Cloud Computing Definition
Cloud Computing Definition is the delivery of on-demand resources and services over the Internet. It refers to the storage and access to data via the internet rather than via the hard disk of a computer.
It is thus opposed to the notion of local storage, consisting of storing data or launching programs from the hard disk. The concept of Cloud should not be confused with that of the Network Attached Storage (NAS), used by many companies via a server in residence. These local networks do not fit into the definition of the cloud. However, some NAS can access data remotely from the Internet.
In general, we talk about Cloud Computing when it is possible to access data or programs from the Internet, or at least when these data are synchronized with other information on the Internet. It is therefore sufficient to access an internet connection.
This technology allows companies to buy IT resources in the form of service, in the same way that electricity is consumed, instead of having to build and maintain IT infrastructures in-house.
According to U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cloud Computing is a model for establishing networked demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. These resources are for example networks, servers, storage space, applications and services. They can be sourced quickly with minimal management effort and interaction with the service provider. The Cloud model emphasizes availability, and consists of five key features, three delivery models, and four deployment models.
Cloud Computing Advantages and Disadvantages
Like it was explained in The Cloud Computing Definition , This technology offers several benefits and benefits for business users and end users. The top three benefits are self-service provisioning, elasticity, and pay-as-you-go. Self-service provisioning gives end users access to any on-demand computing resource. Elasticity provides the opportunity to increase or decrease the consumption of resources according to the needs of the business. Finally, pay-as-you-go allows firms to pay only for resources consumed.
For many people, the local storage used in the last few decades is still superior to cloud computing. These people consider that a hard disk can keep data and programs physically close, allowing quick and easy access for users of the computer or the local network.
In 2013, NASA veteran Randall Monroe tried to predict when the Internet bandwidth would surpass that of FedEx. No matter how fast an internet connection is, it's cheaper to send hundreds of gigabytes of data via FedEx planes and trucks than over the internet. After reflection, his prediction is on the year 2040. In reading this conclusion, Cory Doctorow perceived an implicit criticism of Cloud Computing from Monroe. According to him, the speed and cost of local storage are lower than a network connection controlled by a telecommunications company.
Cloud Computing Public , Private or Hybrid
Private Cloud
Cloud computing services are divided into three categories: the public cloud, the private cloud and the hybrid cloud. A private cloud is an infrastructure entirely dedicated to a single enterprise, which can be managed internally or by a third party, and hosted internally or externally. This model offers business versatility while maintaining management, control and security. The benefits are self-service access to the control interface, allowing the IT team a fast supply, and the allocation or delivery of IT resources on demand. Similarly, resource management is automated, both for storage or analysis. Similarly, security and governance are tailor-made for the specific needs of the business.
Public Cloud
Public Cloud services are provided by a third party, via the internet. These services are sold on request usually in the minute or hour following the request. Customers have to pay only for the CPU cycles, storage or bandwidth they consume. The main public cloud providers are Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, IBM and Google Compute Engine. Public cloud service users do not need to invest in hardware, software, or infrastructure that is managed by the providers. There are many professional SaaS applications from CRM (Customer Resource Management) to transaction managers and analytical data tools. IaaS for storage and computing services also rely on the public cloud. The same goes for PaaS for developing cloud applications.
Hybrid Cloud
Finally, the Hybrid Cloud is the cross between the public cloud and the private cloud. For example, organizations can perform very important tasks or sensitive applications on the private cloud, and use the public cloud for tasks requiring scalability of resources. The goal of the Hybrid Cloud is to create a unified, automated and scalable environment that leverages public cloud infrastructures while maintaining total control over the data.
In fact, a private cloud can not exist in isolation from the rest of the company's IT resources and the public cloud. Most businesses using the private cloud are converging on the hybrid cloud. This allows businesses to choose between a traditional data center or a private cloud for data storage. It also takes advantage of public cloud resources such as the latest SaaS or IaaS elastic virtual resources. Finally, it facilitates the portability of data, applications and services and offers more choice in terms of deployment models.