I’m pretty sure there isn’t a single adult in the world who hasn’t at least heard of The Cloud.
Explaining “The Cloud” in 2022 may seem like something completely unnecessary, but the truth is that most of us use cloud computing services on a day-to-day basis, and don’t even know it. And if we know – then we can’t really explain to ourselves what it is about, and if we try to explain it usually ends up with some hesitant muttering about server farms. At this point, asking about it out loud may sounds a bit awkward.
If the Internet is a dense network of fiber communications of various types, and is not really a tangible object, try to understand cloud computing as another type of virtual communication in a configuration that is truly real but is not physically located in your home. It’s located in places called Server Farms.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a model that allows easy access, over a communication network and on demand, to a shared pool of computer resources. The term computer resources mainly refers to Computing Power, Storage and Connectivity (Networking). The allocation of resources to users is done simply and quickly without administrative effort and with minimal communication with the service provider. This is usually done by concentrating the resources in a server farm connected to a communication network and assigning them to users virtually. Service to users can be provided through a local cloud located in the corporate network, or remotely in an external computer center accessed via the Internet. A server farm that provides cloud computing via the Internet is commonly called a Data Center.
There are four main Types of Cloud:
- Public – is a type that serves several organizations or the general public through a third-party data center that provides cloud services.
- Private – is a type that serves one organization and is operated by it. The cloud may be located within the organization or with an external provider.
- Hybrid – is a combination of a private cloud and a public cloud. That is, an enterprise cloud that uses both the resources of the organization’s private cloud and the resources provided by a public cloud operator. When the cloud management system (Cloud Orchestrator) has the ability to run applications partly on a private cloud and partly on a public cloud.
- Community – is a type that serves several organizations with a common interest. The cloud may be located within one of the partner organizations or with an external provider.
Types of Services:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Services in which the user receives computing resources for his own use. The user can install virtual machines (VM) on the cloud infrastructures that include an operating system and applications according to the user’s wishes, request to allocate storage spaces to them, and set policies. It can be policies regarding backup and expanding or reducing the allocation of resources for his virtual machines.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): A service that provides a platform for running applications or developing applications for the user. In this case, the user receives both computing resources and infrastructure software required for running or developing a system. The user can develop systems intended for implementation in his computer center or systems intended for execution in a cloud computing environment. Systems intended to be used in the computing cloud, differ from internal organizational systems in higher requirements in the area of scalability. This is because since they can be used by any Internet user, the loads may be greater and less predictable than on systems intended for use within an enterprise.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Software that provides the user with services provided through hosting on the provider’s website. Instead of purchasing a software product and installing it on the servers of the purchasing organization. The activation of the software services from the provider’s website is through a communication network, usually the Internet. The user also uses hardware infrastructure, both the platform and application services developed by the provider.
The Architecture of cloud computing
The service provider provides the services through its computer centers. The computing cloud is a single point of contact, from which the provider’s computer centers are used. Virtualization is an essential technology in the implementation of cloud computing in the provider’s computer centers. Through virtualization, he provides the customer with systems assigned to him. The amount of resources is flexible according to the customer’s requirement. The payment is determined according to the consumption of resources by the customer. The user can choose software infrastructures such as operating systems and databases for his use in the provider’s computer center.
Benefits of using it:
- Savings in hardware equipment purchase and maintenance costs. The user does not need to purchase hardware. And thereby saves hardware purchase and maintenance costs, electricity costs and costs for a place to install the hardware.
- Savings in software costs. In most cases the user also purchases software products for which he pays for purchase and maintenance.
- Saving in personnel costs for the maintenance and operation of the infrastructure systems in the organization’s computer center. When the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure is done by the supplier’s experts at the supplier’s site.
- Flexibility in the use of resources. The user can set the appropriate hardware requirements for their current needs. When he needs additional resources he can get them immediately. This situation is different from working in his computer center. Working in a computer center, the process of purchasing computing resources is long with hardware infrastructure suppliers. That’s why capacity planning is required in advance, and ordering hardware equipment in accordance with the plan.
- Physical flexibility. Allows users access to systems regardless of their physical location and the type of end unit.
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