In this era of cloud, you must know about What is Cloud Computing? The cloud computing industry has grown rapidly over the last few years. In fact, IDC now predicts that the worldwide cloud services market will be worth $78 billion by 2021. This is up from $72 billion in 2018 and $67 billion in 2017(Ref can be given here). That’s big growth for an industry in only its fifth year of existence! That being said, this rise to prominence has led to some confusion about what exactly cloud computing is and how it can be used by businesses. Don’t worry; we have you covered! In this blog post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about cloud computing so you can make informed decisions about how to implement it in your business or organization.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is basically the provision of software or network resources over the internet. It makes use of resources that are hosted remotely rather than those that are installed on your own computer or server. Cloud computing providers are responsible for managing and maintaining the hardware and software for their clients. This allows businesses to make better use of their resources and expand without investing in expensive new hardware or software.
According to Gartner, cloud computing is defined as “a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.” Basically, the cloud is a network of remote servers that host data and applications. This means that instead of storing your data on a desktop computer, you store it on a server in a data centre. This makes it more secure because only authorized users have access to the data.
How Does Cloud Computing Work?
The main difference between a traditional on-premises network and a cloud computing network is that the former is dedicated to a single organization, while the latter is shared among many different organizations. Most cloud services are built on top of a common type of network architecture called a “network of networks.” Basically, this is a large network that is made up of smaller networks. For example, a network of networks might be implemented using a standard internet protocol like IP.
The cloud service provider owns the network and the physical infrastructure that makes it up. They rent out space on this network to clients who want to run their services on it. This allows clients to connect to the services through the internet without needing to invest in their own network infrastructure.
7 Benefits of Cloud Computing
- Scalability – Cloud computing lets you easily scale your computing power up or down depending on your needs, so you never have to worry about being underpowered or overspending.
- Versatility – Cloud computing lets you work with all kinds of different devices. You can work from home, in the office, or on the go with the same level of efficiency and effectiveness.
- Security – Because data is stored remotely, cloud providers have a vested interest in keeping it secure. They have built-in security features that are constantly upgraded to keep up with the latest threats.
- Innovation – Cloud computing removes the need for you to buy and maintain expensive new hardware. You can quickly and easily access the latest technologies and innovations without having to wait for them to be implemented in your organization.
- Cost Savings – Cloud computing solutions are generally more cost-effective than on-premises solutions because they are more flexible and scalable. You only pay for what you need, when you need it.
- Resiliency – Because cloud computing providers are responsible for managing any outages, you can easily continue your work uninterrupted if there is a temporary problem with the service.
Types of Cloud Services
Cloud computing services can be broken into a few different categories. Let’s take a look at each one.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Cloud IaaS is the most basic form of cloud computing. It provides you with servers and network infrastructure that you can use to build your own applications. While IaaS lets you use any OS or programming language you like, you still have to manage the hardware and operating system yourself.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): With PaaS, the cloud provider offers you some software and tools to help you build your applications. This means that you don’t have to worry about the OS or the hardware, just your application code.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS also provides you with tools and services, but unlike PaaS applications, they provide you with a fully functional application. SaaS applications can be used by a wide range of people in your organization, including those with limited technical knowledge.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Moving to the Cloud
- Privacy & Security – Be sure to select a cloud computing service that has a strong focus on security and privacy. Choose a provider that has a good reputation, has been around for a while, and has plenty of positive reviews.
- SLAs – Before signing a contract with a cloud provider, be sure to review their SLAs to make sure that they meet your needs and expectations.
- Technical Architecture – Before signing a contract with a cloud provider, make sure that you understand the technical architecture of their service. It’s important that you see how their solution will fit with your infrastructure.
- Integration with Your Current Systems – Before signing a contract with a cloud provider, make sure that their service integrates well with your existing systems.
- Transitioning to the Cloud – Before signing a contract with a cloud provider, make sure that you know how you will transition your data and applications to the cloud.
Conclusion
So, What is Cloud Computing? As you can see, there is a lot more to cloud computing than meets the eye. Once you understand the benefits and drawbacks, it will be easier to decide if it’s a good fit for your business or organization. The next step is to choose a provider and select the best services for your needs.
Keep in mind that there are many different types of cloud computing providers. You can choose a public cloud provider or a private cloud provider. There are also hybrid cloud providers that offer a mix of public and private cloud services. No matter which provider you choose, you can be sure that cloud computing will allow you to run more efficiently and effectively.
