02. Cloud Computing

01. What is Cloud Computing?

In simple words, Cloud Computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the Internet with Pay-As-You-Go pricing. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, you can access computing power, storage, and databases on an as-needed basis from cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Azure, Alibaba Cloud, and many more.

Cloud computing is a term used to describe the delivery of on-demand computing resources — hardware, storage, databases, networking, and software — to businesses and individuals via a network (usually the Internet). Cloud computing enables organizations to access and store information without managing their own physical devices or IT infrastructure.

As the amount of data being generated and shared continues to increase and consumers demand more access to online services, it has become more difficult for companies to continue operating their businesses on in-house computing servers.

Like the way you check your email inbox online through a web browser, cloud computing enables companies to access and manage resources and applications anywhere there’s an internet connection. Cloud services are also typically managed and maintained by a third-party service provider, allowing IT teams to rapidly adjust compute and storage without having to pay upfront infrastructure costs or set up and manage yet more systems and applications.

You can choose public, private, or hybrid cloud deployments and the service model based on the level of flexibility, control, and management you need. The three main types of cloud service models include:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): on-demand access to computing, storage, networking, and virtualization.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): hardware and software resources needed for cloud application development.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS): full-application stack as a cloud service, including the maintenance and management from underlying infrastructure to application software.

02. What are the advantages of Cloud Computing?

FLEXIBILITY: Users can scale services to fit their needs, customize applications, and access cloud services from anywhere with an internet connection.

1. Scalability: Cloud infrastructure scales on demand to support fluctuating workloads.
2. Storage options: Users can choose public, private, or hybrid storage offerings, depending on security needs and other considerations.
3. Control choices: Organizations can determine their level of control with as-a-service options. These include software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
4. Tool selection: Users can select from a menu of prebuilt tools and features to build a solution that fits their specific needs.
5. Security features: Virtual private cloud, encryption, and API keys help keep data secure

EFFICIENCY:

1. Accessibility: Cloud-based applications and data are accessible from virtually any internet-connected device.
2. Speed to market: Developing in the cloud enables users to get their applications to market quickly.
3. Data security: Hardware failures do not result in data loss because of networked backups.
4. Savings on equipment: Cloud computing uses remote resources, saving organizations the cost of servers and other equipment.
5. Pay structure: A “utility” pay structure means users only pay for the resources they use

STRATEGIC VALUE:

1. Streamlined work: Cloud service providers (CSPs) manage the underlying infrastructure, enabling organizations to focus on application development and other priorities.
2. Regular updates: Service providers regularly update offerings to give users the most up-to-date technology.
3. Collaboration: Worldwide access means teams can collaborate from widespread locations.
4. Competitive edge: Organizations can move more nimbly than competitors who must devote IT resources to managing infrastructure.

03. What are the different deployment models of the cloud?

The cloud deployment model identifies the specific type of cloud environment based on ownership, scale, and access, as well as the cloud’s nature and purpose. The locations of the servers you are utilizing and who controls them are defined by a cloud deployment model. It specifies how your cloud infrastructure will look, what you can change, and whether you will be given services or will have to create everything yourself. Relationships between the infrastructure and your users are also defined by cloud types.

Different types of cloud computing deployment models are:

1. Public Cloud.
2. Private Cloud.

3. Hybrid Cloud.

4. Community Cloud.

5. Multi-Cloud.