All You Need To Know About Cloud Computing

What Is Cloud Computing?

In layman language, Cloud computing is the delivery of need-based computing services. The services include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence – through the medium of the Internet (“the cloud”) to foster quick innovation, the flexibility of resources, and lastly economies of scale. These services use the pay-as-you-go concept which means you are liable to pay only for cloud services you use. This unique flexible trait that cloud computing offers helps you not only to lower your operating costs but also to run your infrastructure more efficiently i.e. scale up or down as per your alterations in business needs.

How is cloud computing going to help you?

Imagine, if you had to own, maintain and upgrade your computing infrastructure or data centers. It’s going to cost you a boom and also add to the complexities of maintaining your own IT infrastructure. What companies nowadays are opting for is renting access to almost anything (be it applications or storage space) from a cloud service provider. Renting this service allows you to simply pay for what you use which keeps a guard on your budgets. Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources. Here are some common benefits because of which organizations are turning to cloud computing services:

1. Eliminates cost: To set up a server space you need the right infrastructure added with an IT expert to run it. Over and above that you will incur a huge overhead cost like server racks, round the clock electricity (power and cooling) and much more. Why take that up your head when you can rent it?
2. Higher flexibility: Most of the cloud computing service providers offer speed and resources as per demand typically with few clicks here and there. This feature allows you to focus on critical business agendas and saves you the efforts of capacity planning.
3. Boundaryless reach: The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale variably. In cloud language, this means delivering the right amount of IT resources (Bandwidth, speed, server space) exactly where it is needed (geographic location).
4. Boosts productivity: The IT team you hire can concentrate on attaining business goals rather than working on hardware management, software patching, etc. Cloud computing eliminates the wastage of resources on such time consuming IT day to day tasks.
5. High data reliability: Cloud computing allows you to mirror your data on multiple old sites on the cloud providers network. This ensures business continuity, data back up’s and disaster recovery when need be.
6. Data Security: Many cloud computing service providers assist you with data security due to their efficient policies, high-end technologies and control. This helps organizations to keep their Data, Softwares, Apps and Infrastructure away from probable threats.

Types of cloud computing architectures:

Not all clouds computing service providers are the same and not one variant of cloud computing is right for everyone. Several different models, types and services have evolved to help offer the right solution as per your business needs.
Firstly, you will need to decide the type of cloud computing architecture, on which your cloud services will be implemented/parked on. There are three different types of cloud computing you can choose from in order to deploy cloud services.

1. Public cloud:
Public clouds are owned and maintained by third-party cloud service providers, which share their computing resources like servers and storage with your organization over the Internet. Microsoft Azure is an example of a public cloud. A public cloud service provider owns all hardware, software and also other supporting infrastructure. All you have to do is, access these services and manage your respective cloud account using any web browser.

2. Private cloud:
As the word private suggests, a private cloud service refers to cloud computing resources dedicated exclusively to a single business or organization. A private cloud can be physically located on the company’s on-site datacenter or pay a third-party service provider to host their private cloud. A private cloud is one in which the services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network.

3. Hybrid cloud:
Hybrid clouds combine the features of a public and a private cloud, brought together by seamless technology integration that gives permission for data and applications to be shared between them. This amalgamation of both private and public clouds gives your business greater flexibility, more classification options and also aids you to optimize your existing infrastructure, security and compliance policies.

Types of cloud services:

Cloud services have four broad categories: infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), serverless computing and software as a service (SaaS). These are often also called the cloud computing stack, this is because they build on top of one another. Knowing what each one is and what differentiates them from each other makes it easier to accomplish your business goals smoothly.

1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS):
IaaS as a cloud service quickly scales up and down as per organizational demand, letting you pay only for what you use.  With IaaS, you rent IT infrastructure like servers, virtual machines (VMs), storage, networks, operating systems. It helps you avoid the expense and complexity of buying and managing your own physical servers and other datacenter infrastructure. Each resource is offered as a separate service component, and you only need to rent a particular one for as long as you need it.

2. Platform as a service (PaaS):
Platform as a service refers to cloud computing services that supply a need-basis environment for developing, testing, delivering and managing software applications. PaaS is designed to make it painless for developers to swiftly create web or mobile applications, without stressing you about setting up or managing the core infrastructure of servers, storage, network and databases needed for its development.

3. Serverless computing:
This type of service is similar to PaaS with an added advantage. Serverless computing aims at building app functionality without spending time or energies managing the servers and infrastructure required for the project. The added advantage is here, the cloud provider takes over the setup, capacity planning and server management for you. Serverless architectures are known for its highly scalable characteristic, only utilizing resources when a specific event, function or trigger occurs.

4. Software as a service (SaaS):
Software as a service is a method for delivering software applications over the Internet, mostly need-basis and typically with a subscription plan. With SaaS, cloud providers host and manage the software application and work on the core infrastructure needed. Here, they also handle any maintenance, like software upgrades and security patching. Users can integrate to the application over the Internet, with the help of a web browser on their phone, tablet or PC.

You’re probably availing cloud computing services right now, you may just not realize it. If you use an online service to send emails like Gmail, edit documents on Google drive, watch movies or TV on various OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, it is highly possible that behind the scenes cloud computing is making it all possible.
We recommend, Microsoft cloud computing services as it is a leading global provider for all sizes of business. The first cloud computing services are hardly a decade old, but already a variety of organizations – from MSME’s to global corporate giants, government agencies to non-profits organizations – are embracing the technology for all sorts of reasons.

Ref:
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/overview/what-is-cloud-computing/