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Everything you need to know about Cloud Computing

What is a ‘Cloud’ and ‘Cloud Computing’? 

The word “cloud” refers to servers that are accessible over the Internet, as well as the software and databases that operate on those servers. Many data centres across the world contain cloud servers. When users and businesses use cloud computing, they don’t have to run physical servers or software programs on their workstations because computation and storage take place on servers in a data centre rather than locally on the user device. Cloud users can access the same files and programs from nearly any device.

This is why, as soon as a user’s old phone breaks, they’ll log into their social media account using a new mobile phone and find their old account intact, with all their photos. It’s identical with cloud e-mail offerings like Gmail and Microsoft Office 365, in addition to cloud garage services like Dropbox and Google Drive.
 
Cloud computing, according to Wikipedia, is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, particularly data storage and computational power, without the user’s direct active supervision. Functions in large clouds are frequently dispersed across numerous locations, each of which is a data centre.

Components of Cloud Computing

There are three main components in cloud computing and they are: 

1.    Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS).
2.    Platform as a service (PAAS).
3.    Software as a service (SAAS).

1.    Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
IaaS is the fundamental layer of the cloud, providing customers and companies data centre hardware (e.g. servers) for a low monthly charge. IaaS allows businesses to rent servers in a remote data centre that are equipped with computer resources such as RAM, CPU, and IP. Digital Ocean, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Rackspace are all traditional IaaS providers. PaaS and SaaS are built on top of IaaS.

2.    PAAS (Platform as a Service):
This type of cloud computing offers a development environment as a service. The customer can utilize the middleman’s equipment to create his application and distribute it to users over the Internet and servers. The consumer has control over the apps that operate in the environment, but not over the operating system, hardware, or network infrastructure that they use. PaaS gives developers the tools they need to build apps and software, as well as the development environment they need to build, stage, edit, and deploy them. Amazon and Google are some of the most well-known PaaS providers.

3.    SAAS (Software as a Service):
This is a method of delivering software applications over the Internet, which can be done on-demand or via a subscription model. It enables people to connect to the Internet and use cloud-based applications. SaaS provides the benefit of application enhancement and operation at a lower cost. The SaaS layer of the cloud allows businesses to acquire software that is hosted by a provider on a monthly basis without having to worry about upgrading, maintaining, or repairing any faults in the software. The software and programs we most commonly associate with the cloud are known as SaaS applications. Google Drive, Candy Crush, are examples of this category. 

Types of Cloud Deployment Models In Cloud Computing

A cloud deployment model is a form of cloud environment defined primarily by ownership, scale, and access. Public clouds, community clouds, private clouds, and hybrid clouds are the four most prevalent cloud deployment options.

1.    Public Clouds: The cloud service provider owns the cloud infrastructure. The cloud infrastructure is located on the cloud provider’s premises. The general public, as well as a large industry organization, can use cloud services on a pay-per-use basis. The cloud resources are allocated to users on a demand basis. The resources are made available on a real-time basis over the Internet. Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) profit greatly from the use of public clouds. Location independence, cost-effectiveness, and reliability are all advantages of public clouds.

2.    Private Cloud: is one where the cloud infrastructure is solely for the benefit of one company. It might be administered in-house or by a third party. The private cloud might be on-premises or off-premises. Private clouds provide improved security and privacy, as well as improved administration, cost savings, and energy efficiency.

3.   Hybrid Cloud: The infrastructure of a hybrid cloud is made up of two or more clouds (private, community, or public). They each remain distinct entities, yet they are linked through standardized or private technology. This technology enables data and application portability. Hybrid clouds offer scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and security.

4.    Community Cloud: In the community cloud, many organizations use cloud infrastructure with similar concerns (for example, mission, security requirements, policy and compliance considerations). It is usually supported by community organizations or third parties and can be local or remote. Community clouds provide the advantages of being more secure than public clouds and allowing several companies to share resources.
 



Importance of Cloud Computing

1.    Mobility: Cloud computing enables mobile access to company data through smartphones and gadgets, which today use 2.6 billion cell phones worldwide, making it the best way to ensure no one is left behind. This function allows employees with busy schedules or those living at a significant distance from the corporate office to stay in touch with customers and colleagues at any time.

2.    Quality Control: Few things are as unfavourable to a company’s overall performance as poor quality and inconsistent reporting. All papers are saved in a single location and the same format in a cloud-based system. You can hold data consistency, keep away from human error, and have a clear record of any edits or updates if every person has access to the same information. Managing information in silos, on the opposite hand, can bring about personnel saving different variations of files by accident, ensuing in confusion and diluted data.

3.    Automatic Software Updates: When you have a lot on your plate, nothing is more unpleasant than having to wait for system updates. Cloud-based apps automatically refresh and update themselves, rather than forcing an IT department to do a manual organization-wide upgrade. This saves IT personnel time and money that would otherwise be spent on outside IT consultation.

4.    Competitiveness: Increasingly fierce industrial competition has pushed companies to improve their skills and adapt to market changes. The adaptable and configurable Cloud Computing solution can provide several advantages that can help businesses become more agile in their operations. More than location considerations, picking a name from a provider list, or evaluating numerous parameter specifications in a brochure go into choosing a Cloud Computing service provider that best fits a company’s operation.

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2 thoughts on “Everything you need to know about Cloud Computing

  • Thanks for the compliment and good to know a colleague paid my site a visit. So what’s the name of your site?

    Reply

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