Skip to main content

Cloud Computing

The word cloud in cloud computing is used to describe the Internet so cloud computing means a type of Internet-based computing, where different services including including servers, storage and applications are delivered to an organization's computers and devices through the Internet.

In other words, it is using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.

It is an on-demand service that works for corporate data centers as it enables the data center to operate like the Internet and computing resources to be accessed and shared as virtual resources in a secure and stable manner.

 It began in the enterprise and shift to adoption by small business owners as cloud computing is taking services  and moving them outside an organizations firewall on shared systems as applications and services are accessed via the Web, instead of your hard drive.

The services are delivered and used over the Internet and are paid for by cloud customer your business on an as-needed, pay per use business model as the cloud infrastructure is maintained by the cloud provider, not the individual cloud customer.

Cloud computing consist of networks that are large groups of servers and cloud service providers that usually take advantage of low cost computing technology, with specific connections to spread data-processing areas across them.

This shared IT infrastructure contains a number of systems that are linked together as virtualization techniques are often used to maximize the power of cloud computing.

The standards for connecting the computer systems and the software needed to make cloud computing work are not fully defined, leaving many companies to define their own cloud computing technologies. 

Cloud computing offers numerous advantages both to end users and businesses of all sizes and the advantage is that you no more have to support the infrastructure or have the knowledge necessary to develop, maintain the infrastructure and development environment or application.

Business are now able to function and focus on their core business by outsourcing all the hassle of the IT infrastructure. 


For a small and medium size business , the benefits of cloud computing is currently driving adoption as there is often a lack of time and financial resources to purchase, deploy and maintain an infrastructure  the software, server and storage.

In cloud computing, small businesses can access these resources using an Internet connection and Web browser and depending on the services required as your business needs change.

The common pay as you go subscription model is designed to let them easily add or remove services and you typically will only pay for what you do use.

It is a cloud computing platform that is outside of an organizations' firewall on shared systems. In this scenario, your cloud service provider is in control of the infrastructure.

In contrast, a private cloud is the same platform; however it is implemented within the corporate firewall under the control of the organization's IT department.

A private cloud is designed to offer the same features and benefits of public cloud systems, but removes a number of objections to the cloud computing model including control over corporate and customer data, security and issues connected to regulatory compliance.

The process of backing up and recovering data is simplified since those now reside on the cloud and not on a physical device.

The various cloud providers offer reliable and flexible backup/recovery solutions and the cloud itself is used solely as a backup repository of the data located in local computers.

The advantage of cloud computing, achieved by the elimination of the investment in stand-alone software or servers and using the cloud’s capabilities, companies can save on licensing fees and eliminate overhead charges like the cost of data storage, software updates, management etc.

Public clouds offer services that are available wherever the end user might be located and this enables easy access to information and accommodates the needs of users in different time zones and geographic locations.

It also allows collaboration since it is now easier than ever to access, view and modify shared documents and files.

A cloud deployment is usually built on durable architecture that offers automatic failure between hardware platforms out of the box, while disaster recovery services are also often included.

The cloud is efficient and takes fewer resources to compute, thus saving energy when servers are not used, the infrastructure normally scales down, freeing up resources and consuming less power making sure that only the resources that are truly needed are consumed by the system.

Scalability is a built-in feature for cloud deployments and are only when needed and as a result, you pay only for the applications and data storage you need.

It can be used accordingly since clouds can be scaled to meet your changing IT system demands.

The systems utilize distributed architectures which offer excellent speed of computations, it is the provider’s responsibility to ensure that your services run on cutting edge machinery.

It can be added instantly for improved performance and customers have access to the total resources of the cloud’s core hardware via their dashboards.

The system can be up and running in a very short period, making quick deployment a key benefit with the introduction of a new user in the system happens instantly.

Software integration occurs automatically and organically in cloud installations as a business is allowed to choose the services and applications that best suit their preferences, while there is minimum effort in customizing and integrating those applications.

