You probably use cloud services without even realizing it. Email, social media, online storage, and online apps like PowerPoint and Word all rely on the internet and a web service to function. In the last decade, the cloud computing industry has grown exponentially. Today, instead of renting space on a server in a data center, you can use a cloud service like Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive to store your files in the “cloud” and access them from anywhere.
Cloud computing simply means the delivery of services like networking, storage, servers, software, hardware as well as software infrastructure, etc. over the Internet. In order to access cloud computing, the minimum requirement is a simple internet connection and a device to access it. So that you can utilize the various features and plugins of cloud computing. Through cloud computing, you can use such a system virtually and remotely through your devices.
Cloud computing is made up of two words i.e cloud and computing. In this technology, the cloud is used as a metaphor that symbolizes certain virtual spaces or remotely hosted systems. Computing means activities like inputting, processing, outputting, storing, and many more. Cloud computing has become a crucial option for people and businesses. As it costs low and increases productivity, scalability, security, performance, and reliability.
Accessing applications and services remotely through the internet is known as remote computing. In the past few years, remote computing has evolved into cloud computing. The adoption of cloud computing has helped businesses and individuals get more from their technology while reducing costs. This article explores what cloud computing is, the different types of services available as a result of cloud computing, and how it enables businesses to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
History of Cloud Computing
In 1961 AD, John McCarthy who is known as the father of Artificial Intelligence suggested in his speech at MIT that computing can be sold as a utility like water or electricity which was a big and wonderful idea. Unfortunately, this concept was ahead of that time. But later, in 1999 AD, Salesforce began its cloud services where they deliver applications to users through a single-page website.
Since the commencement of the 21st century, cloud computing comes into a crucial place. In 2002 AD, Amazon started its retailed cloud services Amazon Web Services (AWS), then the game of cloud computing really starts. Between the years 2008 and 2009 AD, Big tech giants companies viz. Google, Microsoft, IBM, Adobe, Oracle, Alibaba, etc. started their respective cloud services.
How Does Cloud Computing Work?
Cloud computing is a method of delivering computer services on a pay-per-use basis over the internet. Cloud computing enables companies to use remote computing to provide software and services without having to install them on computers or servers in their own location.
Cloud computing allows users to access the service through any device that has an internet connection. This means people can use their desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone to access services they need through cloud computing.
It’s important to note that not all cloud computing services are created equal. There are three types of cloud computing services: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). SaaS refers to software-based services, PaaS refers to platforms for building and running applications, and IaaS refers to infrastructures like servers and storage space. All three types of cloud computing have different levels of benefits for businesses and individuals.
Types of Cloud Computing
Public Cloud
A public cloud is a shared infrastructure that you can use to store and process data without buying, building, or maintaining your own servers. It’s called “public” because it’s open to anyone, and it can be hosted in data centers or other large facilities in different locations. The most common providers of public cloud are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. You can also host your own public cloud, which is called “infrastructure as a service.”
Private Cloud
A private cloud is a model for computing infrastructure in which the hardware, software, networking, and operating systems are owned and managed by an organization, and data is stored on a server that is fully managed and provided by the provider. Private cloud computing is sometimes called “hosted cloud computing” or “service-based cloud computing”. Private cloud computing is typically more flexible than public cloud computing, in that the provider can configure the server and storage to meet the specific needs of the organization. Private cloud computing is sometimes referred to as “fully-hosted cloud computing” or “bare-metal cloud computing”.
Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid cloud is the use of two or more types of cloud computing to achieve the desired business objective. The key to a successful hybrid cloud is the ability to seamlessly shift between the different models to optimize performance and cost at a moment’s notice. This flexibility is critical to the modern business, which is why hybrid cloud is becoming the go-to approach for IT leaders and organizations of all sizes.
Multicloud
Multi-cloud is the use of more than one cloud provider to provide computing services, such as applications and storage. Many enterprises use a multi-cloud strategy to increase their flexibility and resilience or to take advantage of hybrid cloud services that offer the best of both public and private cloud worlds.
Distributed Cloud
Distributed cloud is one of the most advanced types of cloud computing. It’s also the most complex, and that’s why it’s often misunderstood. The distributed cloud refers to the delivery of IT services across multiple data centers. Unlike the traditional cloud, which is hosted in a single location, the distributed cloud is delivered over a wide range of data centers, which are often located in multiple regions.
Big data Cloud
A big data cloud is a type of data platform as a service (PaaS) built specifically for big data analytics and data science. The big data cloud is designed to provide business users with a platform for developing, deploying, and managing big data applications and analytics. It provides a shared data infrastructure for data scientists, data engineers, and other users, who can then build and operate their own data applications without requiring extensive engineering and development skills.
Community Cloud
A community cloud is a type of cloud computing that lets you share the resources of a physical data center. It offers the same flexibility and scalability as traditional cloud services but comes with added security and cost benefits. Most community cloud services are designed for small and medium-sized businesses and are often offered at a lower cost than other types of cloud computing. It is often used for small businesses, schools, and other organizations that don’t have the money or expertise to build their own data centers. Community cloud also has many of the same benefits as other types of cloud computing, including easy access to software, flexibility, and scalability. However, unlike other types of cloud computing, community cloud is often hosted by a single provider.
