

Ready to build your team's cloud skills?

Book a free 20-minute call. We'll answer your questions and prepare a quote for your grant application.

Book a 20-minute call
or call +1 403 441 2059 · contact@myaec.live
Grant information is based on the Canada-Alberta Productivity Grant Applicant Guidelines (October 2026) and may change; see alberta.ca/canada-alberta-productivity-grant. The Government of Alberta decides all applications and approval is not guaranteed. The employer applies; AEC can't apply or sign for you. AEC is not affiliated with Microsoft or Amazon Web Services. Alberta Educational Centre, 5980 Centre Street S, Calgary, AB.