Cloud Computing

1 February 2023

Cloud computing got its name because the information being accessed is situated remotely in a virtual setting such as the cloud. Thanks to companies that provide cloud services, users can store files and programmes on distant servers and then access the material via the Internet. Because they are not need to be at a certain location to view it, this provides remote access for the user.

You can process data without using a computer or carrying around bulky equipment with the aid of cloud computing. Additionally, the entire workload is shifted to enormous computer clusters that are positioned far away in cyberspace. When the Internet becomes a cloud, you may access your data, work, and applications from any device.

Businesses of all sizes, types, and industries use a wide range of use cases, such as data backup, disaster recovery, email, virtual desktops, software development and testing, big data analytics, and customer-facing web apps. Healthcare organisations are using the cloud, for instance, to deliver more patient-specific treatments. Financial services providers are using the cloud to assist with real-time fraud detection and prevention. Additionally, video game makers use the cloud to distribute online games to millions of players worldwide.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Agility

The cloud makes it simple to access a wide range of technologies, allowing you to innovate more quickly and produce practically anything you can imagine. The Internet of Things, machine learning, data lakes, analytics, and infrastructure services like processing, storage, and databases are all resources that you can rapidly spin up as needed. You may be able to quickly install technology services, which will enable you to implement ideas much more quickly than in the past. This gives you the freedom to experiment, test cutting-edge ideas for the client experience, and revolutionise your business.

Elasticity

With cloud computing, you won't need to over-provision resources now to handle future surges in business activity. You may scale these resources up or down to instantly increase and reduce capacity as your company's needs change.

Cost Savings

With the cloud, you only pay for the IT you use rather than fixed costs (like data centres and physical servers). Additionally, the variable costs are significantly less than what you would pay to do it yourself because of the economies of scale.

Types of Cloud computing

The three fundamental subcategories of cloud computing are infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, and software as a service. By utilising the varied degrees of control, flexibility, and management provided by each type of cloud computing, you may select the set of services that best suit your needs.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS contains the basic building blocks of cloud computing. It is common practise to provide access to networking capabilities, computers (virtual or on dedicated hardware), and data storage capacity. IaaS gives you the most flexibility and administrative control over your IT resources. It most closely mimics the currently available IT resources that numerous IT organisations and developers are used to.

Platform as a service (PaaS)

By relieving you of the responsibility for managing the underlying infrastructure, PaaS gives you more time to focus on the development and administration of your apps (often hardware and operating systems). Because you won't have to worry about things like resource acquisition, capacity planning, software maintenance, patching, or any other undifferentiated heavy lifting, your application will function more efficiently as a result.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Through SaaS, you can have a complete product that is run and managed by the service provider. When people mention SaaS, they typically refer to end-user apps (such as web-based email). When choosing a SaaS provider, you don't have to worry about how the service is managed or the underlying infrastructure is maintained. Only your intended use of that particular software needs to be taken into account.

Data security and platform security are key problems in cloud computing because software and data are hosted remotely. Cloud security refers to actions taken to protect digital assets and data stored on cloud-based services. This data is protected using a variety of measures, including firewall services, VPNs, security tokens, and two-factor authentication (2FA).