This week, hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham are shining a light on multicloud, a game-changing strategy involving the use of multiple cloud service providers. Joined by Senior Manager of CSS OU Cloud Delivery Samvit Mishra, they discuss why multicloud is becoming essential for businesses, offering freedom from vendor lock-in and the ability to cherry-pick the best services. They also talk about Oracle's pioneering role in multicloud and its partnerships with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Multicloud Architect Professional: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/oracle-cloud-infrastructure-multicloud-architect-professional-2025-/144474 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Communications and Adoption with Customer Success Services, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services with Oracle University.

Nikita: Hi everyone! You're listening to our Best of 2025 series, where over the next few weeks, we're revisiting four of our most popular episodes of the year. Lois: Today is #2 of 4, and we're throwing it back to an episode with Senior Manager of CSS OU Cloud Delivery Samvit Mishra. This episode was all about shining a light on multicloud, a game-changing strategy involving the use of multiple cloud service providers. 01:07

Nikita: That's right, Lois. Oracle has been an early adopter of multicloud and a pioneer in multicloud services. So, we began that conversation by asking Samvit to explain what multicloud is and why someone would need more than one cloud provider.

Samvit: Multicloud is a very simple, basic concept. It is the coordinated use of cloud services from more than one cloud service provider.

01:30

Nikita: But why would someone want to use more than one cloud service provider?

Samvit: There are many reasons why a customer might want to leverage two or more cloud service providers. First, it addresses the very real concern of mitigating or avoiding vendor lock-in. By using multiple providers, companies can avoid being tied down to one vendor and maintain their flexibility.

01:53

Lois: That's like not putting all your eggs in one basket, so to speak.

Samvit: Exactly. Another reason is that customers want the best of breed. What that means is basically leveraging or utilizing the best product from one cloud service provider and pairing it against the best product from another cloud service provider. Getting a solution out of the combined products…out of the coordinated use of those services.

02:22

Nikita: So, it sounds like multicloud is becoming the new normal. And as we were saying before, Oracle was a pioneer in this space. But why did we embrace multicloud so wholeheartedly?

Samvit: We recognized that our customers were already moving in this direction. Independent studies from Flexera found that 89% of the subjects of the study used multicloud. And we conducted our own study and came to similar numbers. Over 90% of our customers use two or more cloud service providers.

HashiCorp, the big infrastructure as code company, came to similar numbers as well, 94%. They basically asked companies if multicloud helped them advance their business goals. And 94% said yes. And all this is very recent data.

03:13

Lois: Can you give us the backstory of Oracle's entry into the multicloud space?

Samvit: Sure. So back in 2019, Oracle and Microsoft Azure joined forces and announced the interconnect service between Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Microsoft Azure. The interconnect was between Oracle's FastConnect and Microsoft Azure's ExpressRoute. This was a big step, as it allowed for a direct connection between the two providers without needing a third-party.

And now we have several of our data centers interconnected already. So, out of the 48 regions, 12 of them are already interconnected. And more are coming. And you can very easily configure the interconnect.

This interconnectivity guarantees low latency, high throughput, and predictable performance. And also, on the OCI side, there are no egress or ingress charges for your data.

There's also a product called Oracle Database@Azure, where Oracle and Microsoft deliver Oracle Database services in Microsoft Azure data centers.

04:20

Lois: That's exciting! And what are the benefits of this product?

Samvit: The main advantage is the co-location. Being co-located with the Microsoft Azure data center offers you native integration between Azure and OCI resources. No manual configuration of a private interconnect between the two providers is needed. You're going to get microsecond latency between your applications and the Oracle Database.

The OCI-native Exadata Database Service is available on Oracle Database@Azure. This enables you to get the highest level of Oracle Database performance, scalability, security, and availability. And your tech support can be provided either from Microsoft or from Oracle.

05:11

AI is being used in nearly every industry…healthcare, manufacturing, retail, customer service, transportation, agriculture, you name it! And it's only going to get more prevalent and transformational in the future. It's no wonder that AI skills are the most sought-after by employers. If you're ready to dive in to AI, check out the OCI AI Foundations training and certification that's available for free! It's the perfect starting point to build your AI knowledge. So, get going! Head on over to mylearn.oracle.com to find out more.

05:51

Nikita: Welcome back. Samvit, there have been some new multicloud milestones from OCI, right? Can you tell us about them?

Samvit: That's right, Niki. I am thrilled to share the latest news on Oracle's multicloud partnerships. We now have agreements with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services.

So, as we were discussing earlier, with Azure, we have the Oracle Interconnect for Azure and Oracle Database@Azure. Now, with Google Cloud, we have the Oracle Interconnect for Google Cloud. And it is very similar to the Oracle Interconnect for Azure. With Google Cloud, we have physically interconnected data centers and they provide a sub-2 millisecond latency private interconnection. So, you can come in and provision virtual circuits going from Oracle FastConnect to Google Cloud Interconnect.

And the best thing is that there are no egress or ingress charges for your data. The way it is structured is you have your Oracle Cloud Infrastructure on one side, with your virtual cloud network, your subnets, and your resources. And on the other side, you have your Google Cloud router with your virtual private cloud subnet and your resources interconnecting.

You initiate the connectivity on the Google Cloud side, retrieve the service key and provide that service key to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and complete the interconnection on the OCI side. So, for example, our US East Ashburn interconnect will match with us-east4 on the Google Cloud side.

07:29

Lois: Now, wasn't the other major announcement Oracle Database@Google Cloud? Tell us more about that, please.

Samvit: With Oracle Database@Google Cloud, you can run your applications on Google Cloud and the database inside the Google Cloud platform. That's the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure database co-located in Google Cloud platform data centers. It allows you to run native integration between GCP and OCI resources with no manual configuration of private interconnect between these two cloud service providers.

That means no FastConnect, no Interconnect because, again, the database is located in the Google Cloud data center. And you're going to get microsecond latency and the OCI native Exadata Database Service. So, you're going to gain the highest level of Oracle Database performance, scalability, security, and availability.

08:25

Lois: And how is the tech support managed?

Samvit: The technical support is a collaboration between Google Cloud and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. That means you can either have the technical support provided to completion by Google Cloud or by Oracle. One of us will provide you with an end-to-end solution.

08:43

Nikita: During CloudWorld last year, we also announced Oracle Database@AWS, right?

Samvit: Yes, Niki. That's where Oracle and Amazon Web Services deliver the Oracle Database service on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in your AWS data center. This will provide you with native integration between AWS and OCI resources, with no manual configuration of private interconnect between AWS and OCI. And you're getting microsecond latency with the OCI-native Exadata Database Service.

And again, as with Oracle Database@Google Cloud and Oracle Database@Azure, you're gaining the highest level of Oracle Database performance, scalability, security, and availability. And the technical support is provided by either AWS or Oracle all the way to completion. Now, Oracle Database@AWS is currently available in limited preview, with broader availability in the coming months as it expands to new regions to meet the needs of our customers.

09:49

Lois: That's great. Now, how does Oracle fare when it comes to pricing, especially compared to our major cloud competitors?

Samvit: Our pricing is pretty consistent. You'll see that in all cases across the world, we have the less expensive solution for you and the highest performance as well.

10:06

Nikita: Let's move on to some use cases, Samvit. How might a company use the multicloud setup?

Samvit: Let's start with the split-stack architecture between Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Microsoft Azure.

Like I was saying earlier, this partnership dates back to 2019. And basically, we eliminated the FastConnect partner from the middle. And this will provide you with high throughput, low latency, and very predictable performance, all of this on highly available links. These links are redundant, ensuring business continuity between OCI and Azure.

And you can have your database on the OCI side and your application on Microsoft Azure side or the other way around. You can have SQL Server on Azure and the application running on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. And this is very easy to configure.

10:55

Lois: It really sounds like Oracle is at the forefront of the multicloud revolution. Thanks so much, Samvit, for shedding light on this exciting topic.

Samvit: It was my pleasure.

Nikita: That's a wrap for today. To learn more about what we discussed, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Multicloud Architect Professional course.

Lois: We hope you enjoyed that conversation. Join us next week for another throwback episode. Until then, this is Lois Houston...

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

11:26

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

Join hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham as they explore the world of MySQL 8.4. Together with Perside Foster, a MySQL Principal Solution Engineer, they break down the fundamentals of MySQL, its wide range of applications, and why it's so popular among developers and database administrators. This episode also covers key topics like licensing options, support services, and the various tools, features, and plugins available in MySQL Enterprise Edition. MySQL 8.4 Essentials: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/mysql-84-essentials/141332/226362 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ----------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Nikita: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Nikita Abraham, Team Lead of Editorial Services with Oracle University, and with me is Lois Houston, Director of Communications and Adoption with Customer Success Services.

Lois: Hi there! If you've been following along with us, you'll know we've had some really interesting seasons this year. We covered MySQL, Multicloud, APEX, GoldenGate, Artificial Intelligence, and Cloud Tech.

Nikita: And we've had some pretty awesome special guests too. Do go back and check out those episodes if any of these topics interest you. Lois: As we close out the year, we thought this would be a good time to revisit some of our best episodes. So over the next few weeks, you'll be able to listen to four of our most popular episodes of the year.

01:12

Nikita: Right, this is the best of the best according to you our listeners. Today's episode is #1 of 4 and is a throwback to a discussion with MySQL Principal Solution Engineer Perside Foster on the Oracle MySQL ecosystem and its various components. We began by asking Perside to explain what MySQL is and why it's so widely used. So, let's get to it! Perside: MySQL is a relational database management system that organizes data into structured tables, rows, and columns for efficient programming and data management. MySQL is transactional by nature. When storing and managing data, actions such as selecting, inserting, updating, or deleting are required. MySQL groups these actions into a transaction. The transaction is saved only if every part completes successfully.

02:13

Lois: Now, how does MySQL work under the hood?

Perside: MySQL is a high-performance database that uses its default storage engine, known as InnoDB. InnoDB helps MySQL handle complex operations and large data volumes smoothly.

02:33

Nikita: For the unversed, what are some day-to-day applications of MySQL? How is it used in the real world?

Perside: MySQL works well with online transaction processing workloads. It handles transactions quickly and manages large volumes of transaction at once. OLTP, with low latency and high throughput, makes MySQL ideal for high-speed environments like banking or online shopping. MySQL not only stores data but also replicates it from a main server to several replicas.

03:14

Nikita: That's impressive! And what are the benefits of using MySQL?

Perside: It improves data availability and load balancing, which is crucial for businesses that need up-to-date information. MySQL replication supports read scale-out by distributing queries across servers, which increases high availability. MySQL is the most popular database on the web.

03:44

Lois: And why is that? What makes it so popular? What sets it apart from the other database management systems?

Perside: First, it is a relational database management system that supports SQL. It also works as a document store, enabling the creation of both SQL and NoSQL applications without the need for separate NoSQL databases. Additionally, MySQL offers advanced security features to protect data integrity and privacy.

It also uses tablespaces for better disk space management. This gives database administrators total control over their data storage. MySQL is simple, solid in its reliability, and secure by design. It is easy to use and ideal for both beginners and professionals. MySQL is proven at scale by efficiently handling large data volumes and high transaction rates.

MySQL is also open source. This means anyone can download and use it for free. Users can modify the MySQL software to meet their needs. However, it is governed by the GNU General Public License, or GPL. GPL outlines specific rules for its use. MySQL offers two major editions. For developers and small teams, the Community Edition is available for free and includes all of the core features needed. For large enterprises, the Commercial Edition provides advanced features, management tools, and dedicated technical support.

05:42

Nikita: Ok. Let's shift focus to licensing. Who is it useful for?

Perside: MySQL licensing is essential for independent software vendors. They're called ISVs. And original manufacturers, they're called OEMs. This is because these companies often incorporate MySQL code into their software products or hardware system to boost the functionality and performance of their product. MySQL licensing is equally important for value-added resellers. We call those VARs. And also, it's important for other distributors.

These groups bundle MySQL with other commercially licensed software to sell as part of their product offering. The GPL v.2 license might suit Open Source projects that distribute their products under that license.

