What Is Cloud Computing?

What is Cloud Computing?

We come across this term quite a few times, though may not clearly understand it. With its popularity, there are many myths attached to “What is cloud computing?”or “What does it consist of?” or “Is it worth going for?” To overcome your peculiarities with cloud computing, we have come up with this blog post to make the entire idea behind cloud computing clear to you!
According to Wikipedia, “Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet).”
To make it simple for you, Cloud computing is an internet based computing where various services such as storage, applications, servers, etc are delivered through internet. With the technique of cloud computing you can now store, access and process data and applications over the internet instead of your system’s hard drive.
Now we know ‘what is Cloud Computing’, we also need to know why cloud computing is known as “Cloud computing?” What relation does “cloud” have with a technology that offers remote services? Actually nothing! The name cloud is derived from the cloud shape that is universally used to depict internet in graphics.
 Cloud computing has 3 Service Models and 4 Deployment Models which are explained below!

3 Service models of Cloud Computing:

1. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
3. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

1.Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS):

Also known as Hardware as a Service (HaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a category of cloud computing in which an organization outsources the equipment used to support operations, including storage, servers hardware and networking components. The deal is like this – The service provider is the owner of the equipment and is responsible for configuring , running and maintaining it. The client, on the other hand, pays on a per-use basis. IaaS offers a standardized, dynamic, flexible and sometimes virtualized environment for the end users.
Characteristics of IaaS include:

• Virtualization of Desktop
• Internet availability
• Use of billing model
• Computerized administrative tasks
• Utility computing service
• Policy-based services
• Active scaling

Some of the prominent industry names offering  IaaS are Amazon Web Services and AT&T.

2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS):

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is another service model of cloud computing that provides application execution services like application runtime, storage, and integration. PaaS follows a resourceful and responsive approach to operate scale-out applications and make these applications profitable. In this model the provider provides the servers, networks, storage and other services. On the other hand, the consumer controls software deployment and configuration settings.
Characteristics of PaaS include:

• Facilitation of hosting capabilities
• Designing and developing the application
• Integrating web services and databases
• Providing security, scalability and storage
• Versioning the application and application instrumentation
• Testing and deployment facilities

Some of the prominent industry names offering PaaS are Google App Engine and OpenStack.

3. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS):

As a cloud computing service model, Software as a Service (SaaS) provides business processes and applications, including CRM, e-mails, collaboration, and so on. SaaS helps in optimizing the cost and delivery in exchange of negligible customization and represents a shift of operational risks from the consumer to the provider. All infrastructure and IT operational functions are abstracted away from the consumer. SaaS is sometimes referred to as “on-demand software” and is usually priced on a pay-per-use basis. SaaS providers price applications using a subscription fee.
Characteristics of SaaS include:

• The application is hosted centrally.
• Outsourcing hardware and software support to the cloud provider.
• Enhancing the potential of an organization to reduce its IT operational costs.
• No need to install new software to release updates. Infact, any update can be executed by the cloud provider itself not the customers.
• Software testing takes place at a faster rate as Saas applications have only one configuration.
• Easy recognition of areas that need improvement as the solution provider has access to user behavior within the application itself.

Some of the prominent industry names offering SaaS are Salesforce and Microsoft Office 365.
To know more about “What is Cloud Computing”, the table below is showing a comparison among the 3 Cloud Computing Service Models:

4 primary Cloud Computing Deployment models:

1. The Private Cloud
2. The Public Cloud
3. The Hybrid Cloud
4. The Community Cloud

1.The Private Cloud

In the private cloud, hosting is built and maintained for a specific client. The infrastructure required for hosting can either be on-premises or at a third-party location.Though private cloud is not a good option to optimize cost, however, it is a boon for two reasons:
1. It is great deployment model from security point of view! When organizations start using cloud computing, they face several challenges including data security. The private cloud takes care of this through secure-access VPN or by the physical location within the client’s firewall system. Thus, this model is best suited for mission-critical applications. There are many organizations that use virtual private cloud such as Amazon.
2. Secondly, private cloud is implemented by organizations where there is a strict requirement that data should obey the rules of various regulatory standards such as HIPAA, SOX, or SAS 70. Such standards make sure that the data is audited according to the protocols set. Thus, Private cloud models are well suited in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

2.The Public Cloud

As opposed to the Private cloud, in the Public cloud deployment model, services and infrastructure are offered to several clients free of charge or on the basis of a pay-per-user license policy. Even Google adopts public cloud model. This is a true cloud hosting which provides cost benefits by reducing IT operational costs substantially. This model is widely used in organizations that require to handle host SaaS applications, load spikes, utilize interim infrastructure for developing and testing and take care of applications which are used by several consumers to avoid heavy infrastructure investment.

3.The Hybrid Cloud

But what if organizations look for both data security and cost benefits? We also have the Hybrid cloud deployment model! This deployment model enables organizations to secure their data and applications on a private cloud and cut down on IT operational costs by storing the shared information on the public cloud.Another advantage of hybrid cloud is that this model comes into rescue when the present private cloud infrastructure unsuccessful in managing load spikes and requires back-up to support the load. Hence, using the hybrid cloud, the organizations can transfer workloads between public and private cloud hosting without any trouble to the consumers. Some examples of hybrid cloud are Force.com and Microsoft Azure.

4.The Community Cloud

This is another cloud deployment model, where the cloud infrastructure is shared by many organizations with the same policy and compliance considerations. Because this model is shared by a bigger group, this further enables in decreasing the IT operational costs in contrast to private cloud.
This cloud model is best suited for state-level government departments that need access to the same data and applications relating to the local population, roads, electrical stations, hospitals.
 

Now let’s look into some of the other technologies associated with cloud computing:

Big data and Cloud Computing:
Big data is nothing but an assortment of such a huge and complex data that it becomes very tedious to capture, store, process, retrieve and analyze it with the help of on-hand database management tools or traditional data processing techniques. As Big Data is getting Bigger day by day, a synchronization of big data and cloud computing is inevitable. Infact, it is a perfect match! Web is fast replacing desktop applications, thus, there arises a need of cloud computing stepping up into the big data arena and providing unlimited resources when needed.

Hadoop and Cloud computing:

Hadoop is an open source software framework that supports data-intensive distributed applications and is considered a panacea for managing big data. Though originally Hadoop started supporting the large data driven companies like Facebook and LinkedIn, nowadays Hadoop has become more enterprise-driven and can be used in different industries at par! Though Hadoop works best on Windows and Linux, it can also work on other operating systems like BSD and OS X. Thus, Hadoop and Cloud computing are in great demand in several organizations. In no time, Hadoop will become one of the most required Apps for Cloud Computing. This is evident from the number of Hadoop clusters offered by cloud vendors in various businesses. Thus, Hadoop will reside in the cloud soon!
This further leads to an acute need for huge number of Hadoop professionals who can help big organizations manage Big Data!
 

Why Cloud Computing is a boon for professionals today?

A great news for all aspiring IT professionals! In the world, where organizations are dealing with Big data every moment, Cloud Computing is a boon for them! Thus, today organizations and businesses are ready to invest in Cloud Computing Models because of their amazing results. Cloud computing is one of today’s hottest IT trends! In fact, all over the world, there is a severe shortage of cloud computing professionals. This,in turn means a great opportunity for those who have or are acquiring skill sets in cloud computing. For example, Oracle has a widespread set of cloud computing solutions. However,such intricate systems require very highly-skilled IT professionals to effectively develop, implement, administer and maintain them.Being an IT professional, do consider Cloud computing! You could be a software engineer, or a system engineer, or even a network administrator. There are numerous career opportunities in cloud computing!