Cloud computing is the technology that identifies using remote servers for processing, running applications, storing data, and many other implementations. It enables the user(s) to streamline operations and cultivate collaborative environments.
According to a Statista report, in 2017 the revenue for the public cloud services market was 145 billion U.S. dollars and the projected revenue for 2025 is 824.76 billion U.S. dollars. While not even capturing cloud models such as private and hybrid clouds, it is still a continuously growing market and provides resources to many.
But what is the “cloud” and how does “computing” happen?
The cloud refers to the remote access of physical servers over the Internet, without the need to manage the data centers themselves. You can now pay for the hardware or software of such computing resources based on the selected provider and according to the needs of the user or organization. Multiple users from multiple devices can access the same files or resources given they have a connection to the Internet. Computing and information storage, for example, happens on these servers rather than on the personal devices of the user.
This communication over the Internet between a plethora of devices wasn’t always possible. Dr. Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider, an American psychologist and computer scientist, formulated and laid out many of the features that computer networking offers today, including the predecessor of the Internet – ARPANET. In 1968, Licklider published the paper The Computer as a Communication Device which discussed the potential of computers to communicate to each other. From early computers being only meant for expedited numerical calculations, they have evolved to allow large-scale processing and many interconnected devices for various operations.
Cloud Architecture and Different Types of Models
Architecture
When we dive into what makes up the cloud computing architecture, you can essentially divide it into two separate groups – the front end and the back end. The front end includes any user infrastructure, such as interfaces and applications, that access the cloud platform by connecting to the backend via the Internet. The backend is the cloud containing all the resources – storage, applications, services, and virtual environments – to be controlled and handled by the service provider.
The user or any frontend requests are processed by the backend to then send back appropriate responses. The backend allows a developer to build the functionality and server-side logic rather than managing user-interactable items or physical presentations.
What Cloud Model Should I Use?
Based on the resources that are needed or the goals for development, the cloud model will differentiate on what it can provide. Generally, there are a few key points that cloud computing enables and why you might choose a certain model over another:
- Scalability – Easily scale resources based on the demand without needing to invest in the hardware
- Control/Privacy – Accessibility to keeping sensitive assets private or not sharing any resources at all; Service providers can also offer regular security updates, compliance standards or certifications, and other security-related features
- Maintenance – Service providers could provide partial/full maintenance and software updates
- Cost – Paying-as-you-go for the computing power to reduce upfront (business) expenses
Accommodating to what fits your development or business, the following are typically utilized:
- Public cloud – The type of cloud in which the service provider makes its resources open among many users on the public internet.
- Public cloud providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
- Benefits include being cost-effective since resources are shared among many, high scalability and flexibility, and minimal management necessary.
- Private cloud – The type of cloud dedicated to a single organization, either hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider.
- Private cloud providers include any data center belonging to a single organization.
- Benefits include enhanced security as resources aren’t shared, in addition to greater control and customization over infrastructure.
- Hybrid cloud – The type of cloud that combines public and private clouds, allowing shareable data, applications, and other resources between each other.
- Hybrid cloud providers include, for example, using a public cloud provider for certain applications, while keeping data storage within a private cloud.
Benefits include flexibility in deciding the location of certain resources and being cost-effective when leveraging the public cloud for operations.
Types of Cloud Computing Services
As a continuation of different notable factors as to why you might choose one cloud over another, those considerations also come into play for also considering what services are necessary. For example, an organization working with sensitive patient data may want to keep it in a controlled environment, thus settling for Platform Services.
Another organization though, could be a startup wanting to focus on development rather than needing to maintain any infrastructure, thus settling on Infrastructure Services. These different levels of control, management, and functionalities of the organization relate to the type of service they decide.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – This service includes rentable virtualized computing resources, storage, and networking over the Internet.
- IaaS includes Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2, Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines, and Google Compute Engine.
- The service provider (for example, including any of the above) owns and operates the infrastructure without customers worrying about the expenses of the physical hardware.
- You are responsible for the operating system (OS) and the software necessary for communication and functionality between applications.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) – This service offers a platform for building, deploying, and managing application resources over the Internet.
- PaaS includes AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Service.
- The service provider (for example, including any of the above) typically offers development tools, libraries, and storage.
- You are responsible for writing the code and managing your applications, without needing to maintain the hardware and build environment.
- Software as a Service (SaaS) – This service offers full infrastructure, software necessary for communication and functionality between applications, and application management via a web browser.
- SaaS includes Google Workspace/Apps, Microsoft 365, and Salesforce.
- The service provider (for example, including any of the above) provides and maintains all the functionality for the application.
- A familiar example is an email application, where you have an account to access the application without needing to install additional software.
Conclusion
Cloud computing allows individuals or organizations to become more agile and adapt to changing goals. From seeking just virtualized machines and hardware to seeking fully developed applications, there are various services from varying providers to check all the boxes.
Some benefits like cost and control may seem more critical for some users over scalability and maintenance – all being up to you, the consumer. These applications will need a place to deploy and range from a dedicated private cloud to sharing resources among public clouds. We cover just an overview of what cloud computing can bring to the table, but the benefits especially show through utilizing this resource yourself.
