Key Cloud Computing Concepts.

In this blog post, I’ll break down seven critical concepts: Virtualization, Scalability, Agility, High Availability, Fault Tolerance, Global Reach, and the difference between Elasticity and Scalability.

Virtualization:
Virtualization is a technology that allows the creation of a virtual version of a computer resource, such as a server, an operating system, application and storage devices. It is what allows a single physical machine to host multiple virtual machines on it, allowing a more efficient use of resources.

Scalability:
Scalability refers to the ability of a system or network, to handle an increased workload. It allows a system to scale to the needed level to handle increases in activity by adding resources and allows for a growth of infrastructure to handle the increased demand without compromising performance.

Agility:
Agility in the context of cloud computing refers to the ability to quickly react and adapt to changes in the system, like scaling resources to increased traffic.

High Availability:
The ability of a system to be available and operational for extended periods of time, irrespective of disruptions like server failure.

Fault Tolerance:
Like high availability, fault tolerance is the ability of a system to continue working even when there is a failure of one or more of its components. It involves finding and fixing issues quickly without the user’s input.

Global Reach:
The ability of a cloud service provider to offer its services globally with high performance and low latency.

Elasticity vs Scalability:

• Scalability is about the system’s ability to handle growth, whether it’s planned or gradual. It’s a long-term strategy to accommodate increasing workloads by adding resources. For example, a business might scale its infrastructure to support a growing customer base over time.
• Elasticity, on the other hand, is the ability to dynamically adjust resources in real-time based on current demand. It’s about scaling up or down automatically to match workload fluctuations. For instance, an e-commerce site might scale up during a holiday sale and scale down once the traffic subsides. In short, scalability is about growth, while elasticity is about flexibility.