Basics of Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like the electricity grid.

In other words, this is a collection/group of integrated and networked hardware, software and Internet infrastructure (called a platform).

(Move towards delivering “computing” to masses similar to other utilities (electricity and voice communication).

The cloud computing is a conclusion of many attempts at large scale computing with seamless access to virtually unlimited resources.

  * Using the Internet for communication and transport provides hardware, software and networking services to clients.

  * on-demand computing, utility computing, ubiquitous computing, autonomic computing, platform computing, edge computing, elastic computing, grid computing, …

The on-demand, self-service, pay-by-use model

The on-demand, self-service, pay-by-use nature of cloud computing is also an addition of established trends. From an enterprise viewpoint, the on-demand nature of cloud computing helps to support the performance and capacity features of service-level objectives. The self-service nature of cloud computing allows organizations to create elastic environs that expand and contract based on the workload and target performance limits. And the pay-by-use nature of cloud computing may take the form of equipment lease that assurance a minimum level of service from a cloud provider.

Virtualization is a key feature of this model. IT organizations have agreed for years that virtualization permits them to quickly and easily create copies of present locations —sometimes involving multiple virtual machines — to support test, development, and staging activities. The cost of these environments is minimal because they can coexist on the same servers as production environments because they use little resources.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

~ The platform provides on demand services that are always on anywhere, anytime and anyplace.

~  Pay for use and as needed, elastic (scale up and down in capacity and functionality).

~  The hardware and software services are available to the general public, enterprises, corporations and businesses markets.

 ~ It hides the complexity and details of the original infrastructure from users and applications by providing very simple graphical interface.

Segments or types of Cloud Computing

         Cloud computing has three main segments which are as follows:

o   Applications  or software (SaaS)

o   Platform (PaaS)

o   Infrastructure  (IaaS)

•       A cloud computing environment can provide one or more of these requirements for a cost

•       Pay as you go model of business, when using a public cloud the model is similar to renting a property than owning one.

•       An organization could also maintain a private cloud and/or use both.

Cloud Computing Architecture