WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING
Cloud
computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are
delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet). The name comes
from the use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex
infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. It lets consumers and businesses
use applications without installation and access their personal files at any
computer with internet access. This technology allows for much more efficient
computing by centralizing data storage, processing and bandwidth. A simple
example of cloud computing is Yahoo email, Gmail, or Hotmail etc. All you need
is just an internet connection and you can start sending emails. The server and
email management software is all on the cloud (internet) and is totally managed
by the cloud service provider Yahoo, Google etc.
Cloud
computing is broken down into three segments: "application"
"storage" and "connectivity." Each segment serves a
different purpose and offers different products for businesses and individuals
around the world. Cloud computing always has a purpose. In simple words, this
purpose is the service. Every service is realized through the application. Optimization of the application is based the
actual coding of developers. Through extensive testing on load handling, security
and functionality, the application could work as expected. Everything that the
application knows and the functions that could be provided by service are
possible through storage. The storage holds pertinent data and information on
function on how they will be implemented. And all these components will be
impossible without network which gives connectivity to the cloud system.
Cloud
computing providers offer their services according to three fundamental models
namely Infrastructure As A Service (IAAS), Platform
As A Service
(PAAS), and Software As A Service (SAAS). IAAS is
the most basic and each higher model abstracts from the details of the lower
models. Based on the information shared, a cloud can be public, private,
community or a hybrid cloud.
There are many
advantages a company would have if they would consider cloud computing as part
of their business plan. Among them is ease of operations. Every employee will
be able to have access to the system wherever they are. Another advantage is
the ease of troubleshooting. There is no need for every user to wait for their
turn to have their application fixed. There is also the monetary consideration
in cloud computing. Instead of tedious work with local connections and
additional infrastructure, a company would just consider a cloud computing
vendor which will ensure uptime of the processes.
On the other
hand, there are disadvantages the company would have when they opt to use cloud
computing. The biggest of them all is security. Since cloud computing uses the
power of online connectivity to handle processing requests, the data could be
available for everyne and could be used for malicious purposes. There is also
the challenge of the end-user connectivity. Cloud computing will only be
possible if there is a strong internet connection. Cloud computing might not
work in areas where internet connection is weak. Infrastructure is also a
challenge for cloud computing. A company who opts to have their own server
would have to ensure the infrastructure will be able to deal with consistent
and massive data and processing requests.
From this, it
is evident that cloud computing can bring enormous benefits to IT and Business
sectors. Thus, we shall see its features varying from the characteristics till
applications in the chapters to follow.
0 comments:
Post a Comment