06:46

Lois: But what if some independent software vendors, original manufacturers, or value-add resellers don't want to create Open Source products. They don't want their source to be publicly available and they want to keep it private. What happens then?

Perside: This is why Oracle provides a commercial licensing option. This license allows businesses to use MySQL in their products without having to disclose their source code as required by GPL v2.

07:17

Nikita: I want to bring up the robust support services that are available for MySQL Enterprise. What can we expect in terms of support, Perside?

Perside: MySQL Enterprise Support provides direct access to the MySQL Support team. This team consists of experienced MySQL developers, who are experts in databases. They understand the issues and challenges their customers face because they, too, have personally tackled these issues and challenges.

This support service operates globally and is available in 29 languages. So no matter where customers are located, Oracle Support provides assistance, most likely in their preferred language. MySQL Enterprise Support offers regular updates and hot fixes to ensure that the MySQL customer systems stays current with the latest improvements and security patches.

MySQL Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This ensures that whenever there is an issue, Oracle Support can provide the needed help without any delay. There are no restrictions on how many times customers can receive help from the team because MySQL Enterprise Support allows for unlimited incidents.

MySQL Enterprise Support goes beyond simply fixing issues. It also offers guidance and advice. Whether customers require assistance with performance tuning or troubleshooting, the team is there to support them every step of the way.

09:11

Lois: Perside, can you walk us through the various tools and advanced features that are available within MySQL? Maybe we could start with MySQL Shell.

Perside: MySQL Shell is an integrated client tool used for all MySQL database operations and administrative functions. It's a top choice among MySQL users for its versatility and powerful features. MySQL Shell offers multi-language support for JavaScript, Python, and SQL. These naturally scriptable languages make coding flexible and efficient. They also allow developers to use their preferred programming language for everything, from automating database tasks to writing complex queries. MySQL Shell supports both document and relational models. Whether your project needs the flexibility of NoSQL's document-oriented structures or the structured relationships of traditional SQL tables, MySQL Shell manages these different data types without any problems.

Another key feature of MySQL Shell is its full access to both development and administrative APIs. This ability makes it easy to automate complex database operations and do custom development directly from MySQL Shell. MySQL Shell excels at DBA operations. It has extensive tools for database configuration, maintenance, and monitoring. These tools not only improve the efficiency of managing databases, but they also reduce the possibility for human error, making MySQL databases more reliable and easier to manage.

11:21

Nikita: What about the MySQL Server tool? I know that it is the core of the MySQL ecosystem and is available in both the community and commercial editions. But how does it enhance the MySQL experience?

Perside: It connects with various devices, applications, and third-party tools to enhance its functionality. The server manages both SQL for structured data and NoSQL for schemaless applications. It has many key components. The parser, which interprets SQL commands. Optimizer, which ensures efficient query execution. And then the queue cache and buffer pools. They reduce disk usage and speed up access. InnoDB, the default storage engine, maintains data integrity and supports robust transaction and recovery mechanism. MySQL is designed for scalability and reliability. With features like replication and clustering, it distributes data, manage more users, and ensure consistent uptime.

12:44

Nikita: What role does MySQL Enterprise Edition play in MySQL server's capabilities?

Perside: MySQL Enterprise Edition improves MySQL server by adding a suite of commercial extensions. These exclusive tools and services are designed for enterprise-level deployments and challenging environments. These tools and services include secure online backup. It keeps your data safe with efficient backup solutions. Real-time monitoring provides insight into database performance and health. The seamless integration connects easily with existing infrastructure, improving data flow and operations. Then you have the 24/7 expert support. It offers round the clock assistance to optimize and troubleshoot your databases.

13:48

Lois: That's an extensive list of features. Now, can you explain what MySQL Enterprise plugins are? I know they're specialized extensions that boost the capabilities of MySQL server, tools, and services, but I'd love to know a little more about how they work.

Perside: Each plugin serves a specific purpose. Firewall plugin protects against SQL injection by allowing only pre-approved queries. The audit plugin logs database activities, tracking who accesses databases and what they do. Encryption plugin secures data at rest, protecting it from unauthorized access.

Then we have the authentication plugin, which integrates with systems like LDAP and Active Directory for control access. Finally, the thread pool plugin optimizes performance in high load situation by effectively controlling how many execution threads are used and how long they run. The plugin and tools are included in the MySQL Enterprise Edition suite.

15:16

Join the Oracle University Learning Community and tap into a vibrant network of over 1 million members, including Oracle experts and fellow learners. This dynamic community is the perfect place to grow your skills, connect with likeminded learners, and celebrate your successes. As a MyLearn subscriber, you have access to engage with your fellow learners and participate in activities in the community. Visit community.oracle.com/ou to check things out today!

15:47

Nikita: Welcome back! We've been going through the various MySQL tools, and another important one is MySQL Enterprise Backup, right?

Perside: MySQL Enterprise Backup is a powerful tool that offers online, non-blocking backup and recovery. It makes sure databases remain available and performs optimally during the backup process.

It also includes advanced features, such as incremental and differential backup. Additionally, MySQL Enterprise Backup supports compression to reduce backups and encryptions to keep data secure. One of the standard capabilities of MySQL Enterprise Backup is its seamless integration with media management software, or MMS. This integration simplifies the process of managing and storing backups, ensuring that data is easily accessible and secure.

Then we have the MySQL Workbench Enterprise. It enhances database development and design with robust tools for creating and managing your diagram and ensuring proper documentation. It simplifies data migration with powerful tools that makes it easy to move databases between platforms.

For database administration, MySQL Workbench Enterprise offers efficient tools for monitoring, performance tuning, user management, and backup and recovery. MySQL Enterprise Monitor is another tool. It provides real-time MySQL performance and availability monitoring. It helps track database's health and performance.

It visually finds and fixes problem queries. This is to make it easy to identify and address performance issues. It offers MySQL best-practice advisors to guide users in maintaining optimal performance and security. Lastly, MySQL Enterprise Monitor is proactive and it provides forecasting.

18:24

Lois: Oh that's really going to help users stay ahead of potential issues. That's fantastic! What about the Oracle Enterprise Manager Plugin for MySQL?

Perside: This one offers availability and performance monitoring to make sure MySQL databases are running smoothly and efficiently. It provides configuration monitoring. This is to help keep track of the database settings and configuration. Finally, it collects all available metrics to provide comprehensive insight into the database operation.

19:03

Lois: Are there any tools designed to handle higher loads and improve security?

Perside: MySQL Enterprise Thread Pool improves scalability as concurrent connections grows. It makes sure the database can handle increased loads efficiently. MySQL Enterprise Authentication is another tool. This one integrates MySQL with existing security infrastructures. It provides robust security solutions. It supports Linux PAM, LDAP, Windows, Kerberos, and even FIDO for passwordless authentication.

19:46

Nikita: Do any tools offer benefits like customized logging, data protection, database security?

Perside: The MySQL Enterprise Audit provides out-of-the-box logging of connections, logins, and queries in XML or JSON format. It also offers simple to fine-grained policies for filtering and log rotation. This is to ensure comprehensive and customizable logging. MySQL Enterprise Firewall detects and blocks out of policy database transactions. This is to protect your data from unauthorized access and activities.

We also have MySQL Enterprise Asymmetric Encryption. It uses MySQL encryption libraries for key management signing and verifying data. It ensures data stays secure during handling. MySQL Transparent Data Encryption, another tool, provides data-at-rest encryption within the database. The Master Key is stored outside of the database in a KMIP 1.1-compliant Key Vault. That is to improve database security.

Finally, MySQL Enterprise Masking offers masking capabilities, including string masking and dictionary replacement. This ensures sensitive data is protected by obscuring it. It also provides random data generators, such as range-based, payment card, email, and social security number generators. These tools help create realistic but anonymized data for testing and development.

21:56

Lois: Can you tell us about HeatWave, the MySQL cloud service? We're going to have a whole episode dedicated to it soon, but just a quick introduction for now would be great.

Perside: MySQL HeatWave offers a fully managed MySQL service. It provides deployment, backup and restore, high availability, resizing, and read replicas, all the features you need for efficient database management.

This service is a powerful union of Oracle Infrastructure and MySQL Enterprise Edition 8. It combines robust performance with top-tier infrastructure. With MySQL HeatWave, your systems are always up to date with the latest security fixes, ensuring your data is always protected. Plus, it supports both OLTP and analytics/ML use cases, making it a versatile solution for diverse database needs.

23:05

Nikita: So to wrap up, what are your key takeways when it comes to MySQL?

Perside: When you use MySQL, here is the bottom line. MySQL Enterprise Edition delivers unmatched performance at scale. It provides advanced monitoring and tuning capabilities to ensure efficient database operation, even under heavy loads. Plus, it provides insurance and immediate help when needed, allowing you to depend on expert support whenever an issue arises.

Regarding total cost of ownership, TCO, this edition significantly reduces the risk of downtime and enhances productivity. This leads to significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency. On the matter of risk, MySQL Enterprise Edition addresses security and regulatory compliance. This is to make sure your data meets all necessary standards. Additionally, it provides direct contact with the MySQL team for expert guidance.

In terms of DevOps agility, it supports automated scaling and management, as well as flexible real-time backups, making it ideal for agile development environments. Finally, concerning customer satisfaction, it enhances application performance and uptime, ensuring your customers have a reliable and smooth experience.

25:02

Lois: Thank you so much, Perside. This is really insightful information. To learn more about all the support services that are available, visit support.oracle.com. This is the central hub for all MySQL Enterprise Support resources.

Nikita: Yeah, and if you want to know about the key commercial products offered by MySQL, visit mylearn.oracle.com and search for the MySQL 8.4: Essentials course.

Lois: We hope you enjoyed that conversation. Join us next week for another throwback episode. Until then, this is Lois Houston…

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

25:39

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

This week, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham are joined by Principal OCI Instructor Orlando Gentil to explore what truly keeps data safe, and what puts it at risk. They discuss the CIA triad, dive into hashing and encryption, and shed light on how cyber threats like malware, phishing, and ransomware try to sneak past defenses. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hey everyone! Last week, we discussed how you can keep your data safe with authentication and authorization. Today, we'll talk about various security risks that could threaten your systems.

00:48

Lois: And to help us understand this better, we have Orlando Gentil, Principal OCI Instructor, back with us. Orlando, welcome back! Let's start with the big picture—why is security such a crucial part of our digital world today?

Orlando: Whether you are dealing with files stored on a server or data flying across the internet, one thing is always true—security matters.

In today's digital world, it's critical to ensure that data stays private, accurate, and accessible only to the right people.

01:20

Nikita: And how do we keep data private, secure, and unaltered? Is there a security framework that we can use to make sense of different security practices?

Orlando: The CIA triad defines three core goals of information security.

CIA stands for confidentiality. It's about keeping data private. Only authorized users should be able to access sensitive information. This is where encryption plays a huge role.

Integrity means ensuring that the data hasn't been altered, whether accidentally or maliciously. That's where hashing helps. You can compare a stored hash of data to a new hash to make sure nothing's changed.

Availability ensures that data is accessible when it's needed. This includes protections like system redundancy, backups, and anti-DDoS mechanisms. Encryption and hashing directly support confidentiality and integrity. And they indirectly support availability by helping keep systems secure and resilient.

02:31

Lois: Let's rewind a bit. You spoke about something called hashing. What does that mean?

Orlando: Hashing is a one-way transformation. You feed in data and it produces a unique fixed length string called a hash. The important part is the same input always gives the same output, but you cannot go backward and recover the original data from the hash.

It's commonly used for verifying integrity. For example, to check if a file has changed or a message was altered in transit. Hashing is also used in password storage. Systems don't store actual passwords, just their hashes.

When you log in, the system hashes what you type it and compare the stored hash. If they match, you're in. But your actual password was never stored or revealed. So hashing isn't about hiding data, it's about providing it hasn't changed. So, while hashing is all about protecting integrity, encryption is the tool we use to ensure confidentiality.

03:42

Nikita: Right, the C in CIA. And how does it do that?

