The simplest explanation is that cloud computing can be thought of as a method of storing and processing data using a network of remote servers hosted on the internet.
To understand this further we should consider the difference between traditional enterprise computing and cloud computing. In traditional enterprise computing, an organization maintains its own servers in-house, usually installed in a secure facility with access restricted to authorized personnel only. This model is expensive to implement, costly to maintain and difficult to scale up when necessary. It also ties the organization down by compelling it to invest in specialized hardware for each department or project it wishes to use. Cloud computing offers an alternative, less expensive model that is based on taking advantage of scalable network resources available on demand.
Cloud essential characteristics
As cloud computing is the use of hardware and software applications hosted on a network or “cloud” instead of local servers or personal computers, it has five essential characteristics:
On Demand
Cloud services are available to users as soon as they access the internet; no installation necessary
Broad Network Access
Cloud services are available to users as soon as they access the internet; no installation necessary
Measured Service
Cloud providers sell their services on a metered usage basis, enabling users to monitor precisely how much resource is being consumed by an application at any given moment. Cloud computing often offers valuable additional functionality such as data storage, disaster recovery, high availability, load balancing, security management and service level agreements (SLAs) which can be tailored according to individual business needs.
Rapid Elasticity
Cloud resources only have to be paid for as and when they are used so organizations do not have to invest in expensive hardware that will sit idle for much of the time
Resources pooling
Cloud resources are shared; no need for organizations to set up, store and maintain their own servers when they can easily tap into the vast storage and processing capacity of huge conglomerates like TM ONE Cloud Alpha, Google, Amazon or Microsoft Azure
Cloud computing may sound like an exciting new technology trend but in fact it is an evolution of the internet which has reached a point in its development where it makes more sense to outsource your computing needs rather than maintaining your own servers. Cloud computing isn’t really about buying software; it’s about accessing services that would normally sit on-premise at your business or organization.
Cloud services
Cloud services are typically accessed by users via their web browser so you won’t need specialized training to use them and there is no complicated installation process. Cloud computing can help you save money because cloud providers can offer IT infrastructure, server hardware and even software applications as a service, at a much lower cost than if you were to buy all these things yourself.
What cloud computing offers:
Cloud Hosting
Cloud servers rent space on their servers to companies who do not want the responsibility of maintaining their own hardware and software, i.e. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage offers users secure online data storage including network attached storage (NAS) devices that connect multiple terabytes of data via Ethernet cables or Gigabit Ethernet uplinks into a private cloud infrastructure
Cloud Security
Cloud security services offer various levels of data protection and disaster recovery (DR) as well as built-in encryption and security protocols
Cloud Integration
Cloud integration platforms provide a way for companies to access cloud computing resources along with existing IT infrastructure so that organizations can focus on what they do best, e.g. TM ONE Cloud Alpha or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 On Premise
All the service above can be accessed through software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) or infrastructure as a service (IaaS). To know the difference between these 3 services, you can read more here. Cloud providers also offer high availability (HA) solutions to organizations who want to make sure their data is protected, even if something happens to one of their servers. Cloud providers can offer various levels of redundancy or backup so that even if data is lost it can be easily restored quickly and without any loss of quality.
Even though this article describes cloud computing in simple terms, you should not assume that it is an entry-level concept that you could master in a day. Cloud computing is not something you can implement over night, nor would you want to. Cloud computing requires careful planning and should be understood before any decisions are made about how best to use it for your business or organization.
Innovative leader with over 10 years of experience in telecommunication network operation. Most skilled in software engineering and development. Have experience on RADIUS development including its own ecosystem for 9 years.
With a dream to benefit others more, he moved on to people development training. Currently giving training for people to get know their personality thus improving their communication skill with others.
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