Poly Cloud
Poly Cloud is the use of several public clouds in order to take advantage of the specific services that each supplier offers. It allows an organization to achieve more than could be done with a single provider. It is unlike multi-cloud in that Poly Cloud is not designed to increase flexibility or mitigate failures.
HPC Cloud
HPC cloud is a type of cloud computing that specializes in providing high-performance computing (HPC) services. HPC is a broad range of technologies used for computationally intensive tasks, such as scientific and engineering simulations. Some examples of HPC applications include weather prediction, product design, medicine discovery, and complex financial modeling. It allows customers to combine the power of the cloud with high-performance computing (HPC) systems. HPC Cloud is built on the same infrastructure that powers the most advanced data centers in the world. This means that customers can get the same level of performance and reliability without the large upfront costs and complex maintenance. With HPC Cloud, everyone can access the power of supercomputers without the expense and complexity of traditional HPC infrastructure.
Types of cloud computing services
Services provided by cloud computing are limitless, meaning you’ll have no problem finding one that meets your needs. It all depends on what your business needs at any given time. If you’re looking for affordable hosting solutions, you could look at Amazon Web Services (AWS). For small business owners who want to grow their company but don’t have the capital for expensive hardware or software, AWS might be just what your company needs.
There are different types of cloud computing services available. Cloud computing services are broadly classified into three categories: Software as a service (SaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a service(IaaS).
Software as a Service (SaaS)
This type of cloud computing is also known as on-demand software. It enables organizations to access software as needed, without needing to purchase and manage the hardware infrastructure required to operate it. Most major software providers offer SaaS, including Microsoft, Google, and Oracle.
Software as a service is delivered over the internet via the cloud. These types of services offer businesses an easy way to access applications remotely. They allow for easy collaboration among team members, making it possible for employees to work from anywhere in the world. Some of the examples of SaaS are Dropbox, Slack, Cisco WebEx, etc.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS is an internet-based service that helps developers build web or mobile applications without the need for programming skills or knowledge of the underlying systems required to build and run those applications.
Platform as a service provides companies with the tools they need to build, deploy, and manage their own applications on the cloud. Infrastructure as a service offers companies scalable infrastructure that is available on-demand and can be used by multiple projects at once. Some of the examples of PaaS are Google App Engine, Apache Stratos, OpenShift, Heroku, etc.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS provides businesses with hardware resources on demand. When someone uses IaaS, they're able to rent out servers and other equipment as needed, instead of purchasing their own hardware upfront and managing it in-house. Some of the examples of IaaS are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Cisco Metapod, Digital Ocean, etc.
Advantages Of Cloud Computing
You might have a question in your mind how will cloud computing benefit businesses? Well, there are many benefits of cloud computing for businesses. One major benefit is the ability to scale your business quickly and efficiently. For instance, take Amazon. In the late 1990s, they were primarily a bookseller. As they grew over the years, they used the power of technology and software to expand their offerings to include more than just books. They've been able to grow without having to invest in additional data centers or infrastructure on their own because they use cloud computing services as needed for each stage of growth. This flexibility allows them to grow as fast as their customers’ needs demand it. It enables businesses to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively.
Another benefit of cloud computing is that it improves collaboration across your team, which can increase productivity because you will be able to work more efficiently with others in different locations who don't need to be co-located with the rest of your team in order to collaborate effectively. Cloud computing also improves communication between teams by centralizing these tools and enabling them all within one platform, making it easier for teams to understand how their contributions affect other parts of the company - or even other companies!
Cloud computing offers many benefits for both businesses and individuals alike. These benefits range from increased productivity and efficiency, improved collaboration between teams, centralized data storage, and scalability. It offers the least cost, more speed, performance, productivity, reliability, and most important security.
Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
The advantages of cloud computing are easy to see. However, there are disadvantages to this as well.
One of the major disadvantages is security. Security breaches are a massive problem for businesses and one that needs to be addressed with any potential computing model.
The other disadvantage is the difficulty in backing up data stored on the cloud due to constantly changing storage locations and the dependency on broadband internet.
Other disadvantages are privacy and confidentiality. Data breaches can lead to the leakage of individual private and confidential data as well as documents. Cyber attacks on the cloud could compel an organization to accept a huge loss which includes both user's data as well as the organization's capital.
Cloud computing costs are high for top-level security and facilities. So, small companies have to invest more amount of capital in cloud computing in order to continue their business.
The Bottom Line
Cloud computing has advanced over the past decade. Today, there are different types of services available for businesses or individuals who want to leverage technology for personal productivity or cost savings purposes. By understanding what cloud computing is and how it works, you'll be able to make better decisions about whether this model will work well for your business needs while also choosing between various service types offered by cloud computing providers.
Cloud computing rapidly changing the way we use technology. It has become popular over the past decade as companies have found new ways to leverage technology to improve productivity and reduce costs.
Before the term cloud computing was coined, businesses and individuals used the internet to access applications and services remotely. Today, people still use the internet to access software-based services, but these services are delivered through the use of cloud computing.