Orlando: Encryption takes readable data, also known as plaintext, and turns it into something unreadable called ciphertext using a key. To get the original data back, you need to decrypt it using the right key.

This is especially useful when you are storing sensitive files or sending data across networks. If someone intercepts the data, all they will see is gibberish, unless they have the correct key to decrypt it. Unlike hashing, encryption is reversible as long as you have the right key.

04:23

Lois: And are there different types of encryption that serve different purposes?

Orlando: Symmetric and asymmetric encryption. With symmetric encryption, the same key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the data.

It's fast and great for securing large volumes of data, but the challenge lies in safely sharing the key. Asymmetric encryption solves that problem. It uses a pair of keys: public key that anyone can use to encrypt data, and a private key that only the recipient holds to decrypt it.

This method is more secure for communications, but also slower and more resource-intensive. In practice, systems often use both asymmetric encryption to exchange a secure symmetric key and then symmetric encryption for the actual data transfer.

05:21

Nikita: Orlando, where is encryption typically used in day-to-day activities?

Orlando: Data can exist in two primary states: at rest and in transit. Data at rest refers to data stored on disk, in databases, backups, or object storage.

It needs protection from unauthorized access, especially if a device is stolen or compromised. This is where things like full disk encryption or encrypted storage volumes come in. Data in transit is data being sent from one place to another, like a user logging into a website or an API sending information between services.

To protect it from interception, we use protocols like TLS, SSL, VPNs, and encrypted communication channels. Both forms data need encryption, but the strategies and threats can differ.

06:19

Lois: Can you do a quick comparison between hashing and encryption?

Orlando: Hashing is one way. It's used to confirm that data hasn't changed. Once data is hashed, it cannot be reversed. It's perfect for use cases like password storage or checking the integrity of files. Encryption, on the other hand, it's two-way. It's designed to protect data from unauthorized access.

You encrypt the data so only someone with the right key can decrypt and read it. That's what makes it ideal for keeping files, messages, or network traffic confidential. Both are essential for different reasons. Hashing for trust and encryption for privacy.

07:11

Adopting a multicloud strategy is a big step towards future-proofing your business and we're here to help you navigate this complex landscape. With our suite of courses, you'll gain insights into network connectivity, security protocols, and the considerations of working across different cloud platforms. Start your journey to multicloud today by visiting mylearn.oracle.com.

07:39

Nikita: Welcome back! When we talk about cybersecurity, we hear a lot about threats and vulnerabilities. But what do those terms really mean?

Orlando: In cybersecurity, a threat is a potential danger and a vulnerability is a weakness an asset possess that a threat can exploit.

When a threat and a vulnerability align, it creates a risk of harm. A threat actor then performs an exploit to leverage that vulnerability, leading to undesirable impact, such as data loss or downtime. After an impact, the focus shifts to response and recovery to mitigate damage and restore operations.

08:23

Lois: Ok, let's zero in on vulnerabilities. What counts as a vulnerability, and what categories do attackers usually target first?

Orlando: Software and hardware bugs are simply unintended flaws in a system's core programming or design.

Misconfigurations arise when systems aren't set up securely, leaving gaps. Weak passwords and authentication provide easy entry points for attackers. A lack of encryption means sensitive data is openly exposed.

Human error involves mistakes made by people that unintentionally create security risks. Understanding these common vulnerability types is the first step in building more resilient and secure systems as they represent the critical entry points attackers leverage to compromise systems and data. By addressing these, we can significantly reduce our attack surface and enhance overall security.

09:28

Nikita: Can we get more specific here? What are the most common cybersecurity threats that go after vulnerabilities in our systems and data?

Orlando: Malware is a broad category, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and spyware. Its goal is to disrupt or damage systems.

Ransomware has been on the rise, targeting everything from hospitals to government agencies. It lock your files and demands a ransom, usually in cryptocurrency. Phishing relies on deception. Attackers impersonate legitimate contacts to trick users into clicking malicious links or giving up credentials.

Insider threats are particularly dangerous because they come within employees, contractors, or even former staff with lingering access. Lastly, DDoS attacks aim to make online services unavailable by overwhelming them with traffic, often using a botnet—a network of compromised devices.

10:34

Lois: Orlando, can you walk us through how each of these common cybersecurity threats work?

Orlando: Malware, short for malicious software, is one of the oldest and most pervasive types of threats. It comes in many forms, each with unique methods and objectives.

A virus typically attaches itself to executable files and documents and spreads when those are shared or opened. Worms are even more dangerous in networked environments as they self-replicate and spread without any user action.

Trojans deceive users by posing as harmless or helpful applications. Once inside, they can steal data or open backdoors for remote access. Spyware runs silently in the background, collecting sensitive information like keystrokes or login credentials.

Adware might seem like just an annoyance, but it can also track your activity and compromise privacy. Finally, rootkits are among the most dangerous because they operate at a low system level, often evading detection tools and allowing attackers long-term access.

In practice, malware can be a combination of these types. Attackers often bundle different techniques to maximize damage.

12:03

Nikita: And what about ransomware? Why it is such a serious threat?

Orlando: Ransomware has become one of the most disruptive and costly types of cyber attacks in recent years. Its goal is simple but devastating, to encrypt your data and demand payment in exchange for access.

It usually enters through phishing emails, insecure remote desktop protocol ports or known vulnerabilities. Once inside, it often spreads laterally across the network before activating, ensuring maximum impact.

There are two common main forms. Crypto ransomware encrypts user files, making them inaccessible. Locker ransomware goes a step further, locking the entire system interface, preventing any use at all.

Victims are then presented with a ransom note, typically requesting cryptocurrency payments in exchange for the decryption key. What makes ransomware so dangerous is not just the encryption itself, but the pressure it creates.

Healthcare institutions, for instance, can't afford the downtime, making them prime targets.

13:18

Lois: Wow. Thanks, Orlando, for joining us today.

Nikita: Yeah, thanks Orlando. We'll be back next week with more on how you use security models to tackle these threats head-on. And if you want to learn about the topics we covered today, go to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course. Until next time, this is Nikita Abraham…

Lois: And Lois Houston, signing off!

13:42

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

How do all your devices connect and stay safe in the cloud? In this episode, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham talk with OCI instructors Sergio Castro and Orlando Gentil about the basics of how networks work and the simple steps that help protect them. You'll learn how information gets from one place to another, why tools like switches, routers, and firewalls are important, and what goes into keeping access secure. The discussion also covers how organizations decide who can enter their systems and how they keep track of activity. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. -------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hi everyone! In the last episode, we spoke about local area networks and domain name systems. Today, we'll continue our conversation on the fundamentals of networking, covering a variety of important topics.

00:50

Lois: That's right, Niki. And before we close, we'll also touch on the basics of security. Joining us today are two OCI instructors from Oracle University: Sergio Castro and Orlando Gentil. So glad to have you both with us guys. Sergio, with so many users and devices connecting to the internet, how do we make sure everyone can get online? Can you break down what Network Address Translation, or NAT, does to help with this?

Sergio: The world population is bigger than 4.3 billion people. That means that if we were to interconnect every single human into the internet, we will not have enough addresses. And not all of us are connected to the internet, but those of us who are, you know that we have more than one device at our disposal. We might have a computer, a laptop, mobile phones, you name it. And all of them need IP addresses. So that's why Network Address Translation exists because it translates your communication from a private IP to a public IP address. That's the main purpose: translate.

02:05

Nikita: Okay, so with NAT handling the IP translation, how do we ensure that the right data reaches the right device within a network? Or to put it differently, what directs external traffic to specific devices inside a network?

Sergio: Port forwarding works in a reverse way to Network Address Translation. So, let's assume that this PC here, you want to turn it into a web server. So, people from the outside, customers from the outside of your local area network, will access your PC web server. Let's say that it's an online store.

Now all of these devices are using the same public IP address. So how would the traffic be routed specifically to this PC and not to the camera or to the laptop, which is not a web server, or to your IP TV? So, this is where port forwarding comes into play. Basically, whenever it detects a request coming to port, it will route it and forward that request to your PC.

It will allow anybody, any external device that wants to access this particular one, this particular web server, for the session to be established. So, it's a permission that you're allowing to this PC and only to this PC. The other devices will still be isolated from that list. That's what port forwarding is.

03:36

Lois: Sergio, let's talk about networking devices. What are some of the key ones, and what role do they play in connecting everything together?

Sergio: There's plenty of devices for interconnectivity. These are devices that are different from the actual compute instances, virtual machines, cameras, and IPTV. These are for interconnecting networks. And they have several functionalities.

03:59

Nikita: Yeah, I often hear about a default gateway. Could you explain what that is and why it's essential for a network to function smoothly?

Sergio: A gateway is basically where a web browser goes and asks a service from a web server. We have a gateway in the middle that will take us to that web server. So that's basically is the router. A gateway doesn't necessarily have to be a router. It depends on what device you're addressing at a particular configuration.

So, a gateway is a connectivity device that connects two different networks. That's basically the functionality.

04:34

Lois: Ok. And when does one use a default gateway?

Sergio: When you do not have a specific route that is targeting a specific router. You might have more than one router in your network, connecting to different other local area networks. You might have a route that will take you to local area network B. And then you might have another router that is connecting you to the internet. So, if you don't have a specific route that will take you to local area network B, then it's going to be utilizing the default gateway.

It directs data packets to other networks when no specific route is known. In general terms, the default gateway, again, it doesn't have to be a router. It can be any devices.

05:22

Nikita: Could you give us a real-world example, maybe comparing a few of these devices in action, so we can see how they work together in a typical network?

Sergio: For example, we have the hub. And the hub operates at the physical layer or layer 1.

And then we have the switch. And the switch operates at layer 2. And we also have the router. And the router operates at layer 3. So, what's the big difference between these devices and the layers that they operate in? So, hubs work in the physical layer of the OSI model. And basically, it is for connecting multiple devices and making them act as a single network segment.

Now, the switch operates at the data link layer and is basically a repeater, and is used for filtering content by reading the addresses of the source and destination. And these are the MAC addresses that I'm talking about. So, it reads where the packet is coming from and where is it going to at the local area network level.

It connects multiple network segments. And each port is connected to a different segment. And the router is used for routing outside of your local area network, performs traffic directing functions on the internet.

A data packet is typically forwarded from one router to another through different networks until it reaches its destination node. The switch connects multiple network segments. And each port of the switch is connected to a different segment.

And the router performs traffic directing functions on the internet. It takes data from one router to another, and it works at the TCP/IP network layer or internet layer.

07:22

Lois: Sergio, what kind of devices help secure a network from external threats?

Sergio: The network firewall is used as a security device that acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the internet. The network firewall is the first line of defense for traffic that passes in and out of your network.

The firewall examines traffic to ensure that it meets the security requirements set by your organization, or allowing, or blocking traffic based on set criteria. And the main benefit is that it improves security for access management and network visibility.

08:10

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08:36

Nikita: Welcome back! Sergio, how do networks manage who can and can't enter based on certain permissions and criteria?

Sergio: The access control list is like the gatekeeper into your local area network. Think about the access control list as the visa on your passport, assuming that the country is your local area network. Now, when you have a passport, you might get a visa that allows you to go into a certain country.

So the access control list is a list of rules that defines which users, groups, or systems have permissions to access specific resources on your networks.

It is a gatekeeper, that is going to specify who's allowed and who's denied. If you don't have a visa to go into a specific country, then you are denied. Similar here, if you are not part of the rule, if the service that you're trying to access is not part of the rules, then you cannot get in.

09:37

Lois: That's a great analogy, Sergio. Now, let's turn our attention to one of the core elements of network security: authentication and authorization. Orlando, can you explain why authentication and authorization are such crucial aspects of a secure cloud network?

Orlando: Security is one of the most critical pillars in modern IT systems. Whether you are running a small web app or managing global infrastructure, every secure system starts by answering two key questions. Who are you, and what are you allowed to do? This is the essence of authentication and authorization.

Authentication is the first step in access control. It's how a system verifies that you are who you claim to be. Think of it like showing your driver's license at a security checkpoint. The guard checks your photo and personal details to confirm your identity. In IT systems, the same process happens using one or more of these factors.

