Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the use of the Internet for the tasks you perform on your computer. The "cloud" represents the Internet. It is a network of computer systems that local devices can access.
In fact cloud computing is nothing new to us. Majority of us use cloud computing without realizing it. When we search through Google or Yahoo, the real work in finding the answers are done by a computer in the Internet (the cloud), our local computer does not really use much of its' resources.
Basically there are three different kinds of cloud computing, where different services are being provided for the users.
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): An IaaS provider only provides the underlying infrastructure such as network, virtual servers, data storage, and databases on one platform for deploying and running your applications. In this model, users may get an operating system, but they still have to manually configure, manage and update numerous components. Ordinary web hosting is a simple example of IaaS: you pay a monthly subscription or a per-megabyte/gigabyte fee to have a hosting company serves up files for your website from their servers.
2. Software as a Service (SaaS) means you use a complete application running on someone else's system. Web-based email and Google Documents are perhaps the best-known examples. One of the advantages of cloud computing is it enabling users to use an application without installing it in local computer. The application software and user's data are stored on servers at a remote location, so called the cloud. End users access cloud-based applications through interface software such as web browser or a light-weight desktop or mobile app. Users do not have to worry about buying software licenses for word-processing software or keeping them up-to-date.
3. Platform as a Service (PaaS): The vendor not only provides the underlying infrastructure resources but also the application development platform. In this model, you develop applications that run on systems software and hardware provided by the provider. Operating systems, databases, middleware and up-to-date tools and services such as shopping cart, checkout, and payment mechanism are all provided by the PaaS vendor, so time-consuming operational tasks such as configuring, optimizing and continuously updating your environment are handled on your behalf.
Cloud computing is being proposed as one answer to the challenges of IT high costs, and ongoing support and maintenance concerns-and increasing user demand for services. Many of the cloud services are available on-demand and often bought on a "pay-as-you go" or subscription basis.
Among advantages a company would have if they would consider cloud computing as part of their business plan is ease of operations. Every employee will be able to have access to the system wherever they are. However, this is also the major drawback of using cloud computing. 'Cloud' requires an Internet connection. As almost everything is stored in the cloud, without network connection, nothing can be accessed.
While there are many benefits of cloud computing, there can be downsides and potential risks when relying on a third party to provide infrastructure, platforms, or software as a service. Concerns about the cloud computing include cost and flexibility, in particular about security, compatibility with existing applications, lack of a migration path from existing applications to clouds, freedom of choice on this technology. In particular, data security risks of the cloud is critical to the success of this technology. Since cloud computing uses the power of online connectivity to handle processing requests, the data could be available for everyone and could be used for malicious purposes. As such, it is crucial to properly understand the risks and also to manage them effectively.
In fact cloud computing is nothing new to us. Majority of us use cloud computing without realizing it. When we search through Google or Yahoo, the real work in finding the answers are done by a computer in the Internet (the cloud), our local computer does not really use much of its' resources.
Basically there are three different kinds of cloud computing, where different services are being provided for the users.
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): An IaaS provider only provides the underlying infrastructure such as network, virtual servers, data storage, and databases on one platform for deploying and running your applications. In this model, users may get an operating system, but they still have to manually configure, manage and update numerous components. Ordinary web hosting is a simple example of IaaS: you pay a monthly subscription or a per-megabyte/gigabyte fee to have a hosting company serves up files for your website from their servers.
2. Software as a Service (SaaS) means you use a complete application running on someone else's system. Web-based email and Google Documents are perhaps the best-known examples. One of the advantages of cloud computing is it enabling users to use an application without installing it in local computer. The application software and user's data are stored on servers at a remote location, so called the cloud. End users access cloud-based applications through interface software such as web browser or a light-weight desktop or mobile app. Users do not have to worry about buying software licenses for word-processing software or keeping them up-to-date.
3. Platform as a Service (PaaS): The vendor not only provides the underlying infrastructure resources but also the application development platform. In this model, you develop applications that run on systems software and hardware provided by the provider. Operating systems, databases, middleware and up-to-date tools and services such as shopping cart, checkout, and payment mechanism are all provided by the PaaS vendor, so time-consuming operational tasks such as configuring, optimizing and continuously updating your environment are handled on your behalf.
Cloud computing is being proposed as one answer to the challenges of IT high costs, and ongoing support and maintenance concerns-and increasing user demand for services. Many of the cloud services are available on-demand and often bought on a "pay-as-you go" or subscription basis.
Among advantages a company would have if they would consider cloud computing as part of their business plan is ease of operations. Every employee will be able to have access to the system wherever they are. However, this is also the major drawback of using cloud computing. 'Cloud' requires an Internet connection. As almost everything is stored in the cloud, without network connection, nothing can be accessed.
While there are many benefits of cloud computing, there can be downsides and potential risks when relying on a third party to provide infrastructure, platforms, or software as a service. Concerns about the cloud computing include cost and flexibility, in particular about security, compatibility with existing applications, lack of a migration path from existing applications to clouds, freedom of choice on this technology. In particular, data security risks of the cloud is critical to the success of this technology. Since cloud computing uses the power of online connectivity to handle processing requests, the data could be available for everyone and could be used for malicious purposes. As such, it is crucial to properly understand the risks and also to manage them effectively.
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