Technology is reaching great heights and to be precise, technology is exceeding humanity. Though it is created by humans, it is becoming more powerful than them. One such Technology which is gaining ground in the world of the internet is Cloud Computing. Rather than owning, buying and maintaining physical data centres and servers, one can use technology services like computing power, storage, and databases over the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.
1. What is Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing includes anything that provides hosted services over the internet. It is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the Internet in return for some charges. Inspired by the cloud symbol which is usually used to represent the internet in flowcharts and diagrams, this service is known as Cloud Computing. It works by facilitating client devices to access data and cloud applications over the internet, from any part of the planet. It is based on the concept of compute, storage, and network infrastructure assembled as a platform and services provided for the access of the same. Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet and it includes servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence.
2. Types of Cloud Deployment
Cloud services are implemented in three different ways.
2.1. Public Cloud
Cloud Service Providers are the ones who own and operate the Public Clouds. They deliver the resources like servers and storage over the Internet. In a Public Cloud, the hardware, software and other supporting infrastructure will be owned and controlled by the cloud provider. One can access these services from any corner of the world and to do so, one needs to manage an account using a web browser. A Public Cloud provides a shared platform which is accessible to the general public in the presence of the internet. The same storage can be used by multiple users and they have to pay as per their usage. These are owned, managed and operated by businesses, universities, government organizations, or a combination of them.
Public Cloud has its own share of merits and demerits. It comes at a lower price as compared to other deployments but shares the same resources with a large number of consumers. As the services are offered through the internet, a Public Cloud is independent of location.
But, as said, it carries a few demerits too. Being a public platform, it is less secure and the performance depends upon the speed of internet connectivity. It is also less customisable.
2.2. Private Cloud
As the name goes, these computing services are provided either over the Internet or a private internal network and are available only to selected users. The services and the infrastructure of the private Cloud are maintained on a private network. A Private Cloud is not open to all and is exclusively used by a single business or organization. It will be physically located on the company’s on-site data-centre. A few organizations also pay third-party service providers to host their private cloud.
Though a private cloud needs a much higher level of IT expertise, it provides more control over and better security of the deployment. Organizations usually prefer Private Cloud Computing as it offers more privacy. The traffic on a private cloud is typically limited to the organization’s own transactions.
As it holds a dedicated physical infrastructure, the organization can have enhanced control over server, network, and application security.
Though the setting up of the infrastructure can be a bit expensive, it will pay off in the long term. Irrespective of the workloads or how much data is moved by the organization of the private cloud, the monthly expenses remain the same.
2.3. Hybrid Cloud
A Hybrid Cloud is a combination of public and private clouds, where on-premises computing and public cloud are together available. Here the applications run in a combination of different environments and connect at least one public cloud and one private cloud. These unify the services from different vendors to create a single, flexible, cost-optimal IT infrastructure. A Hybrid Cloud offers greater flexibility and more deployment options. It also helps to optimize the existing infrastructure, security and compliance. It creates a unified, automated, and well-managed computing environment and is used in finance, healthcare and Universities. The non-critical activities of a Hybrid Cloud are performed by the public cloud and critical activities are performed by the private cloud. The integration of a private cloud with a public cloud creates a hybrid cloud.
3. Kinds Of Cloud Computing Services
A third party provider hosts the cloud services like infrastructure, platforms or software and make them available to users through the internet. Broadly divided, cloud computing services fall into four broad categories.
3.1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
This is considered to be the most basic type of cloud computing services. Here a cloud provider provides IT infrastructure—servers and virtual machines (VMs), storage, networks, operating systems on rent and you pay as you go.
3.2. Platform as a service (PaaS)
This type of cloud computing services supply an on-demand environment for developing, testing, delivering and managing software applications. This is so designed that it makes it easier for developers to quickly create web or mobile apps with no worry about setting up or managing the underlying infrastructure of servers, storage, network and databases needed for development.
3.3. Serverless Computing
Serverless computing services mainly focus on building app functionality without spending time to manage the servers and infrastructure required. The setup, capacity planning and server management will be the responsibility of the cloud provider. These are event driven and use resources when a specific function or trigger occurs.
3.4. Software as a service (SaaS)
In SaaS, the cloud providers host and deal with the software application. They also handle the maintenance, if any, like software upgrades and security patching. The users can connect to the application with a web browser on their phone, tablet or PC.
4. Advantages of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has brought in a big shift and many organisations now opt for cloud computing services. In the presence of these services, the organisations need not buy and set up the hardware and software. Rather they can utilise these services and pay accordingly. These cloud computing services can provide vast amounts of computing resources in minutes in any corner of the world. They have the ability to scale elastically. Cloud Computing provides the right amount of IT resources at the right geographic location. Business continuity becomes easier and less expensive. These are a few of the many advantages offered by cloud computing to the IT world.