It will ask you for something you know, like a password. It will ask you for something that you have, like a security token, or it will ask you for something that you are, like a fingerprint. An identity does not refer to just a person. It's any actor, human or not, that interacts with your systems. Users are straightforward, think employees logging into a dashboard. But services and machines are equally important. A backend API may need to read data from a database, or a virtual machine may need to download updates. Treating these non-human identities with the same rigor as human ones helps prevent unauthorized access and improves visibility and security. After confirming your identity, can the system move on to deciding what you're allowed to access? That's where authorization comes in. Once authentication confirms who you are, authorization determines what you are allowed to do.

Sticking with the driver's license analogy, you've shown your license and proven your identity, but that doesn't mean that you can drive anything anywhere. Your license class might let you drive a car, not a motorcycle or a truck. It might be valid in your country, but not in others. Similarly, in IT systems, authorization defines what actions you can take and on which resources. This is usually controlled by policies and roles assigned to your identity. It ensures that users or services only get access to the things they are explicitly allowed to interact with.

12:34

Nikita: How can organizations ensure secure access across their systems, especially when managing multiple users and resources?

Orlando: Identity and Access Management governs who can do what in our systems. Individually, authentication verifies identity and authorization grants access. However, managing these processes at scale across countless users and resources becomes a complex challenge. That's where Identity and Access Management, or IAM, comes in.

IAM is an overarching framework that centralizes and orchestrates both authentication and authorization, along with other critical functions, to ensure secure and efficient access to resources.

13:23

Lois: And what are the key components and methods that make up a robust IAM system?

Orlando: User management, a core component of IAM, provides a centralized Identity Management system for all user accounts and their attributes, ensuring consistency across applications.

Key functions include user provisioning and deprovisioning, automating account creation for new users, and timely removal upon departure or role changes. It also covers the full user account lifecycle management, including password policies and account recovery. Lastly, user management often involves directory services integration to unify user information. Access management is about defining access permissions, specifically what actions users can perform and which resources they can access.

A common approach is role-based access control, or RBAC, where permissions are assigned to roles and users inherit those permissions by being assigned to roles. For more granular control, policy-based access control allows for rules based on specific attributes. Crucially, access management enforces the principle of least privilege, granting only the minimum necessary access, and supports segregation of duties to prevent conflicts of interest.

For authentication, IAM systems support various methods. Single-factor authentication, relying on just one piece of evidence like a password, offers basic security. However, multi-factor authentication significantly boosts security by requiring two or more distinct verification types, such as a password, plus a one-time code. We also have biometric authentication, using unique physical traits and token-based authentication, common for API and web services.

15:33

Lois: Orlando, when it comes to security, it's not just about who can access what, but also about keeping track of it all. How does auditing and reporting maintain compliance?

Orlando: Auditing and reporting are essential for security and compliance. This involves tracking user activities, logging all access attempts and permission changes. It's vital for meeting compliance and regulatory requirements, allowing you to generate reports for audits. Auditing also aids in security incident detection by identifying unusual activities and providing data for forensic analysis after an incident.

Lastly, it offers performance and usage analytics to help optimize your IAM system.

16:22

Nikita: That was an incredibly informative conversation. Thank you, Sergio and Orlando, for sharing your expertise with us. If you'd like to dive deeper into these concepts, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course.

Lois: I agree! This was such a great conversation! Don't miss next week's episode, where we'll continue exploring key security concepts to help organizations operate in a scalable, secure, and auditable way. Until next time, this is Lois Houston…

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

16:56

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

In this episode, hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham team up with Senior Principal OCI Instructor Sergio Castro to unpack the basics of cloud networking and the Domain Name System (DNS). You'll learn how local and virtual networks connect devices, and how DNS seamlessly translates familiar names like oracle.com into addresses computers understand. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hi everyone! For the last few weeks, we've been talking about different aspects of cloud data centers. Today, we're focusing on something that's absolutely key to how everything works in the cloud: networking and domain name systems.

00:52

Lois: And to guide us through it, we've got Sergio Castro, Senior Principal OCI Instructor at Oracle University. We'll start by trying to understand why networking is so crucial and how it connects everything behind the scenes. Sergio, could you explain what networking means in simple terms, especially for folks new to cloud tech?

Sergio: Networking is the backbone of cloud computing. It is a fundamental service because it provides the infrastructure for connecting users, applications, and resources within a cloud environment.

It basically enables data transfers. It facilitates remote access. And ensures that cloud services are accessible to users. This provided that these users have the correct credentials.

01:38

Nikita: Ok, can you walk us through how a typical network operates?

Sergio: In networking, typically starts with the local area network. Basically, networking is a crucial component for any IT service because it's the foundation for the architecture framework of any of the services that we consume today.

So, a network is two or more computers interconnected to each other. And not necessarily it needs to be a computer. It can be another device such as a printer or an IP TV or an IP phone or an IP camera. Many devices can be part of a local area network.

And a local area network can be very small. Like I mentioned before, two or more computers, or it could grow into a very robust and complicated set of interconnected networks. And if that happens, then it can become very expensive as well.

Cloud networking, it's the Achilles heel for many of the database administrators, programmers, quality assurance engineers, any IT other than a network administrator. Actually, when the network starts to grow, managing access and permissions and implementing robust security measures, this coupled with the critical importance of reliable, and secure performance, can create significant hurdles.

03:09

Nikita: What are the different types of networks we have?

Sergio: A local area network is basically in one building. It covers… it can be maybe two buildings that are in close proximity in a small campus, but typically it's very small by definition, and they're all interconnected to each other via one router, typically.

A metropolitan area network is a typical network that spans into a city or a metro area, hence the name metropolitan area network. So, one building can be on one edge of the city and the other building can be at the other edge of the city, and they are interconnected by a digital circuit typically. So that's the case. It's more than one building, and the separation of those buildings is considerable. It can go into several miles.

And a wide area network is a network that spans multiple cities, states, countries, even international.

04:10

Lois: I think we'll focus on the local area network for today's conversation. Could you give us a real-world example, maybe what a home office network setup looks like?

Sergio: If you are accessing this session from your home office or from your office or corporate office even, but a home office or a home network, typically, you have a router that is being provided to you by the internet vendor—the internet service provider.

And then you have your laptop or your computer, your PC connected to that router. And then you might have other devices either connected via cable—ethernet cable—or Wi-Fi. And the interconnectivity within that small building is what makes a local area network.

And it looks very similar once you move on into a corporate office. Again, it's two or more computers interconnected. That's what makes a local area network. In a corporate office, the difference with a home office or your home is that you have many more computers.

And because you have many more computers, that local area network might be divided into subnets. And for that, you need a switch. So, you have additional devices like a switch and a firewall and the router. And then you might have a server as well.

So that's the local area network. Two or more computers. And local area networks are capable of high speeds because they are in close proximity to each other.

05:47

Nikita: Ok… so obviously a local area network has several different components. Let's break them down. What's a client, what's a server, and how do they interact?

Sergio: A client basically is a requester of a service. Like when you hop into your browser and then you want to go to a website, for example, oracle.com, you type www.oracle.com, you are requesting a service from a server.

And that server typically resides in a data center like oracle.com under the Oracle domain is a big data center with many interconnected servers. Interconnected so they can concurrently serve multiple millions of requests coming into www.oracle.com at the same time.

So, servers provide services to client computers. So basically, that's the relation. A client requests a service and the server provides that service.

06:50

Lois: And what does that client-server setup actually look like?

Sergio: So, let's continue with our example of a web browser requesting a service from a web server.

So, in this case, the physical computer is the server. And then it has a software running on it. And that makes it a web server. So, once you type www.oracle.com, it sends the request and the request is received. And provided that everything's configured correctly and that there are no typos, then it will provide a response and basically give the view of the website.

And that's obviously in the local area network, maybe quality assurance when they were testing this for going live. But when it goes live, then you have the internet in the middle. And the internet in the middle then have many routers, hubs, switches.

07:51

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08:16

Nikita: Welcome back! Sergio, would this client-server model also apply to my devices at home?

Sergio: In your own local area network, you have client server even without noticing. For example, let's go back to our home office example. What happens if we add another laptop into the scenario?

Then all of these devices, they need a way for them to communicate. And for that, they have an IP address. And who provides that IP address?

The minute that you add, the other device is going to send a request to the router. The router, we call it router, but it has multiple functions like the mobile device, the handheld device that we call smartphone. It has many functions like camera and calendar and many other functionalities.

The router has an additional functionality called the dynamic host configuration protocol at DHCP server. So basically, the laptop requests, hey, give me an IP address, and then the router or the DHCP server replies, here's your IP address. And it's going to be a different one. So, they don't overlap. So that's an example of client server.

09:32

Lois: And where do virtual networks fit into all this?

Sergio: A virtual network is basically, a software version of the physical network. It looks and feels exactly as a physical network does. We do have a path or a communication, in this case, in the physical network, you have either Wi-Fi or you have internet cable. And then you add your workstations or devices on top of that. And then you might create subnets.

So, in a software-defined network or in a virtual network, you have a software-defined connectivity, physical cable and all of that. Everything is software-defined. And it looks exactly the same, except that everything is software.

In a software or a virtual network, you can communicate with a physical network as if that software or that virtual network was another physical network. Again, this is a software network or a software-defined network, a virtual network, no longer a physical network.

10:42

Lois: Let's switch gears a little and talk about Domain Name Systems. Sergio, can you explain what DNS is, and why it's important when we browse the web?

Sergio: DNS is the global database for internet addressing. The DNS plays a very important role on the internet. And many internet services are closely related to DNS.

The main functionality of DNS is to translate easy-to-remember names into IP addresses. Some IP addresses might be very easy to remember. But however, if you have many of them, then it's easier to remember oracle.com or ucla.edu or navy.mil for military or eds.org for organization or gobierno.mx for Mexico. So that's the main feature of the DNS.

It's very similar to a mobile phone to the contacts application in your mobile phone, because the contacts application maps names to phone numbers. It's easier to remember Bob's phone than 555-123-4567. So, it's easier to remember the name of the persons in your contacts list, like it is easier to remember, as previously mentioned, oracle.com than 138.1.33.162.

Again, 138.1.33.162 might be easy for you to remember if that's the only one that you need to remember. But if you have 20, 40, 50, like we do with phone numbers, it's easier to remember oracle.com or ucla.edu. And this is essential, this mapping, again, because we work with names it's easier for us to remember.

However, the fact is that computers, they still need to use IP addresses. And remember that this is the decimal representation of the binary number. It's a lot harder for us to remember the 32 bits or each one of the octets in binary. So that's the main purpose of DNS.

Now the big difference is that the contact list in a cell phone is unique to that individual phone. However, DNS is global. It applies to everybody in the world. Anybody typing oracle.com will translate that into 138.1.33.162.

Now this is an actual IP address of oracle.com. Oracle.com has many IP addresses. If you ping oracle.com, chances are that this is one of the many addresses that maps to oracle.com.

13:35

Nikita: You mentioned that a domain name like oracle.com can have many IP addresses. So how does DNS help my computer find the right one?

Sergio: So, let's say that you want to look for www.example.com, how do you do that? So, you type in your computer instance or in your terminal, in your laptop, in your computer, you type in your browser "www.example.com."

If the browser doesn't have that information in cache, then it's going to first ask your DNS server, the one that you have assigned and indicating in your browser's configuration. And if the DNS server then it will relate that the information is 96.7.128.198. This address is real, and your browser will go to this address once you type www.example.com.

14:34

Nikita: But what happens if the browser doesn't know the address?

Sergio: This is where it gets interesting. Your browser wants to go to www.example.com. And it's going to go and look within its cache. If it doesn't have it, then the first step is to go ahead to your DNS server and ask them, hey, if you don't know this address, go ahead and find out.

So, it goes to the root server. All the servers are administrated by IANA. And it's going to send the information, hey, what's the IP address for www.example.com?

And if the root server doesn't know it, it's going to let you know, hey, ask the top-level domain name server, in this case, the .com. It's a top-level domain name server.

