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Cloud Computing

Anything that involves or includes delivering a hosted service via the Internet is called cloud computing. Services are divided broadly into three sections, Infrastructure as a service (IAAS), software as a service (SaaS), and platform as a service (PaaS). The cloud symbol typically used to represent the internet in certain diagrams and flowcharts is the inspiration behind the name. Unlike traditional hosting methods, a cloud computing service differentiates due to three distinct characteristics. A user can choose how much or how little of the service he requires at any one time due to its flexibility. It is sold as and when needed, on demand, usually by the hour or the minute; and the provider manages the service completely, with the consumer needing to have nothing except a personal computer and an internet connection. Interest in cloud computing has escalated  and accelerated due to better access to high speed internet connections for the general public, as well as major innovations in distributed computing and visualizations. The weak economy has also had a vast impact on growing interest.

While a public cloud will sell services to absolutely anyone with an Internet connection (the largest public cloud server is currently Amazon Web Services), a private cloud is primarily a data center or proprietary network which will supply a limited amount of people with a hosted service. If a service provider creates a private cloud by using a public cloud service, it then becomes a virtual private cloud. The cloud computing goal, whether public or private, is to provide users with scalable, easy access to Information Technology services and computing resources.

How Does it Work?

Storage on demand, unique IP addresses and virtual server instances are provided by Infrastructure-as-a-service such as Amazon Web services. Using the providers API (Application Program Interface) customers can start, stop, configure and access their storage and virtual server. With cloud computing a company is allowed to pay for the capacity that is needed and does not have to pay for more than is required. They can also bring more capacity online as soon as it is needed. Occasionally this is referred to as utility computing because a customer pays for what is used, such as electricity and water are.

In cloud computing, product and development tools are the definition of platform-as-a-service that is hosted on the infrastructure of the provider. Applications are developed over the internet using the providers’ platform. Gateway software, website portals and APIs that are installed on the consumers’ computer may be used by Paas providers. In some instances certain providers forbid customer created software to be removed from the providers’ platform.

With software-as-a-service cloud computing the hardware infrastructure is supplied by the vendor, and the user interacts with the software product through the front-end portal. Services provided can range from database processing, inventory and web-based email. Both data and application are hosted by the service provider, leaving the end user free to access the service from anywhere there is a computer and an internet connection.