The cloud can accommodate and store much more data compared to a personal computer and in a way offers almost unlimited storage capacity and spares businesses the need to upgrade their computer hardware, further reducing the overall cost.

It can be accessed via a plethora of electronic devices that are able to have access to the internet including the traditional PCs, but also smartphones, tablets etc.

The Bring your own device” (BYOD) policy can be easily adopted, permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices to their workplace where you can decide not only which device to use, but also where to access the service from.

We can access our applications and data anywhere without limitation, making this method useful to companies as it offers the flexibility for its employees to access company files wherever they are.

Cloud applications are easy to use and adopt with examples like Gmail and Google Docs that are already in use.

Security is the biggest concern when it comes to cloud computing as the company essentially gives away private data and information, things that might be sensitive and confidential.

 Privacy in the cloud is another huge issue as companies and users have to trust their cloud service vendors that they will protect their data from unauthorized users.

Another problem is the dependency on the provider with vendor lock-in since it is difficult to migrate from a provider and to switch to some other provider, then it can be a problem to transfer huge data from the old provider to the new one.

You should keep in mind that all systems might face dysfunctions from time to time with outage and downtime is possible and it is dependent on internet access, thus any network or connectivity problems will render the setup useless.

Since the applications and services run on remote, third party virtual environments, companies and users have limited control over the function and execution of the hardware and software, since remote software is being used, it usually lacks the features of an application running locally.

Cloud based solutions are exposed on the public internet and are thus a more vulnerable target for malicious users and hackers and due to the inter dependency of the system and a compromise on one of the machines that stores data, might cause a leakage of personal information to the world.

Despite its shortcomings, cloud computing remains strong and has great potential as its user base grows constantly and more people use it, offering better and more fine tuned services and solutions.

It remains to be seen that the pros will outweigh the cons, since cloud computing has tried to provide us with an alternative when it comes to storing data.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Culture conflict in globalization

Globalization is a phenomenon that has made its presence felt in our daily lives and has changed the way we live and has led to the interaction between diverse cultures through convergence of world views, products and ideas, whereby cultural conflict can make or break a business that is trying to establish itself in a foreign country. One of the strategies that make a difference when it comes to establishing a successful presence in a foreign land is effective communication. This includes not just language and does not include only English as although English is the global language of doing business, many countries prefer to function in their local language which can be a cause for concern but this problem is minimized as most countries have a sizeable population who are bilingual and are comfortable with using English despite the fact that it is not their mother tongue. Non-verbal communication also plays an important role and one needs to be aware of the cultural nuances and cu...

Touch Screen Technology Explained

A  touch screen  is a display screen that is found on computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets that works as a visual input device with screens that are sensitive to pressure. The user interacts with the computer screen without the appearance of physical keyboard just by clicking the pictures or words that appear on the screen. Touch screen that are found in devices like smartphones and tablets are designed to keep the fingerprints from being visible. It is a bigger screen that fits in well with the multi media functions are the ones that are found on the latest mobiles.  One can watch videos, movies or TV shows that makes it easier to view on a larger surface area that covers the the complete screen of the mobile. It does away with the keypad and for  music, photographs and videos, you hardly need buttons and you only need camera buttons when you take a picture.  It makes sense for these to be designed to appear on the screen, rather than to stick...

Software Testing - An Overview

Software testing is a process that is implemented to check the quality and result of the software or application being developed.  It is done to allow the companies to understand and appreciate the risks that are involved during software implementation.  It helps to point out the defects and errors that were made during the development phases and is used to makes sure of the customer reliability and satisfaction in the application. Testing allows developers to deliver software that meets expectations, prevents unexpected results, and improves the long term use of the application. It also depends the purpose of testing and the software requirements, the appropriate methodologies are applied.     Test techniques include the process of executing a program or application with the intent of finding bugs,errors or other defects, and verifying that the software is fit for use. You need to verify that the completed software package functions according ...