So, you go ahead and ask this top-level domain name server to do that for you. In this case, again, the .com and you asked, hey, what's the IP address for example.com?

And if the top-level domain name server doesn't know, it's going to ask you, hey, ask example.com. And example.com is actually within the customer's domain. And then based on these instructions you ask, what is the IP address for www.example.com?

So, it will provide you with the IP address. And once your DNS server has the IP address, then it's going to relate to your web browser. And this is where your web browser actually reaches 96.7.128.198. Very interesting, isn't it?

16:23

Lois: Absolutely! Sergio, you mentioned top-level domain names. What are they and how are they useful?

Sergio: A top level domain is the rightmost segment of a domain name, and it's located after the last visible dot in the domain name.

So oracle.com or cloud.oracle.com is a domain name. So, .com is a top-level domain.

And the purpose of the top-level domain is to recognize certain elements of a website. This top-level domain indicates that this is a commercial site. Now, .edu, for example, is a top-level domain name for higher education.

We also have .org for nonprofit organizations, .net for network service providers. And we also have country specific. .ca for Canadian websites, .it for Italian websites. Now .it, a lot of companies that are in the information technology business utilizes this one to indicate that they're in information technology.

There's also the .us. And for US companies, most of the time this is optional. .com, .org, .net is understood that they are from the US.

Now if .com is a top-level domain name, what is that .oracle in cloud? So, Oracle is the second-level domain name. And in this case, Cloud is the third-level domain name.

And lately you've been seeing a lot more top-level domain names. These are the classic ones. But now you get .AI, .media, .comedy, .people, and so on and so forth. You have many, many, even companies now have the option of registering their company name as the top-level domain name.

18:24

Nikita: Thank you, Sergio, for this deep dive into local area networks and domain name systems. If you want to learn about the topics we covered today, go to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course.

Lois: And don't forget to join us next week for another episode on networking essentials. Until next time, this is Lois Houston…

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

18:46

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

In this episode, hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham, along with Principal OCI Instructor Orlando Gentil, break down the differences between Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Software-as-a-Service. The conversation explores how each framework influences control, cost efficiency, expansion, reliability, and contingency planning. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ----------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Nikita: Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services with Oracle University, and with me is Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs.

Lois: Hey there! Last week, we spoke about how hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers have transformed data centers. Today, we're moving on to something just as important—the main cloud models that drive modern cloud computing.

Nikita: Orlando Gentil, Principal OCI Instructor at Oracle University, joins us once again for part four of our discussion on cloud data centers.

01:01

Lois: Hi Orlando! Glad to have you with us today. Can you walk us through the different types of cloud models?

Orlando: These are commonly categorized into three main service models: Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Software-as-a-Service.

Let's use the idea of getting around town to understand cloud service models. IaaS is like renting a car. You don't own the car, but you control where it goes, how fast, and when to stop.

In cloud terms, the provider gives you the infrastructure—virtual machines, storage, and networking—but you manage everything on top—the OS, middleware, runtime, and application. Thus, it's like using a shuttle service. You bring your bags—your code, pick your destination—your app requirements, but someone else drives and maintains the vehicle.

You don't worry about the engine, fuel, or routing planning. That's the platform's job. Your focus stays on development and deployment, not on servers or patching. SaaS is like ordering a taxi. You say where you want to go and everything else is handled for you. It's the full-service experience.

In the cloud, SaaS is software UXs over the web—Email, CRM, project management. No infrastructure, no updates, just productivity.

02:32

Nikita: Ok. How do the trade-offs between control and convenience differ across SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS?

Orlando: With IaaS, much like renting a car, you gain high control. You are managing components like the operating system, runtime, your applications, and your data. In return, the provider expertly handles the underlying virtual machines, storage, and networking. This model gives you immense flexibility.

Moving to PaaS, our shuttle service, you shift to a medium level of control but gain significantly higher convenience. Your primary focus remains on your application code and data. The provider now takes on the heavy lifting of managing the runtime environment, the operating system, the servers themselves, and even the scaling.

Finally, SaaS, our taxi service, offers the highest convenience with the lowest control level. Here, your responsibility is essentially just using the application and managing your specific configurations or data within it. The cloud provider manages absolutely everything else—the entire infrastructure, the platform, and the application itself.

03:52

Nikita: One of the top concerns for cloud users is cost optimization. How can we manage this?

Orlando: Each cloud service model offers distinct strategies to help you manage and reduce your spending effectively, as well as different factors that drives those costs.

For Infrastructure-as-a-Service, where you have more control, optimization largely revolves around smart resource management. This means rightsizing your VMs, ensuring they are not overprovisioned, and actively turning off idle resources when not in use. Leveraging preemptible or spot instances for flexible workloads can also significantly cut costs. Your charges here are directly tied to your compute, storage, and network usage, so efficiency is key.

Moving to Platform-as-a-Service, where the platform is managed for you, optimization shifts slightly. Strategies include choosing scalable platforms that can efficiently handle fluctuating demand, opting for consumption-based pricing where available, and diligently optimizing your runtime usage to minimize processing time.

Costs in PaaS are typically based on your application usage, runtime hours, and storage consumed. Finally, for Software-as-a-Service where you can consume a ready-to-use application, cost optimization centers on licensing and usage.

This involves consolidating tools to avoid redundant subscriptions, selecting usage-based plans if they align better with your needs, and crucially, eliminating any unused license. SaaS costs are generally based on subscription or per user fees. Understanding these nuances is essential for effective cloud financial management.

05:52

Lois: Ok. And what about scalability? How does each model handle the ability to grow and shrink with demand, without needing manual hardware changes?

Orlando: How you achieve and manage that scalability varies significantly across our three service models. For Infrastructure-as-a-Service, you have the most direct control over scaling. You can implement manual or auto scaling by adding or removing virtual machines as needed, often leveraging load balancers to distribute traffic. In this model, you configure the scaling policies and parameters based on your specific workload.

Moving to Platform-as-a-Service, the scaling becomes more automated and elastic. The platform automatically adjusts resources based on your application's demand, allowing it to seamlessly handle traffic spikes or dips. Here, the provider manages the underlying scaling behavior, freeing you from that operational burden.

Finally, with Software-as-a-Service, scalability is largely abstracted and invisible to the user. The application scales automatically in the background, with the entire process fully managed by the provider. As a user, you simply benefit from the application's ability to handle millions of users without ever needing to worry about the infrastructure. Understanding these scaling differences is crucial for selecting the right model for your application's need.

07:34

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08:05

Nikita: Welcome back! We've talked about cost optimization and scalability in cloud environments. But what about ensuring availability? How does that work?

Orlando: Availability refers to the ability of a system or service to remain accessible in operational, even in the face of failures or extremely high demand.

The approach of achieving and managing availability, and crucially, your role versus the provider's differs greatly across each model. With Infrastructure-as-a-Service, you have the most direct control over your availability strategy. You will be responsible for designing an architecture that includes redundant VMs, deploying load balancers, and potentially even multi-region setups for disaster recovery.

Your specific roles involves designing this architecture and managing your failover process and data backups. The provider's role, in turn, is to deliver the underlying infrastructure with defined service level agreements, SLAs, and health monitoring.

For Platform-as-a-Service, the platform itself offers a higher degree of built-in, high availability, and automated failover. While the provider maintains the runtime platform's availability, your role shifts.

You need to ensure your application's logic is designed to gracefully handle retries and potential transient failures that might occur. Finally, with Software-as-a-Service, availability is almost entirely handled for you. The provider ensures fully abstracted redundancy and failover behind the scenes.

Your role becomes largely minimal, often just involving a specific application's configurations. The provider is entirely responsible for the full application uptime and the underlying high availability infrastructure. Understanding these distinct roles in ensuring availability is essential for setting expectations and designing your cloud strategy efficiently.

10:19

Lois: Building on availability, let's talk Disaster Recovery.

Orlando: DR is about ensuring your systems and data can be recovered and brought back online in the event of a significant failure, whether it's a hardware crash, a natural disaster, or even human error.

Just like the other aspects, the strategy and responsibilities for DR vary significantly across the cloud service models. For Infrastructure-as-a Service, you have the most direct involvement in your DR strategy.

You need to design and execute custom DR plans. This involves leveraging capabilities like multi-region backups, taking VM snapshots, and setting up failover clusters. A real-world example might be using Oracle Cloud compute to replicate your VMs to a secondary region with block volume backups to ensure business continuity. Essentially, you manage your entire DR process here.

Moving to Platform-as-a-Service, disaster recovery becomes a shared responsibility. The platform itself offers built-in redundancy and provide APIs for backup and restore. Your role will be to configure the application-level recovery and ensure your data is backed up appropriately, while the provider handles the underlying infrastructure's DR capability.

An example could be Azure app service, Oracle APEX applications, where your apps are redeployed from source control like Git after an incident. Finally, with Software-as-a-Service, disaster recovery is almost entirely vendor managed.

The provider takes full responsibility, offering features like auto replication and continuous backup, often backed by specific Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO) SLAs.

A common example is how Microsoft 365 or Salesforce manage user data backups in restoration. It's all handled seamlessly by the provider without your direct intervention. Understanding these different approaches to DR is crucial for defining your own business continuity plans in the cloud.

12:46

Lois: Thank you, Orlando, for this insightful discussion. To recap, we spoke about the three main cloud models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and how each one offers a different mix of control and convenience, impacting cost, scalability, availability, and recovery.

Nikita: Yeah, hopefully this helps you pick the right cloud solution for your needs. If you want to learn more about the topics we discussed today, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course. In our next episode, we'll take a close look at the essentials of networking. Until then, this is Nikita Abraham…

Lois: And Lois Houston, signing off!

13:26

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

Have you ever considered how a single server can support countless applications and workloads at once? In this episode, hosts Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham, together with Principal OCI Instructor Orlando Gentil, explore the sophisticated technologies that make this possible in modern cloud data centers. They discuss the roles of hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers, explaining how these innovations enable efficient resource sharing, robust security, and greater flexibility for organizations. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. -------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hi everyone! For the last two weeks, we've been talking about different aspects of cloud data centers. In this episode, Orlando Gentil, Principal OCI Instructor at Oracle University, joins us once again to discuss how virtualization, through hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers, has transformed data centers.

00:58

Lois: That's right, Niki. We'll begin with a quick look at the history of virtualization and why it became so widely adopted. Orlando, what can you tell us about that?

Orlando: To truly grasp the power of virtualization, it's helpful to understand its journey from its humble beginnings with mainframes to its pivotal role in today's cloud computing landscape. It might surprise you, but virtualization isn't a new concept. Its roots go back to the 1960s with mainframes.

In those early days, the primary goal was to isolate workloads on a single powerful mainframe, allowing different applications to run without interfering with each other. As we moved into the 1990s, the challenge shifted to underutilized physical servers.

Organizations often had numerous dedicated servers, each running a single application, leading to significant waste of computing resources. This led to the emergence of virtualization as we know it today, primarily from the 1990s to the 2000s.

The core idea here was to run multiple isolated operating systems on a single physical server. This innovation dramatically improved the resource utilization and laid the technical foundation for cloud computing, enabling the scalable and flexible environments we rely on today.

02:26

Nikita: Interesting. So, from an economic standpoint, what pushed traditional data centers to change and opened the door to virtualization?

Orlando: In the past, running applications often meant running them on dedicated physical servers. This led to a few significant challenges.

First, more hardware purchases. Every new application, every new project often required its own dedicated server. This meant constantly buying new physical hardware, which quickly escalated capital expenditure.

Secondly, and hand-in-hand with more servers came higher power and cooling costs. Each physical server consumed power and generated heat, necessitating significant investment in electricity and cooling infrastructure. The more servers, the higher these operational expenses became.

And finally, a major problem was unused capacity. Despite investing heavily in these physical servers, it was common for them to run well below their full capacity. Applications typically didn't need 100% of server's resources all the time.

This meant we were wasting valuable compute power, memory, and storage, effectively wasting resources and diminishing the return of investment from those expensive hardware purchases. These economic pressures became a powerful incentive to find more efficient ways to utilize data center resources, setting the stage for technologies like virtualization.

