Cloud Computing

What is Cloud Computing aka “The Cloud”?

You may be wondering to yourself, where is this cloud everyone’s buzzing on about? For starters, the cloud is not a physical entity you can see or feel which is why many people don’t understand or know how to put into words what exactly “the cloud” is. The cloud is essentially a series of servers where each server has a different function. Some servers work to deliver a service such as Adobe Creative Cloud while other servers in the network allow you to store and access data such as Instagram or Dropbox. In cloud computing, a mention of the front-end and back-end is useful in understanding the cloud as a whole. The front end is the side the computer user sees and includes the client’s computer and the application required to access the cloud computing system. The back end is the “cloud” section of the system and includes the various computers, servers and data storage systems that give rise to the “cloud” of computing systems. Both the front end and the back end connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet.

How is the Cloud Utilized?

In a cloud computing system, computers no longer have to do any of the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications, which frees up a sizeable amount of space on your computer's hard drive. Instead, the network of computers or servers that make up the cloud handles them. I’m sure you have used the cloud without even realizing it! If you have an email account with a Web-based email service like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc. then you have had experience with cloud computing. So, how does this all work? Instead of running an email application on your computer, you log onto your email account remotely on the Web. Your computer no longer needs to store the email software because it’s all being held in the cloud. Aside from checking your email from any computer in the world through the use of the cloud, you can also collaborate online using a Web app. A Web app is an application that runs in the cloud and does not need to be installed; an example of this would be Google Docs. In addition, you can also store files in the cloud (Dropbox) and make notes using the cloud (Evernote).

What is the Importance of the Cloud?

The benefits of working in the cloud from a company standpoint allow for a more efficient and cost effectively run business. No longer do businesses need to purchase their own hardware equipment but instead, being connected to the cloud allows for them to pay for the storage they use without having to worry about the depreciation of hardware. Because cloud computing is incredibly fast, it allows businesses to stay competitive amongst the ever changing, sometimes ruthless business world. In addition, the cloud can be used anytime, anywhere. Cloud computing allows you to have access to all the information you may need as long as you have Internet access.

A recent report by CompTIA shows that 90% of businesses utilize some sort of cloud computing and spending on cloud services is presumed to double in the next 4 years, reaching approximately $127 billion. With the growth in cloud computing showing no signs of slowing, it is quite apparent that there are lucrative innovations to manifest in the cloud industry.

Who are the Top 5 Subscribers in the Cloud Market?

While individuals and smaller companies like startups make use of cloud computing technology, it’s the larger companies that make the most out of the cloud offering their own cloud-based platforms, software, storage and infrastructure.

Amazon's cloud offering, called Amazon Web Services (AWS), is the largest cloud computing company at this time. It is the leader in 2 of the most popular forms of cloud computing: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). I will discuss this further in the following paragraph but for now, let's continue talking about the largest cloud markets like Amazon. As the demand for cheap computing and storage rises, founder and CEO of Amazon Jeff Bezos has acknowledged a greater need for Amazons expansion into the cloud computing space which is why Amazon Web Services is quickly becoming the big revenue driver for the company.

The greatest threat to Amazon Web Services would be the Google Compute Engine (GCE). Although it does not support Windows yet, it could potentially change the cloud computing game and beat out all other contenders. Like Amazon’s AWS, Google’s cloud infrastructure is built to support their own business including Google search, Gmail and other products. Google has been ahead of the game when it comes to software-defined networking (SDN) and can most definitely compete with Amazon on pricing and performance. Look out Amazon!!

Although a tad late to jump on the bandwagon, Microsoft has the most ambitious approach to cloud computing that has not been executed by other companies. With its PaaS offering (Windows Azure), an IaaS offering (Widows Azure Fabric Controller), SaaS offerings (SharePoint Online, Office 365, CRM Online), a search engine (Bing), a browser (IE), state-of-the-art data centers, the Hyper-V virtualization product, and a pre-existing development platform (.NET), Microsoft could quickly top Amazon and Google for the win within the next few years. In addition, 90% of the world uses Outlook/Windows/Office so it is realistic to say that Microsoft has the potential to slowly pull customers into its cloud.

The iCloud services are the newest edition to Apples cloud computing services. Announced in 2011 at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, iCloud is a cloud storage and cloud computing service and has over 320 million users globally. The service provides users with the ability to store data such as music, photos, and documents on remote servers for download to iOS, Macintosh or Windows devices and allows users to share and send data wirelessly. iCloud also helps people to manage their Apple devices if misplaced or stolen and it provides a way to wirelessly backup devices.

With a company market capitalization of $50 billion and credited to pioneering the software-as-a-service cloud industry, Salesforce is setting the bar high for other valuable cloud computing companies. Salesforce.com revenue comes from their cloud based customer relationship management (CRM) product; however, they have also tried to take advantage of commercial applications of social networking through acquisition. As of 2015, Salesforce is one of the most valued American cloud computing companies.

How does the Cloud affect Industries and Individuals?

You may be wondering if the cloud differs from an individual consumer to a large corporation? The answer is yes it does! Anyone with regular access to the Internet is using the cloud but when it comes to businesses, they use an entirely different type of cloud. Some businesses employ what’s called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) which is a model where an application is hosted on a remote data center and provided as a service to customers. Examples of businesses with this particular model include Salesforce, GoToMeeting, Quickbooks and Workday. There is also Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) where businesses can create their own custom applications to be used by everyone in the company (think OpenShift and Oracle). The last of the cloud computing services is Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). With Iaas, companies such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google provide a template that can be “rented out” by other companies. Netflix is a prime example of a company that utilizes the cloud services of Amazon to provide its own services to us, the customer.

Whether you are a small business or startup just getting on your feet or an individual needing to carry around your music while keeping your phone's space freed up, you will need the cloud at your disposal. One point not touched upon but worth mentioning: be cognizant of the fact that some information is best left undisclosed! So keep those unclad photographs to yourself or face the fierce judgements that will ensue.

Lee, Jessica (2013). The Beginners Guild to the Cloud. Mashable (Web). http://mashable.com/2013/08/26/what-is-the-cloud/

Strickland, Johnathon (2015). How Cloud Computing Works. Howstuffworks (Web). http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-computing.htm

Griffith, Eric (2015). What is Cloud Computing? PCMag (Web). http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372163,00.asp

Baron, James (2012). Top 5 Cloud Computing Companies. IntelligentHQbeta (Web). http://www.intelligenthq.com/technology/top-5-cloud-computing-companies/

Bort, Julie (2015). The 25 Most Valuable Cloud Computing Companies Business Insider (Web). http://www.businessinsider.com/25-most-valuable-cloud-companies-2015-1