Cloud Computing - Overview

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is not a new concept. In simple words, you can presume Cloud to be a very large server comprising of services and database that are accessed via web or any private network.

This concept of using services not stored on your system is called Cloud Computing.

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network.

Key Cloud Computing providers: Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce.com, IBM, HP, NetSuite, VMware etc.

Examples of Cloud Computing : Examples of Cloud Computing services includes Google Docs, Office 365, DropBox, SkyDrive etc.

Cloud Computing Architecture is divided into following two sections: 

• Infrastructure- Server that stores data and applications
• Interface- Software used to access cloud service and data 

Back-end applications and servers are the core of Cloud Computing.

Web browsers and mobile-apps are example of interface used to access the cloud services.

Types of Cloud Computing:

Cloud Computing is composed of three service models and four deployment methods.

Cloud Computing Service Models:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS).

Cloud Computing Deployment Models:

• Private Cloud
• Public Cloud
• Hybrid Cloud
• Community Cloud

 Service Models: 

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
• The IaaS layer offers Infrastructure & Storage resources that is needed to deliver the Cloud services.
• IaaS provides enterprise-grade computing hardware over the web.
• It comprises:
• Computers and Virtual Machines
• Networks
• Raw Storage
• Prominent IaaS Cloud Computing Companies: Google, Microsoft, Amazon (EC2), Rackspace, GoGrid, , Terremark, AT&T, Softlayer, HP, OpSource
• Examples
• AWS EC2
• Rackspace
• Azure
• Google
• WebEx
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS):
• PaaS provides the combination of both, infrastructure and application.  Hence, organizations using PaaS don’t have to worry for infrastructure nor for services.
• Comprises;
• Object Storage
• Identity
• Message Queue
• Database Resources
• Process Virtualization
• Developer controlled coding environments
• Tools for Testing and Deployment
• Prominent PaaS Cloud Computing Companies: Google, Salesforce.com, Concur Technologies, Ariba, Unisys, Cisco
• Examples:
• AWS S3
• Heroku
• CloudFoundary
• Cloudify
• OpenShift
3. Software as a Service (SaaS):
• In the SaaS layer, the Cloud service provider hosts the software upon their servers.
• It can be defined as a in model in which applications and software’s are hosted upon the server and made available to customers over a network.
• Prominent SaaS Cloud Computing Companies: Windows Azure, Amazon Web Services, AppScale, CA Technologies, Engine Yard, Salesforce, Open Stack
• Examples:
• Mails – Gmail/Yahoo/Windows Live/ Facebook/Twitter
• Pandora, Dropbox and Evernote
• SalesForce – CRM App
• Google Docs
• Calendar

  

Deployment Models:

Cloud Computing Deployment Models:

• Private Cloud
• Public Cloud
• Hybrid Cloud
• Community Cloud 

Private Cloud: The cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization.

In simple words we can say that such cloud models are dedicated to a third party who wish to use. It may be managed by the Cloud Computing provider or any other third party.

Public Cloud: The cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by the Cloud providers.

Community Cloud: This cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations

Hybrid Cloud: It’s a combination of two or more clouds (private, community or public).

Keep Blogging!!!

Arun Manglick