04:05

Lois: I guess we can assume virtualization emerged as a financial game-changer. So, what kind of economic efficiencies did virtualization bring to the table?

Orlando: From a CapEx or capital expenditure perspective, companies spent less on servers and data center expansion. From an OpEx or operational expenditure perspective, fewer machines meant lower electricity, cooling, and maintenance costs.

It also sped up provisioning. Spinning a new VM took minutes, not days or weeks. That improved agility and reduced the operational workload on IT teams. It also created a more scalable, cost-efficient foundation which made virtualization not just a technical improvement, but a financial turning point for data centers.

This economic efficiency is exactly what cloud providers like Oracle Cloud Infrastructure are built on, using virtualization to deliver scalable pay as you go infrastructure.

05:09

Nikita: Ok, Orlando. Let's get into the core components of virtualization. To start, what exactly is a hypervisor?

Orlando: A hypervisor is a piece of software, firmware, or hardware that creates and runs virtual machines, also known as VMs.

Its core function is to allow multiple virtual machines to run concurrently on a single physical host server. It acts as virtualization layer, abstracting the physical hardware resources like CPU, memory, and storage, and allocating them to each virtual machine as needed, ensuring they can operate independently and securely.

05:49

Lois: And are there types of hypervisors?

Orlando: There are two primary types of hypervisors. The type 1 hypervisors, often called bare metal hypervisors, run directly on the host server's hardware.

This means they interact directly with the physical resources offering high performance and security. Examples include VMware ESXi, Oracle VM Server, and KVM on Linux. They are commonly used in enterprise data centers and cloud environments. In contrast, type 2 hypervisors, also known as hosted hypervisors, run on top of an existing operating system like Windows or macOS. They act as an application within that operating system. Popular examples include VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, and Parallels. These are typically used for personal computing or development purposes, where you might run multiple operating systems on your laptop or desktop.

06:55

Nikita: We've spoken about the foundation provided by hypervisors. So, can we now talk about the virtual entities they manage: virtual machines? What exactly is a virtual machine and what are its fundamental characteristics?

Orlando: A virtual machine is essentially a software-based virtual computer system that runs on a physical host computer. The magic happens with the hypervisor. The hypervisor's job is to create and manage these virtual environments, abstracting the physical hardware so that multiple VMs can share the same underlying resources without interfering with each other.

Each VM operates like a completely independent computer with its own operating system and applications.

07:40

Lois: What are the benefits of this?

Orlando: Each VM is isolated from the others. If one VM crashes or encounters an issue, it doesn't affect the other VMs running on the same physical host. This greatly enhances stability and security.

A powerful feature is the ability to run different operating systems side-by-side on the very same physical host. You could have a Windows VM, a Linux VM, and even other specialized OS, all operating simultaneously. Consolidate workloads directly addresses the unused capacity problem. Instead of one application per physical server, you can now run multiple workloads, each in its own VM on a single powerful physical server. This dramatically improves hardware utilization, reducing the need of constant new hardware purchases and lowering power and cooling costs.

And by consolidating workloads, virtualization makes it possible for cloud providers to dynamically create and manage vast pools of computing resources. This allows users to quickly provision and scale virtual servers on demand, tapping into these shared pools of CPU, memory, and storage as needed, rather than being tied to a single physical machine.

09:10

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09:54

Nikita: Welcome back! Orlando, let's move on to containers. Many see them as a lighter, more agile way to build and run applications. What's your take?

Orlando: A container packages an application in all its dependencies, like libraries and other binaries, into a single, lightweight executable unit. Unlike a VM, a container shares the host operating system's kernel, running on top of the container runtime process. This architectural difference provides several key advantages. Containers are incredibly portable. They can be taken virtually anywhere, from a developer's laptop to a cloud environment, and run consistently, eliminating it works on my machine issues. Because containers share the host OS kernel, they don't need to bundle a full operating system themselves. This results in significantly smaller footprints and less administration overhead compared to VMs.

They are faster to start. Without the need to boot a full operating system, containers can start up in seconds, or even milliseconds, providing rapid deployment and scaling capabilities.

11:12

Nikita: Ok. Throughout our conversation, you've spoken about the various advantages of virtualization but let's consolidate them now.

Orlando: From a security standpoint, virtualization offers several crucial benefits. Each VM operates in its own isolated sandbox. This means if one VM experiences a security breach, the impact is generally contained to that single virtual machine, significantly limiting the spread of potential threats across your infrastructure. Containers also provide some isolation.

Virtualization allows for rapid recovery. This is invaluable for disaster recovery or undoing changes after a security incident. You can implement separate firewalls, access rules, and network configuration for each VM. This granular control reduces the overall exposure and attack surface across your virtualized environments, making it harder for malicious actors to move laterally.

Beyond security, virtualization also brings significant advantages in terms of operational and agility benefits for IT management. Virtualization dramatically improves operational efficiency and agility. Things are faster. With virtualization, you can provision new servers or containers in minutes rather than days or weeks. This speed allows for quicker deployment of applications and services.

It becomes much simpler to deploy consistent environment using templates and preconfigured VM images or containers. This reduces errors and ensures uniformity across your infrastructure. It's more scalable. Virtualization makes your infrastructure far more scalable. You can reshape VMs and containers to meet changing demands, ensuring your resources align precisely with your needs.

These operational benefits directly contribute to the power of cloud computing, especially when we consider virtualization's role in enabling cloud and scalability. Virtualization is the very backbone of modern cloud computing, fundamentally enabling its scalability. It allows multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server, maximizing hardware utilization, which is essential for cloud providers.

This capability is core of infrastructure as a service offerings, where users can provision virtualized compute resources on demand. Virtualization makes services globally scalable. Resources can be easily deployed and managed across different geographic regions to meet worldwide demand. Finally, it provides elasticity, meaning resources can be automatically scaled up or down in response to fluctuating workloads, ensuring optimal performance and cost efficiency.

14:21

Lois: That's amazing. Thank you, Orlando, for joining us once again.

Nikita: Yeah, and remember, if you want to learn more about the topics we covered today, go to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course.

Lois: Well, that's all we have for today. Until next time, this is Lois Houston…

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

14:40

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

Have you ever wondered where all your digital memories, work projects, or favorite photos actually live in the cloud? In this episode, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham are joined by Principal OCI Instructor Orlando Gentil to discuss cloud storage. They explore how data is carefully organized, the different ways it can be stored, and what keeps it safe and easy to find. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------------------------ Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Nikita: Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Nikita Abraham, Team Lead of Editorial Services with Oracle University, and with me is Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs.

Lois: Hey there! Last week, we spoke about the differences between traditional and cloud data centers, and covered components like CPU, RAM, and operating systems. If you haven't listened to the episode yet, I'd suggest going back and listening to it before you dive into this one.

Nikita: Joining us again is Orlando Gentil, Principal OCI Instructor at Oracle University, and we're going to ask him about another fundamental concept: storage.

01:04

Lois: That's right, Niki. Hi Orlando! Thanks for being with us again today. You introduced cloud data centers last week, but tell us, how is data stored and accessed in these centers?

Orlando: At a fundamental level, storage is where your data resides persistently. Data stored on a storage device is accessed by the CPU and, for specialized tasks, the GPU. The RAM acts as a high-speed intermediary, temporarily holding data that the CPU and the GPU are actively working on. This cyclical flow ensures that applications can effectively retrieve, process, and store information, forming the backbone for our computing operations in the data center.

01:52

Nikita: But how is data organized and controlled on disks?

Orlando: To effectively store and manage data on physical disks, a structured approach is required, which is defined by file systems and permissions. The process began with disks. These are the raw physical storage devices.

Before data can be written to them, disks are typically divided into partitions. A partition is a logical division of a physical disk that acts as if it were a separated physical disk. This allows you to organize your storage space and even install multiple operating systems on a single drive.

Once partitions are created, they are formatted with a file system.

02:40

Nikita: Ok, sorry but I have to stop you there. Can you explain what a file system is? And how is data organized using a file system?

Orlando: The file system is the method and the data structure that an operating system uses to organize and manage files on storage devices. It dictates how data is named, is stored, retrieved, and managed on the disk, essentially providing the roadmap for data. Common file systems include NTFS for Windows and ext4 or XFS for Linux.

Within this file system, data is organized hierarchically into directories, also known as folders. These containers help to logically group related files, which are the individual units of data, whether they are documents, images, videos, or applications. Finally, overseeing this entire organization are permissions.

03:42

Lois: And what are permissions?

Orlando: Permissions define who can access a specific files and directories and what actions they are allowed to perform-- for example, read, write, or execute.

This access control, often managed by user, group, and other permissions, is fundamental for security, data integrity, and multi-user environments within a data center.

04:09

Lois: Ok, now that we have a good understanding of how data is organized logically, can we talk about how data is stored locally within a server?

Orlando: Local storage refers to storage devices directly attached to a server or computer. The three common types are Hard Disk Drive. These are traditional storage devices using spinning platters to store data. They offer large capacity at a lower cost per gigabyte, making them suitable for bulk data storage when high performance isn't the top priority.

Unlike hard disks, solid state drives use flash memory to store data, similar to USB drives but on a larger scale. They provide significantly faster read and write speeds, better durability, and lower power consumption than hard disks, making them ideal for operating systems, applications, and frequently accessed data.

Non-Volatile Memory Express is a communication interface specifically designed for solid state that connects directly to the PCI Express bus. NVME offers even faster performance than traditional SATA-based solid state drives by reducing latency and increasing bandwidth, making it the top choice for demanding workloads that require extreme speed, such as high-performance databases and AI applications. Each type serves different performance and cost requirements within a data center. While local storage is essential for immediate access, data center also heavily rely on storage that isn't directly attached to a single server.

05:59

Lois: I'm guessing you're hinting at remote storage. Can you tell us more about that, Orlando?

Orlando: Remote storage refers to data storage solutions that are not physically connected to the server or client accessing them. Instead, they are accessed over the network. This setup allows multiple clients or servers to share access to the same storage resources, centralizing data management and improving data availability. This architecture is fundamental to cloud computing, enabling vast pools of shared storage that can be dynamically provisioned to various users and applications.

06:35

Lois: Let's talk about the common forms of remote storage. Can you run us through them?

Orlando: One of the most common and accessible forms of remote storage is Network Attached Storage or NAS. NAS is a dedicated file storage device connected to a network that allows multiple users and client devices to retrieve data from a centralized disk capacity. It's essentially a server dedicated to serving files.

A client connects to the NAS over the network. And the NAS then provides access to files and folders. NAS devices are ideal for scenarios requiring shared file access, such as document collaboration, centralized backups, or serving media files, making them very popular in both home and enterprise environments. While NAS provides file-level access over a network, some applications, especially those requiring high performance and direct block level access to storage, need a different approach.

07:38

Nikita: And what might this approach be?

Orlando: Internet Small Computer System Interface, which provides block-level storage over an IP network.

iSCSI or Internet Small Computer System Interface is a standard that allows the iSCSI protocol traditionally used for local storage to be sent over IP networks. Essentially, it enables servers to access storage devices as if they were directly attached even though they are located remotely on the network.

This means it can leverage standard ethernet infrastructure, making it a cost-effective solution for creating high performance, centralized storage accessible over an existing network. It's particularly useful for server virtualization and database environments where block-level access is preferred. While iSCSI provides block-level access over standard IP, for environments demanding even higher performance, lower latency, and greater dedicated throughput, a specialized network is often deployed.

08:47

Nikita: And what's this specialized network called?

Orlando: Storage Area Network or SAN. A Storage Area Network or SAN is a high-speed network specifically designed to provide block-level access to consolidated shared storage. Unlike NAS, which provides file level access, a SAN presents a storage volumes to servers as if they were local disks, allowing for very high performance for applications like databases and virtualized environments. While iSCSI SANs use ethernet, many high-performance SANs utilize fiber channel for even faster and more reliable data transfer, making them a cornerstone of enterprise data centers where performance and availability are paramount.

09:42

Oracle University's Race to Certification 2025 is your ticket to free training and certification in today's hottest technology. Whether you're starting with Artificial Intelligence, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Multicloud, or Oracle Data Platform, this challenge covers it all! Learn more about your chance to win prizes and see your name on the Leaderboard by visiting education.oracle.com/race-to-certification-2025. That's education.oracle.com/race-to-certification-2025.

10:26

Nikita: Welcome back! Orlando, are there any other popular storage paradigms we should know about?

Orlando: Beyond file level and block level storage, cloud environments have popularized another flexible and highly scalable storage paradigm, object storage.

Object storage is a modern approach to storing data, treating each piece of data as a distinct, self-contained unit called an object. Unlike file systems that organize data in a hierarchy or block storage that breaks data into fixed size blocks, object storage manages data as flat, unstructured objects. Each object is stored with unique identifiers and rich metadata, making it highly scalable and flexible for massive amounts of data.

This service handles the complexity of storage, providing access to vast repositories of data. Object storage is ideal for use cases like cloud-native applications, big data analytics, content distribution, and large-scale backups thanks to its immense scalability, durability, and cost effectiveness. While object storage is excellent for frequently accessed data in rapidly growing data sets, sometimes data needs to be retained for very long periods but is accessed infrequently. For these scenarios, a specialized low-cost storage tier, known as archive storage, comes into play.

12:02

Lois: And what's that exactly?

Orlando: Archive storage is specifically designed for long-term backup and retention of data that you rarely, if ever, access. This includes critical information, like old records, compliance data that needs to be kept for regulatory reasons, or disaster recovery backups. The key characteristics of archive storage are extremely low cost per gigabyte, achieved by optimizing for infrequent access rather than speed. Historically, tape backup systems were the common solution for archiving, where data from a data center is moved to tape. In modern cloud environments, this has evolved into cloud backup solutions. Cloud-based archiving leverages high-cost, effective during cloud storage tiers that are purpose built for long term retention, providing a scalable and often more reliable alternative to physical tapes.

13:05

Lois: Thank you, Orlando, for taking the time to talk to us about the hardware and software layers of cloud data centers. This information will surely help our listeners to make informed decisions about cloud infrastructure to meet their workload needs in terms of performance, scalability, cost, and management.

Nikita: That's right, Lois. And if you want to learn more about what we discussed today, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course.

Lois: In our next episode, we'll take a look at more of the fundamental concepts within modern cloud environments, such as Hypervisors, Virtualization, and more. I can't wait to learn more about it. Until then, this is Lois Houston…

Nikita: And Nikita Abraham, signing off!

13:47

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

Curious about what really goes on inside a cloud data center? In this episode, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham chat with Principal OCI Instructor Orlando Gentil about how cloud data centers are transforming the way organizations manage technology. They explore the differences between traditional and cloud data centers, the roles of CPUs, GPUs, and RAM, and why operating systems and remote access matter more than ever. Cloud Tech Jumpstart: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/cloud-tech-jumpstart/152992 Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Hello and welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hi everyone! Today, we're covering the fundamentals you need to be successful in a cloud environment. If you're new to cloud, coming from a SaaS environment, or planning to move from on-premises to the cloud, you won't want to miss this. With us today is Orlando Gentil, Principal OCI Instructor at Oracle University. Hi Orlando! Thanks for joining us.

01:01

Lois: So Orlando, we know that Oracle has been a pioneer of cloud technologies and has been pivotal in shaping modern cloud data centers, which are different from traditional data centers. For our listeners who might be new to this, could you tell us what a traditional data center is?

Orlando: A traditional data center is a physical facility that houses an organization's mission critical IT infrastructure, including servers, storage systems, and networking equipment, all managed on site.

01:32

Nikita: So why would anyone want to use a cloud data center?

Orlando: The traditional model requires significant upfront investment in physical hardware, which you are then responsible for maintaining along with the underlying infrastructure like physical security, HVAC, backup power, and communication links.

In contrast, cloud data centers offer a more agile approach. You essentially rent the infrastructure you need, paying only for what you use. In the traditional data center, scaling resources up and down can be a slow and complex process.

On cloud data centers, scaling is automated and elastic, allowing resources to adjust dynamically based on demand. This shift allows business to move their focus from the constant upkeep of infrastructure to innovation and growth.

The move represents a shift from maintenance to momentum, enabling optimized costs and efficient scaling. This fundamental shift is how IT infrastructure is managed and consumed, and precisely what we mean by moving to the cloud.

02:39

Lois: So, when we talk about moving to the cloud, what does it really mean for businesses today?

Orlando: Moving to the cloud represents the strategic transition from managing your own on-premise hardware and software to leveraging internet-based computing services provided by a third-party.

This involves migrating your applications, data, and IT operations to a cloud environment. This transition typically aims to reduce operational overhead, increase flexibility, and enhance scalability, allowing organizations to focus more on their core business functions.

03:17

Nikita: Orlando, what's the "brain" behind all this technology?

Orlando: A CPU or Central Processing Unit is the primary component that performs most of the processing inside the computer or server. It performs calculations handling the complex mathematics and logic that drive all applications and software.

It processes instructions, running tasks, and operations in the background that are essential for any application. A CPU is critical for performance, as it directly impacts the overall speed and efficiency of the data center.

It also manages system activities, coordinating user input, various application tasks, and the flow of data throughout the system. Ultimately, the CPU drives data center workloads from basic server operations to powering cutting edge AI applications.

04:10

Lois: To better understand how a CPU achieves these functions and processes information so efficiently, I think it's important for us to grasp its fundamental architecture. Can you briefly explain the fundamental architecture of a CPU, Orlando?

Orlando: When discussing CPUs, you will often hear about sockets, cores, and threads. A socket refers to the physical connection on the motherboard where a CPU chip is installed.

A single server motherboard can have one or more sockets, each holding a CPU. A core is an independent processing unit within a CPU. Modern CPUs often have multiple cores, enabling them to handle several instructions simultaneously, thus increasing processing power.

Think of it as having multiple mini CPUs on a single chip. Threads are virtual components that allow a single CPU core to handle multiple sequence of instructions or threads concurrently. This technology, often called hyperthreading, makes a single core appear as two logical processors to the operating system, further enhancing efficiency.

05:27

Lois: Ok. And how do CPUs process commands?

Orlando: Beyond these internal components, CPUs are also designed based on different instruction set architectures which dictate how they process commands.

CPU architectures are primarily categorized in two designs-- Complex Instruction Set Computer or CISC and Reduced Instruction Set Computer or RISC. CISC processors are designed to execute complex instructions in a single step, which can reduce the number of instructions needed for a task, but often leads to a higher power consumption.

These are commonly found in traditional Intel and AMD CPUs. In contrast, RISC processors use a simpler, more streamlined set of instructions. While this might require more steps for a complex task, each step is faster and more energy efficient. This architecture is prevalent in ARM-based CPUs.

06:34

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Nikita: Welcome back! We were discussing CISC and RISC processors. So Orlando, where are they typically deployed? Are there any specific computing environments and use cases where they excel?

Orlando: On the CISC side, you will find them powering enterprise virtualization and server workloads, such as bare metal hypervisors in large databases where complex instructions can be efficiently processed. High performance computing that includes demanding simulations, intricate analysis, and many traditional machine learning systems.

Enterprise software suites and business applications like ERP, CRM, and other complex enterprise systems that benefit from fewer steps per instruction. Conversely, RISC architectures are often preferred for cloud-native workloads such as Kubernetes clusters, where simpler, faster instructions and energy efficiency are paramount for distributed computing.

Mobile device management and edge computing, including cell phones and IoT devices where power efficiency and compact design are critical. Cost optimized cloud hosting supporting distributed workloads where the cumulative energy savings and simpler design lead to more economical operations.

The choice between CISC and RISC depends heavily on the specific workload and performance requirements. While CPUs are versatile generalists, handling a broad range of tasks, modern data centers also heavily rely on another crucial processing unit for specialized workloads.

08:54

Lois: We've spoken a lot about CPUs, but our conversation would be incomplete without understanding what a Graphics Processing Unit is and why it's important. What can you tell us about GPUs, Orlando?

Orlando: A GPU or Graphics Processing Unit is distinct from a CPU. While the CPU is a generalist excelling at sequential processing and managing a wide variety of tasks, the GPU is a specialist.

It is designed specifically for parallel compute heavy tasks. This means it can perform many calculations simultaneously, making it incredibly efficient for workloads like rendering graphics, scientific simulations, and especially in areas like machine learning and artificial intelligence, where massive parallel computation is required.

In the modern data center, GPUs are increasingly vital for accelerating these specialized, data intensive workloads.

09:58

Nikita: Besides the CPU and GPU, there's another key component that collaborates with these processors to facilitate efficient data access. What role does Random Access Memory play in all of this?

Orlando: The core function of RAM is to provide faster access to information in use. Imagine your computer or server needing to retrieve data from a long-term storage device, like a hard drive. This process can be relatively slow.

RAM acts as a temporary high-speed buffer. When your CPU or GPU needs data, it first checks RAM. If the data is there, it can be accessed almost instantaneously, significantly speeding up operations.

This rapid access to frequently used data and programming instructions is what allows applications to run smoothly and systems to respond quickly, making RAM a critical factor in overall data center performance.

While RAM provides quick access to active data, it's volatile, meaning data is lost when power is off, or persistent data storage, the information that needs to remain available even after a system shut down.

11:14

Nikita: Let's now talk about operating systems in cloud data centers and how they help everything run smoothly. Orlando, can you give us a quick refresher on what an operating system is, and why it is important for computing devices?

Orlando: At its core, an operating system, or OS, is the fundamental software that manages all the hardware and software resources on a computer. Think of it as a central nervous system that allows everything else to function.

It performs several critical tasks, including managing memory, deciding which programs get access to memory and when, managing processes, allocating CPU time to different tasks and applications, managing files, organizing data on storage devices, handling input and output, facilitate communication between the computer and its peripherals, like keyboards, mice, and displays. And perhaps, most importantly, it provides the user interface that allows us to interact with the computer.

12:19

Lois: Can you give us a few examples of common operating systems?

Orlando: Common operating system examples you are likely familiar with include Microsoft Windows and MacOS for personal computers, iOS and Android for mobile devices, and various distributions of Linux, which are incredibly prevalent in servers and increasingly in cloud environments.

12:41

Lois: And how are these operating systems specifically utilized within the demanding environment of cloud data centers?

Orlando: The two dominant operating systems in data centers are Linux and Windows. Linux is further categorized into enterprise distributions, such as Oracle Linux or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, which offer commercial support and stability, and community distributions, like Ubuntu and CentOS, which are developed and maintained by communities and are often free to use.

On the other side, we have Windows, primarily represented by Windows Server, which is Microsoft's server operating system known for its robust features and integration with other Microsoft products. While both Linux and Windows are powerful operating systems, their licensing modes can differ significantly, which is a crucial factor to consider when deploying them in a data center environment.

13:43

Nikita: In what way do the licensing models differ?

Orlando: When we talk about licensing, the differences between Linux and Windows become quite apparent. For Linux, Enterprise Distributions come with associated support fees, which can be bundled into the initial cost or priced separately. These fees provide access to professional support and updates. On the other hand, Community Distributions are typically free of charge, with some providers offering basic community-driven support.

Windows server, in contrast, is a commercial product. Its license cost is generally included in the instance cost when using cloud providers or purchased directly for on-premise deployments. It's also worth noting that some cloud providers offer a bring your own license, or BYOL program, allowing organizations to use their existing Windows licenses in the cloud, which can sometimes provide cost efficiencies.

14:46

Nikita: Beyond choosing an operating system, are there any other important aspects of data center management?

Orlando: Another critical aspect of data center management is how you remotely access and interact with your servers. Remote access is fundamental for managing servers in a data center, as you are rarely physically sitting in front of them. The two primary methods that we use are SSH, or secure shell, and RDP, remote desktop.

Secure shell is widely used for secure command line access for Linux servers. It provides an encrypted connection, allowing you to execute commands, transfer files, and manage your servers securely from a remote location. The remote desktop protocol is predominantly used for graphical remote access to Windows servers. RDP allows you to see and interact with the server's desktop interface, just as if you were sitting directly in front of it, making it ideal for tasks that require a graphical user interface.

