Introduction to Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a web-based, on-demand resource that allows people and organizations to share information and data. Cloud computing enables you to access applications, software, and data via the Internet from anywhere with an Internet connection. You can also use it to store your files online. The cloud offers many benefits over traditional on-premises solutions, such as scalability, flexibility, and security.

The cloud can be used for storing company data and applications, but it can be used for more than just storing data. For example, you can also use the cloud to host websites or deliver online services.

Two primary users of the cloud are:

End User: The end user is typically an individual or group of individuals who use computing resources such as processing power, memory, and storage.

Business management user: Business management users ensure that the cloud infrastructure operates at optimal performance levels to meet business requirements.

The three major cloud providers are:

• Google Cloud Platform
• Microsoft Azure
• Amazon Web Service (AWS)

Differences between on-premises computing and cloud computing

• On-premises refers to a physical location where the server hardware is located. In contrast, cloud computing refers to using a virtual machine or another hosted environment on a server or other device with access to computing resources.
• On-premises systems have their hardware and software infrastructure, whereas cloud systems rely on remote access via the Internet.
• On-premise users bear the cost of hardware and operating system, whereas, in cloud computing, users have to pay a subscription fee for hardware and operating system access.
• In on-premises, any failure means loss of the actual data. In contrast, in cloud computing, data are stored in the cloud, so if a failure occurs, there is still a copy of the data in the cloud.

Main Components of Cloud Platform

In the world of cloud computing, there are three main components: data center, Internet, and virtualization technology. These three technologies are what make up a cloud platform.

The data center is where servers and storage devices are stored.

The Internet is where applications run on those servers and storage devices.

Virtualization technology allows various software programs to run on top of those servers and storage devices.

Cloud Deployment Models

Cloud deployment models provide a way to separate a cloud computing environment's physical and virtual aspects. Three types of deployment models are:

Public Cloud

A public cloud is one where you can get your data, applications, and services from a provider like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. A public cloud provides access to a shared pool of virtualized resources across multiple servers. The goal is to make it easier for you to use these resources as if they were in your own data center.

Advantage

• You can access your data from anywhere with an internet connection without worrying about storage capacity, as the vendor already provides it.
• There are no limits on bandwidth usage or the number of users accessing the same application at any given time. This means you will have more control over your resources than if you were running your server farm or cloud infrastructure.
• The pricing plans offered by public clouds are much cheaper than those provided by private cloud providers because there are fewer costs involved in maintaining such infrastructure and providing services to customers.

Disadvantage

• The security of your data is often better than if you had your hardware. If you have sensitive data or mission-critical applications, keep them in-house.
• You must pay for the service unless you host your hardware in-house.
• Public clouds don't have local storage for your applications. That means you have to move all of your data into the cloud before you can use it.

Private Cloud

A private cloud is one that an organization manages. It's not shared with anyone else, and it's often used for mission-critical tasks such as running large databases or complex applications.

Advantage

• Private clouds offer security and flexibility that's not possible with public cloud infrastructure, which is typically owned and managed by a third-party provider.
• The use of a private cloud environment enables the user to be in complete control over the data, applications, and services that they use. This gives them complete flexibility and freedom to make changes that are not possible in other environments.
• Private clouds allow users to test new operating systems, applications, and services without worrying about downtime or impact on their production environment.

Disadvantage

• Private clouds are often more expensive than public clouds. They require more infrastructure, including servers, storage, and networking equipment. They may be more challenging to scale up or down than public clouds.
• Private clouds are that they provide a different level of scalability than the public cloud does. For example, suppose you have 100 users, and only 5% of them need extra resources in their virtual machines at any time. In that case, it makes sense to use a public cloud instead of a private one.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is between public and private clouds, where the services are hosted on multiple clouds. Organizations can manage the cloud infrastructure with different objectives, such as control, cost reduction, and security. A hybrid cloud offers the benefits of both public and private clouds at the same time.

Advantage

• It enables organizations to manage IT infrastructure more efficiently, reduce costs and maximize resources.
• It enables organizations to leverage existing hardware, software, and networking equipment investments to deliver their applications more quickly and cost-effectively.
• It allows organizations to become more agile and responsive by enabling them to deploy applications without waiting for new infrastructure or software upgrades.

Disadvantage

• A hybrid cloud is that it requires more management effort than using a single cloud provider. When you have multiple clouds and applications, you need to manage them individually.
• If one application becomes unavailable, other applications can also have problems.

Cloud Service Models

Cloud Services are mainly of three types:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

This is the most common model for hosting on the cloud. The provider will provide you with all the hardware, software, and support you need to run your application. In this model, you only pay for what you use. This is ideal for startups that need more capital to invest in their infrastructure. Many popular applications are hosted this way, including Salesforce, Google Apps, and Dropbox.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

In this model, you get access to an application but not the underlying infrastructure required to run it. SaaS apps can be hosted on dedicated servers or virtual machines (VMs). Famous examples include Slack, Trello, and GitHub Enterprise.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

In this model, you get access to an application that runs on top of an infrastructure provided by the provider (e.g., AWS). Famous examples include Windows Azure and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Reduced Capital Expenditures

Businesses can reduce capital expenditures by providing services in-house or through third-party providers. They can also use cloud computing to expand their existing IT infrastructure without investing in new hardware or software.

Increased Flexibility

Cloud computing enables businesses to maintain their current IT infrastructure while expanding their operations with minimal effort. This means they can use new technologies without reworking existing systems or adopting them altogether.

Improved Security and Compliance

Cloud computing offers companies improved security and compliance features than on-premise solutions such as virtual machines or dedicated servers. The virtualization layer separates different data types into separate environments, making it easier for organizations to monitor and manage multiple domains simultaneously without compromising security or operational integrity.

Availability

Cloud is a convenient way to store and access files over the Internet. It enables companies to expand globally, giving them more options for increasing their business.

Data Storage

Customers can choose the amount of storage they need and pay only for what they use.

Conclusion

Cloud computing is the new wave in technology. With the three layers of SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, developers and businesses can find a setup that works best for them based on their needs.

Through its rise to popularity, cloud computing has helped many startups get off the ground, big corporations save money on IT infrastructure, and it has driven many fields toward greater technological integration. It's not going anywhere anytime soon; it's growing fast.