# Pre-Onboarding Suggested Reading
The ABB Ability™ Platform makes use of some common concepts in the cloud computing world such as graph databases and publish-subscribe messaging. It also makes use of common hardware concepts in Edge computing such as TPM chips. If any of that sounds unfamiliar to you the following list has been created and curated to provide impactful suggested reading on cloud and Edge computing concepts that can make a difference in your design decisions and fundamental understanding of what the Ability Platform is capable of based on common concept patterns.
Please use this list as a starting point if you haven't done much work with cloud or Edge computing. If you have any suggestions to add to the suggested reading list please contact the Client Success Team.
# Edge Computing
How to protect your Edge computing software and data is a common question when thinking of starting the development of a solution on the Ability Platform. These four articles offer suggestions on what to implement yourself as an architect or developer and why the Ability Platform makes use of device certificate authentication.
# Cloud Computing
Data that is passed into the Ability Platform will be stored in CosmosDB, Microsoft's graph database service. There are a number of benefits associated with a graph database. If you are not familiar with graph databases, these articles can help:
Messaging is a major concept in cloud computing and the Ability Platform makes use of eventing and a publish-subscribe pattern. The microsoft IoT Hub is the specific service the Platform is using to handle routing these messaging patterns. The following articles expand on what an event-driven architecture looks like and which patterns are common in cloud computing.
The Ability APIs allow you to access data and models being stored in the Platform. The query endpoint makes use of something called a Domain Specific Language, or DSL, that is a specific syntax for sending queries to the Platform services. If you have never interacted with a DSL or want a better understanding of why the query syntax is a DSL, the following articles can help.
# Microsoft E-Learning
If you would like to have a more structured approach to ramping up your knowledge of Azure and cloud computing concepts Microsoft provides a series of learning paths covering almost everything you might need to know as a beginner. The training material is free to view and reference.
Additionally, every ABB employee has an access to several free MS Learn courses, like Azure Fundamentals. Visit MS Learn page and sign in with your ABB Account.