15:54

Lois: Thank you so much, Orlando, for shedding light on this topic.

Nikita: Yeah, that's a wrap for today! To learn more about what we discussed, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the Cloud Tech Jumpstart course. In our next episode, we'll take a close look at how data is stored and managed. Until then, this is Nikita Abraham…

Lois: And Lois Houston, signing off!

16:16

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.

AI is reshaping industries at a rapid pace, but as its influence grows, so do the ethical concerns that come with it. This episode examines how AI is being applied across sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, while also exploring the crucial issue of ensuring that these technologies align with human values. In this conversation, Lois Houston and Nikita Abraham are joined by Hemant Gahankari, Senior Principal OCI Instructor, who emphasizes the importance of fairness, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. AI for You: https://mylearn.oracle.com/ou/course/ai-for-you/152601/ Oracle University Learning Community: https://education.oracle.com/ou-community LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/oracle-university/ X: https://x.com/Oracle_Edu Special thanks to Arijit Ghosh, David Wright, Kris-Ann Nansen, Radhika Banka, and the OU Studio Team for helping us create this episode. ---------------------------------------------------- Episode Transcript:

00:00

Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast, the first stop on your cloud journey. During this series of informative podcasts, we'll bring you foundational training on the most popular Oracle technologies. Let's get started!

00:25

Lois: Welcome to the Oracle University Podcast! I'm Lois Houston, Director of Innovation Programs with Oracle University, and with me is Nikita Abraham, Team Lead: Editorial Services.

Nikita: Hey everyone! In our last episode, we spoke about how Oracle integrates AI capabilities into its Fusion Applications to enhance business workflows, and we focused on Predictive, Generative, and Agentic AI.

Lois: Today, we'll discuss the various applications of AI. This is the final episode in our AI series, and before we close, we'll also touch upon ethical and responsible AI.

01:01

Nikita: Taking us through all of this is Senior Principal OCI Instructor Hemant Gahankari. Hi Hemant! AI is pretty much everywhere today. So, can you explain how it is being used in industries like retail, hospitality, health care, and so on?

Hemant: AI isn't just for sci-fi movies anymore. It's helping doctors spot diseases earlier and even discover new drugs faster. Imagine an AI that can look at an X-ray and say, hey, there is something sketchy here before a human even notices. Wild, right?

Banks and fintech companies are all over AI. Fraud detection. AI has got it covered. Those robo advisors managing your investments? That's AI too.

Ever noticed how e-commerce companies always seem to know what you want? That's AI studying your habits and nudging you towards that next purchase or binge watch.

Factories are getting smarter. AI predicts when machines will fail so they can fix them before everything grinds to a halt. Less downtime, more efficiency. Everyone wins.

Farming has gone high tech. Drones and AI analyze crops, optimize water use, and even help with harvesting.

Self-driving cars get all the hype, but even your everyday GPS uses AI to dodge traffic jams. And if AI can save me from sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I'm all for it.

02:40

Nikita: Agreed! Thanks for that overview, but let's get into specific scenarios within each industry.

Hemant: Let us take a scenario in the retail industry-- a retail clothing line with dozens of brick-and-mortar stores. Maintaining proper inventory levels in stores and regional warehouses is critical for retailers. In this low-margin business, being out of a popular product is especially challenging during sales and promotions. Managers want to delight shoppers and increase sales but without overbuying. That's where AI steps in.

The retailer has multiple information sources, ranging from point-of-sale terminals to warehouse inventory systems. This data can be used to train a forecasting model that can make predictions, such as demand increase due to a holiday or planned marketing promotion, and determine the time required to acquire and distribute the extra inventory.

Most ERP-based forecasting systems can produce sophisticated reports. A generative AI report writer goes further, creating custom plain-language summaries of these reports tailored for each store, instructing managers about how to maximize sales of well-stocked items while mitigating possible shortages.

04:11

Lois: Ok. How is AI being used in the hospitality sector, Hemant?

Hemant: Let us take an example of a hotel chain that depends on positive ratings on social media and review websites. One common challenge they face is keeping track of online reviews, leading to missed opportunities to engage unhappy customers complaining on social media. Hotel managers don't know what's being said fast enough to address problems in real-time. Here, AI can be used to create a large data set from the tens of thousands of previously published online reviews.

A textual language AI system can perform a sentiment analysis across the data to determine a baseline that can be periodically re-evaluated to spot trends. Data scientists could also build a model that correlates these textual messages and their sentiments against specific hotel locations and other factors, such as weather. Generative AI can extract valuable suggestions and insights from both positive and negative comments.

05:27

Nikita: That's great. And what about Financial Services? I know banks use AI quite often to detect fraud.

Hemant: Unfortunately, fraud can creep into any part of a bank's retail operations. Fraud can happen with online transactions, from a phone or browser, and offsite ATMs too. Without trust, banks won't have customers or shareholders. Excessive fraud and delays in detecting it can violate financial industry regulations.

Fraud detection combines AI technologies, such as computer vision to interpret scanned documents, document verification to authenticate IDs like driver's licenses, and machine learning to analyze patterns. These tools work together to assess the risk of fraud in each transaction within seconds. When the system detects a high risk, it triggers automated responses, such as placing holds on withdrawals or requesting additional identification from customers, to prevent fraudulent activity and protect both the business and its client.

06:42

Nikita: Wow, interesting. And how is AI being used in the health industry, especially when it comes to improving patient care?

Hemant: Medical appointments can be frustrating for everyone involved—patients, receptionists, nurses, and physicians. There are many time-consuming steps, including scheduling, checking in, interactions with the doctors, checking out, and follow-ups. AI can fix this problem through electronic health records to analyze lab results, paper forms, scans, and structured data, summarizing insights for doctors with the latest research and patient history. This helps practice reduced costs, boost earnings, and deliver faster, more personalized care.

07:32

Lois: Let's take a look at one more industry. How is manufacturing using AI?

Hemant: A factory that makes metal parts and other products use both visual inspections and electronic means to monitor product quality. A part that fails to meet the requirements may be reworked or repurposed, or it may need to be scrapped. The factory seeks to maximize profits and throughput by shipping as much good material as possible, while minimizing waste by detecting and handling defects early.

The way AI can help here is with the quality assurance process, which creates X-ray images. This data can be interpreted by computer vision, which can learn to identify cracks and other weak spots, after being trained on a large data set. In addition, problematic or ambiguous data can be highlighted for human inspectors.

08:36

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09:20

Nikita: Welcome back! AI can be used effectively to automate a variety of tasks to improve productivity, efficiency, cost savings. But I'm sure AI has its constraints too, right? Can you talk about what happens if AI isn't able to echo human ethics?

Hemant: AI can fail due to lack of ethics.

AI can spot patterns, not make moral calls. It doesn't feel guilt, understand context, or take responsibility. That is still up to us.

Decisions are only as good as the data behind them. For example, health care AI underdiagnosing women because research data was mostly male. Artificial narrow intelligence tends to automate discrimination at scale. Recruiting AI downgraded resumes just because it had a word "women's" (for example, women's chess club).

Who is responsible when AI fails? For example, if a self-driving car hits someone, we cannot blame the car. Then who owns the failure? The programmer? The CEO? Can we really trust corporations or governments having programmed the use of AI not to be evil correctly? So, it's clear that AI needs oversight to function smoothly.

10:48

Lois: So, Hemant, how can we design AI in ways that respect and reflect human values?

Hemant: Think of ethics like a tree. It needs all parts working together. Roots represent intent. That is our values and principles. The trunk stands for safeguards, our systems, and structures. And the branches are the outcomes we aim for. If the roots are shallow, the tree falls. If the trunk is weak, damage seeps through. The health of roots and trunk shapes the strength of our ethical outcomes.

Fairness means nothing without ethical intent behind it. For example, a bank promotes its loan algorithm as fair. But it uses zip codes in decision-making, effectively penalizing people based on race. That's not fairness. That's harm disguised as data.

Inclusivity depends on the intent sustainability. Inclusive design isn't just a check box. It needs a long-term commitment. For example, controllers for gamers with disabilities are only possible because of sustained R&D and intentional design choices. Without investment in inclusion, accessibility is left behind.

Transparency depends on the safeguard robustness. Transparency is only useful if the system is secure and resilient. For example, a medical AI may be explainable, but if it is vulnerable to hacking, transparency won't matter.

Accountability depends on the safeguard privacy and traceability. You can't hold people accountable if there is no trail to follow. For example, after a fatal self-driving car crash, deleted system logs meant no one could be held responsible. Without auditability, accountability collapses.

So remember, outcomes are what we see, but they rely on intent to guide priorities and safeguards to support execution. That's why humans must have a final say. AI has no grasp of ethics, but we do.

13:16

Nikita: So, what you're saying is ethical intent and robust AI safeguards need to go hand in hand if we are to truly leverage AI we can trust.

Hemant: When it comes to AI, preventing harm is a must. Take self-driving cars, for example. Keeping pedestrians safe is absolutely critical, which means the technology has to be rock solid and reliable. At the same time, fairness and inclusivity can't be overlooked. If an AI system used for hiring learns from biased past data, say, mostly male candidates being hired, it can end up repeating those biases, shutting out qualified candidates unfairly.

Transparency and accountability go hand in hand. Imagine a loan rejection if the AI's decision isn't clear or explainable. It becomes impossible for someone to challenge or understand why they were turned down.

And of course, robustness supports fairness too. Loan approval systems need strong security to prevent attacks that could manipulate decisions and undermine trust.

We must build AI that reflects human values and has safeguards. This makes sure that AI is fair, inclusive, transparent, and accountable.

14:44

Lois: Before we wrap, can you talk about why AI can fail? Let's continue with your analogy of the tree. Can you explain how AI failures occur and how we can address them?

Hemant: Root elements like do not harm and sustainability are fundamental to ethical AI development. When these roots fail, the consequences can be serious. For example, a clear failure of do not harm is AI-powered surveillance tools misused by authoritarian regimes. This happens because there were no ethical constraints guiding how the technology was deployed. The solution is clear-- implement strong ethical use policies and conduct human rights impact assessment to prevent such misuse.

On the sustainability front, training AI models can consume massive amount of energy. This failure occurs because environmental costs are not considered. To fix this, organizations are adopting carbon-aware computing practices to minimize AI's environmental footprint. By addressing these root failures, we can ensure AI is developed and used responsibly with respect for human rights and the planet.

An example of a robustness failure can be a chatbot hallucinating nonexistent legal precedence used in court filings. This could be due to training on unverified internet data and no fact-checking layer. This can be fixed by grounding in authoritative databases.

An example of a privacy failure can be AI facial recognition database created without user consent. The reason being no consent was taken for data collection. This can be fixed by adopting privacy-preserving techniques.

An example of a fairness failure can be generated images of CEOs as white men and nurses as women, minorities. The reason being training on imbalanced internet images reflecting societal stereotypes. And the fix is to use diverse set of images.

17:18

Lois: I think this would be incomplete if we don't talk about inclusivity, transparency, and accountability failures. How can they be addressed, Hemant?

Hemant: An example of an inclusivity failure can be a voice assistant not understanding accents. The reason being training data lacked diversity. And the fix is to use inclusive data.

An example of a transparency and accountability failure can be teachers could not challenge AI-generated performance scores due to opaque calculations. The reason being no explainability tools are used. The fix being high-impact AI needs human review pathways and explainability built in.

18:04

Lois: Thank you, Hemant, for a fantastic conversation. We got some great insights into responsible and ethical AI.

Nikita: Thank you, Hemant! If you're interested in learning more about the topics we discussed today, head over to mylearn.oracle.com and search for the AI for You course. Until next time, this is Nikita Abraham….

Lois: And Lois Houston, signing off!

18:26

That's all for this episode of the Oracle University Podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please click Subscribe to get all the latest episodes. We'd also love it if you would take a moment to rate and review us on your podcast app. See you again on the next episode of the Oracle University Podcast.