An Overview of Cloud Computing.

What is Cloud Computing?

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 technology services, such as computing power, storage, and databases, on an as-needed basis from a cloud provider like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure , Google Cloud, etc.

Organizations of every type, size, and industry are using the cloud for a wide variety of use cases, such as data backup, disaster recovery, email, virtual desktops, software development and testing, big data analytics, and customer-facing web applications.

CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICE MODELS

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS contains the basic building blocks for cloud IT. It typically provides access to networking features, computers (virtual or on dedicated hardware), and data storage space. IaaS gives you the highest level of flexibility and management control over your IT resources. It is most similar to the existing IT resources with which many IT departments and developers are familiar.

Example Of IaaS: DigitalOcean, Linode, Rackspace, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco Metapod, Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine (GCE)

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is used to manage underlying infrastructure (usually hardware and operating systems), and allows you to focus on the deployment and management of your applications. This helps you be more efficient as you don’t need to worry about resource procurement, capacity planning, software maintenance, patching, or any of the other undifferentiated heavy lifting involved in running your application.

_Examples of PaaS _ : AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Windows Azure, Force.com, Google App Engine, Apache Stratos, OpenShift

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS provides you with a complete product that is run and managed by the service provider. In most cases, people referring to SaaS are referring to end-user applications (such as web-based email). With a SaaS offering, you don’t have to think about how the service is maintained or how the underlying infrastructure is managed. You only need to think about how you will use that particular software.

Examples of SaaS : Google Workspace, Dropbox, Salesforce, Cisco WebEx, Concur, GoToMeeting, zoom

Components in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing components correspond to platforms such as front end, back end, and cloud-dependent delivery and the utilized network. So, a framework of cloud computing is broadly categorized as three specifically known as clients, distributed servers and data center. For the operation of this computing, the following three components have a big hand and the responsibilities of these components are described below:

Clients

Clients in cloud computing in general are the operation of Local Area Networks (LAN’s). These might be in the form of desktops, laptops, mobiles, tablets to enhance mobility. Clients hold the responsibility of interaction which pushes for the management of data on cloud servers.

Datacentre
Is an array of servers that houses the subscribed application. The Progress of the IT industry has brought the concept of virtualizing servers, where the software might be installed through the utilization of various instances of virtual servers. This approach streamlines the process of managing dozens of virtual servers on multiple physical servers.

Distributed Servers

These are considered as a server where that is housed in the other location. So, the physical servers might not be housed in a similar location. Even the distributed server and the physical server appear to be in different locations, they perform as they are so close to each other.

Further, cloud computing has many other components and those come under mainly as four classifications and these components are the services of cloud computing and they are IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, Cloud Computing Architecture

Emerging Cloud Computing Trends for 2021

Kubernetes

• Kubernetes is a management tool introduced by Google and it plays a significant role in revolutionizing the global economy. Kubernetes is developing excitement and making the dreams of industries come to reality.

Cloud AI

• AI-enabled cloud is one of the most important emerging trends that is used to gain access to massive amounts of data. Such data helps them to optimize the core competencies by using machine learning.

Improving SaaS operations

• SaaS is gaining more prominence, more specialized platforms like Better Cloud, Cloud Manager, etc are emerging to manage migrations and operations. This is enabling comprehensive management of solution suites like Microsoft Office 365, Google G Suite, and other leading SaaS products.

Multi-Cloud Becomes Omni-Cloud

• Multi-level cloud has become much popular in the business industry. Many companies have started using cloud computing in their workflow. It is believed that as more portable applications enable smoother connectivity, sooner the multi-cloud would turn into omni-cloud.

Quantum Computing

• It can be said that the performance of computers would increase in the coming years. It will only be possible through quantum computing. Quantum computing will enable computers to process data at a faster face.

This should help you understand cloud computing and why we should look out for the Cloud and it's services in the years to come. My next post will talk about the emerging trends of Cloud Computing in the Year 2022.