IBM Cloud
Systematic IBM Cloud platform guidance for enterprise cloud infrastructure, covering compute, storage, databases, networking, security, and operational best practices.
Workflow Decision Tree
Choose your path based on the task:
1. Service Category Selection
Compute & Containers → Load compute-services.md
- Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and Virtual Server Instances
- IBM Kubernetes Service (IKS) and Red Hat OpenShift
- Code Engine (serverless containers) and Cloud Functions
Storage → Load storage-services.md
- Cloud Object Storage, Block Storage, File Storage
Databases → Load database-services.md
- Db2, Cloudant, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis
Security & Access → Load iam-security.md
- IAM, Resource Groups, Service IDs, Key Protect, Secrets Manager
Networking → Load networking.md
- VPC Networks, Load Balancers, DNS/CDN, Direct Link
2. Architecture & Deployment Patterns
High Availability → Multi-zone deployment across 3 availability zones Microservices → IKS/OpenShift with service mesh and ingress Serverless → Code Engine applications with auto-scaling Hybrid Cloud → Direct Link or VPN for on-premises connectivity
3. Common Operations
Initial Setup → Install CLI, authenticate, configure regions and resource groups Resource Provisioning → Use CLI, Terraform, or IBM Cloud Console Security Configuration → IAM policies, encryption, network security Monitoring → Set up logging, monitoring, and cost tracking
Core Concepts
Resource Hierarchy
Account → Resource Groups → Services/Resources → Access Groups (IAM)Regions and Multi-Zone Architecture
- Primary Regions:
us-south,us-east,eu-gb,eu-de,jp-tok,au-syd - Availability Zones: 3 zones per region (e.g.,
us-south-1,us-south-2,us-south-3) - Best Practice: Deploy across multiple zones for high availability
Service Categories
- IaaS: VPC, Virtual Servers, Block/File Storage
- PaaS: IKS, OpenShift, Code Engine
- SaaS: Managed Databases, Watson AI, DevOps Tools
- Serverless: Code Engine, Cloud Functions
Quick Start
1. Install and Configure CLI
# Install CLI (macOS/Linux)
curl -fsSL https://clis.cloud.ibm.com/install/osx | sh
# Login
ibmcloud login
# Target region and resource group
ibmcloud target -r us-south -g my-resource-group
# Install common plugins
ibmcloud plugin install container-service vpc-infrastructure2. Basic Resource Creation Pattern
# 1. Create VPC
ibmcloud is vpc-create my-vpc
# 2. Create resources (compute, storage, network)
ibmcloud is instance-create my-vsi ...
# 3. Configure IAM
ibmcloud iam ...
# 4. Deploy application
# 5. Set up monitoringEssential Guidance
Security Best Practices
- IAM: Use Access Groups, apply least privilege, rotate API keys every 90 days
- Network: Use private endpoints, configure Security Groups and ACLs
- Data: Enable encryption at rest/transit, use Key Protect for key management
- Compliance: Choose regions for data residency requirements
Cost Optimization
- Right-size instances for workload requirements
- Use reserved capacity for predictable workloads
- Leverage serverless (Code Engine/Functions) for variable loads
- Select appropriate storage tiers (Standard, Vault, Cold Vault)
- Enable auto-scaling to match demand
- Set budget alerts and monitor usage
Reference Files
Load detailed guidance based on specific needs:
- compute-services.md: VPC, Virtual Servers, IKS, OpenShift, Code Engine, Cloud Functions
- storage-services.md: Object Storage, Block Storage, File Storage
- database-services.md: Db2, Cloudant, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis
- iam-security.md: IAM, Access Groups, Service IDs, Key Protect, Secrets Manager
- networking.md: VPC networking, Load Balancers, DNS/CDN, Direct Link
Support Resources
- Documentation: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs
- API Reference: https://cloud.ibm.com/apidocs
- Terraform Provider: https://registry.terraform.io/providers/IBM-Cloud/ibm
- CLI Reference: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli