Crash Approach to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a trending topic in computational science since it vested numerous benefits to the users. Before going in-depth, it is important to have a basic idea of cloud computing. This article relies on a basic introduction to Cloud computing which is much appropriate for a beginner to achieve a thorough knowledge of the basics of Cloud Computing.

Prior to learning about Cloud Computing, it is mandatory to have an idea on “What is Cloud?” Simply we can term a cloud as a network which is placed in a remote location and provides services over public or private networks to run applications.

The general approach to define the Cloud computing concept can be declared as the process of accessing multiple server-based utility applications via the Internet. It facilitates the users to access data stored in the databases remotely via the internet without any management or maintenance interruption of primary resources. Cloud computing consisted of both software and hardware combined resources that served as a network service.

Cloud computing is composed of services and models that worked in order to provide access to the users feasibly. They can be termed as services models and deployment models.

Service Models behaved as the reference models from which cloud computing is based and can be further divided into four distinct types as follows,


Figure 1: Service Models of Cloud Computing

 

1.         Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS grants access to virtual and physical machines or storage. It is adapted as an on-demand service for delivering infrastructure and cost based on usage. IaaS can be combined with managed services needed for application support and operating systems. It serves the benefits of platform virtualization and load balancing. Some examples that have fallen under IaaS can be stated as Digital Ocean, Rackspace, and Google Compute Engine (GCE), etc.

 

2.         Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS encapsulates a runtime environment for developing and deploying applications. Further, PaaS fulfills and gives away all the requirements required to aid in developing and deploying web applications and services through the Internet. It facilitates web-based front end, third-party integration, and rapid development to the users. Heroku, OpenShift, Windows Azure is some trending PaaS examples to be notified.

 

3.         Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS software delivery methodology facilitates the users to work with software applications as a service and facilitates licensed access to software and their functionalities through the Web. Further, it is bound with a multi-tenant model, independent platform, and facilitates on-demand service with subscription-based billing. Some examples that can be pointed out under SaaS are Google Apps, Dropbox, and Slack, etc.

4.         Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS)

UCaaS allows continuous communication among individuals and remote collaboration services to users via the cloud network. Additionally, provides reliability and security, for companies to work in a secure, virtualized cloud environment. Some popular applications like Zoom. Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts belong to this service model.

Deployment models are categorized mainly into 4 types based on access and way of locating the cloud.

Accordingly,

§  In public cloud, services and systems are accessible by the public as a result they are less secure.

§  In private cloud, services and systems are accessible to organizational members as a result it has high security since the accessibility is limited to the organizational level.

§  In hybrid cloud, services and systems with respect to secured activities are operating similar to private cloud whereas systems and services non-secured activities are operating similar to the public cloud.

§  In community cloud, services and systems are accessible by specified groups of organizations.

The process of cloud computing provides advantages as well as disadvantages to mankind. Cloud computing improves performance, document format compatibility. Additionally, the cloud provides large storage capability and universal accessibility to data stored in it.  In the aspect of expenditure, cloud computing reduces software and computer costs.

However, it creates a negative impact as well on the community since it requires internet connectivity to access the data stored, and if the connection strength is low the tasks may not perform well with the cloud. Additionally, it has the risk of losing and exposing the data to vulnerabilities.

In the future, there is a tendency for cloud computing to have a low total cost of ownership. Cloud computing results in various applications development in numerous fields like health, business, education, entertainment, communication, etc. In modern times almost all organizations have embedded cloud-based business applications to develop their business and they are 24*7 available to users. Another involvement of cloud computing is, in education, online distance learning platforms are available to the students to learn freely without any time restrictions. The most trending and using cloud computing-based applications are social cloud applications like Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook which allow users to connect to each other remotely.

The overall intention of this piece of writing is to convey the basics of cloud computing to the reader to expose themselves to explore more about this context.


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