> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started.md).

# Get Started

<code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> is a robust and flexible platform that helps users build and manage their cloud infrastructure smoothly. The platform offers user-friendly cloud solutions that can be managed via the [<mark style="color:blue;">Data Center Designer (DCD)</mark>](/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/data-center-designer.md) or [<mark style="color:blue;">API</mark>](https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/api-reference).

This section covers the first steps to working with the <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> DCD and explores helpful advanced guides for fully configuring and managing various <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> solutions.

## First steps

Access the DCD to create and configure your first data center with <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code>.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Log in to the Data Center Designer</strong></mark></td><td>Log in to the DCD and explore the dashboard and menu options.</td><td><a href="/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/log-in-dcd.md">Log in to the Data Center Designer</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Create a Data Center</strong></mark></td><td>Create a data center and learn about individual User Interface (UI) elements.</td><td><a href="/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/create-data-center.md">Create a Data Center</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Configure a Data Center</strong></mark></td><td>Configure a dedicated core server, add storage and a network, and provision the changes.</td><td><a href="/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/configure-data-center.md">Configure a Data Center</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set User Privileges for Data Center</strong></mark></td><td>Learn how to create subusers and assign them relevant privileges to access data center.</td><td><a href="/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/get-started/set-user-privileges-data-center.md">Set User Privileges for Data Center</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Data Center Designer</strong></mark></td><td>Learn about <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos_cloud</code> DCD, access the core cloud services intuitively via the DCD UI, and configure and manage them.</td><td><a href="/cloud/set-up-ionos-cloud/data-center-designer.md">Data Center Designer</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## Explore advanced guides

Dive deeper with advanced and commonly referred user guides to continue your learning.

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up a Dedicated Core Server</strong></mark></td><td>Set up and manage a dedicated core server.</td><td><a href="/cloud/compute-services/compute-engine/how-tos/set-up-dedicated-core.md">Set Up a Dedicated Core Server</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up a Network Load Balancer</strong></mark></td><td>Distribute incoming traffic efficiently with a network load balancer.</td><td><a href="/cloud/network-services/network-load-balancer/setup-nlb.md">Set Up a Network Load Balancer</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up a PostgreSQL Database Cluster</strong></mark></td><td>Set up a high-availability, scalable PostgreSQL database cluster for your applications.</td><td><a href="/cloud/databases/postgresql/how-tos/v2/create-postgresql-cluster.md">Create a PostgreSQL Cluster</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up Block Storage</strong></mark></td><td>Configure and manage reliable block storage for your data needs.</td><td><a href="/cloud/backup-and-storage/block-storage/how-tos/set-up-block-storage.md">Set Up Block Storage</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Configure a NAT Gateway</strong></mark></td><td>Establish a secure NAT gateway for private network internet access.</td><td><a href="/cloud/network-services/nat-gateway/setup-nat-gateway.md">Configure a NAT Gateway</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Configure a Network on your VDC</strong></mark></td><td>Manage and configure networks within your Virtual Data Center (VDC).</td><td><a href="/cloud/network-services/vdc-networking/lan/how-tos/configure-private-lan.md">Configure a Private LAN</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up Object Storage Access</strong></mark></td><td>Set up and access scalable S3-compatible Object Storage.</td><td><a href="/cloud/backup-and-storage/ionos-object-storage/get-started/setup-access.md">Set Up Object Storage Access</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Connect to Virtual Machines via SSH</strong></mark></td><td>Establish secure SSH connections to your remote servers.</td><td><a href="/cloud/compute-services/compute-engine/how-tos/connect-vm-via-ssh.md">Connect to Virtual Machines via SSH</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up Backup Units</strong></mark></td><td>Configure and manage backup units to safeguard your data.</td><td><a href="/cloud/backup-and-storage/backup-service/how-tos/create-backup-unit.md">Create a Backup Unit</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Configure Flow Logs</strong></mark></td><td>Set up flow logs to monitor and analyze network traffic.</td><td><a href="/cloud/network-services/flow-logs/how-tos/configure-flow-logs.md">Configure Flow Logs</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Set Up a Kubernetes Cluster</strong></mark></td><td>Deploy and manage a Kubernetes cluster for container orchestration.</td><td><a href="/cloud/containers/managed-kubernetes/how-tos/cluster_management.md">Set Up a Kubernetes Cluster</a></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><strong>Create Alarms and Actions</strong></mark></td><td>Set up monitoring alerts and actions for your infrastructure.</td><td><a href="/cloud/observability/monitoring-as-a-service/dcd-how-tos/create-alarms-actions.md">Create Alarms and Actions</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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