cloud computing

Cloud computing is an implementation model in which storage, servers, applications, etc. are delivered over the Internet. It is provided on-demand as an as-a-service, usually on a pay-as-you-go model

The "cloud" is not a physical location, but a method of managing IT resources that can largely replace local equipment and private data centers. In a cloud computing model, users have access to virtual computing, networking and storage resources that are provided online by a remote provider. Instead of having to purchase and maintain large amounts of compute, storage and other IT infrastructure, and having to acquire the in-house experience needed to manage the equipment, users can leave it all to the cloud service provider.

Moving to the Cloud

existcloud computingPrior to its emergence, many companies had to store all their data on their own in-house devices, and with that came a lot of management and maintenance work. If more capacity was suddenly needed due to a new product launch or an unexpected increase in orders, organizations would have to purchase and install new hardware, software, and network infrastructure. This process is time-consuming and can often have an impact on an organization's ability to capitalize on business opportunities.

Instant configuration and expansion

Today, cloud computing resources are instantly provisioned over the Internet and can be easily scaled up and down on demand. Companies simply pay for the resources they use, often on a monthly usage basis, without having to worry about capacity management, hardware refreshes, or other maintenance and management issues.

Cloud Computing Models: IAAS, PAAS and SAAS

Cloud computing can be categorized into three main as-a-service (aaS) categories.Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the most basic form of cloud computing for businesses. With IaaS, users have access to infrastructure basics such as server space, data storage, and networking, which are configured through APIs. On-premises system administrators manage the company's databases, applications, security measures, and other elements, while the cloud computing service provider manages the servers, hard drives, network, and storage. This model most closely replicates the functionality of a traditional data center in a hosted environment.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) The model provides a complete development environment that allows developers to deploy or update applications without having to deal directly with the infrastructure layer. In addition to the elements of IaaS, PaaS provides the tools and software developers need to build, test and run applications. With PaaS, developers can focus on creative tasks without worrying about managing operating systems, databases, middleware, and development tools.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is probably the most familiar form to most users; SaaS applications are designed directly for the end-user, with the underlying infrastructure remaining "behind the scenes". Users typically access the service through a web browser or application, and the service is often billed per user or per seat. From business applications such as word processing and spreadsheet programs, to Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Management (ERM) applications, to photo editing suites and video hosting platforms, SaaS applications can offer an extremely wide range of functionality in the cloud.

Cloud Deployment Options: Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds

Cloud deployment models typically depend on the physical location of the cloud infrastructure, the people who control the infrastructure, and the way cloud services are delivered to users. In the enterprise space, there are three cloud computing models that are most important, each of which can fulfill different business needs.

The public cloud is the classic model where a cloud service provider (CSP) owns, maintains and manages a shared cloud infrastructure. Services are delivered over the open Internet. Large cloud service providers with data centers that enable massive scaling are known as hyperscale providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure, among others. The main advantages of public clouds are on-demand scalability and pay-as-you-go pricing models. Common uses of public cloud computing include file sharing, email services, and application development and testing.

A private cloud runs within the firewall of an organization's intranet and is hosted in an on-premise or colocation data center. In this model, the infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization and can be configured and managed according to that company's specific needs; the data is stored in the private cloud and remains completely under the control of that company. Private clouds are often used for business-critical applications with high security requirements, as this model can best address the privacy and security concerns of many organizations.

hybrid cloudAllows companies to utilize both public and private cloud solutions, including the use of multiple public cloud service providers. With a hybrid cloud, organizations can leverage the benefits of each cloud model to increase flexibility and scalability, protect sensitive data and operations, and minimize dependence on any single CSP. One of the major advantages of a hybrid cloud system is that there is no single point of failure. These systems are ideal for companies with highly variable workloads.

Common Uses of Cloud Computing

Organizations can use cloud computing for a variety of purposes, depending on the business environment and needs. However, for organizations that have migrated at least some of their applications and data to a cloud environment, there are a few top most commonly used applications.

Data storage:As data volumes grow, traditional storage infrastructure models are unable to meet rapidly changing capacity needs due to a lack of agility. Not only does the cloud model make it easy for companies to access more capacity when they need it, but the management and maintenance of the storage infrastructure is typically handled by the cloud service provider, so companies don't have to oversee these regular IT tasks.

Data protection:Data growth is unpredictable, so capacity planning for backup and recovery is often slow and complex. Cloud computing offers a modern solution to the challenge of backing up and protecting business-critical data. Cloud service providers often have facilities in multiple geographically diverse locations, which reduces the risk of disruption due to natural or man-made disasters, and these locations have a high level of physical security.

Big Data Analytics:Tools like Hadoop and Splunk make it easy to capture and analyze massive amounts of data, but that data has to be located somewhere within the organization. Cloud computing allows organizations to store large amounts of data on servers that they don't have to physically manage.

Private or hybrid cloud:Enterprises that want the flexibility of a public cloud but need to maintain ownership of their data can avoid handing over control of their data to a third-party provider by adopting a private cloud model with virtualized resources. In a hybrid cloud environment, a company will use both private and public cloud resources, with some of those resources being turned over to a third party while others remain on-premise for security, privacy or regulatory reasons.

Application testing and deployment:With a cloud-based virtualized infrastructure, DevOps teams can more easily access resources designed to support all types of applications. Containers can be set up to run cloud-native, non-cloud-native, and legacy applications, while container management tools such as Kubernetes simplify deployment and management.