Jon Baleva Jan 25, 2024
Category
Entrance Tips

What is Cloud Computing and How Does It Work?

Cloud computing is a network of servers linked over the Internet. Its primary function is to share information, resources, and software. The Internet serves as an unseen cable that connects everything. This includes all physical and virtual servers across the world. As a result, we can equate cloud computing functions to a cloud hovering over us. It has endless means of traveling around the world. This is the first approach to defining cloud computing, what it is and how it works.

Read Also: Cloud Computing Skills

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing can alternatively be defined as a virtual pool of shared resources that provides computing, storage, database, and network services at scale. The success of cloud computing can be attributed to two major factors: 

  • Technological advancements, such as virtualization of compute instances and abundant high-speed internet access, and 
  • Widespread investment in constantly building and updating infrastructure, which results in economies of scale. Because of these considerations, cloud computing may take all of the components of a typical data center and make them available to consumers on an as-needed basis.

All of this information is kept and controlled by the cloud computing provider. The availability of these shared resources has had an impact on the services provided by cloud computing. Web hosting, data sharing programs, software, and operating systems are a few examples. All of these services are made feasible via cloud computing. These services assist us in better grasping cloud computing, what it is and how it works.

Read Also: Cloud Computing Job Outlook

How Does Cloud Computing Work?

The cloud is essentially a decentralized space where data can be shared over satellite networks. There is a hosting business for every cloud application, and it is their job to keep up with the enormous data centers that offer the security, storage space, and processing power required to keep all of the user-submitted data in the cloud. There is a tonne of different players, both big and small, who host the cloud, but the most well-known ones are big giants like Amazon (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft (Azure), Apple (iCloud), and Google (Google Drive). 

In addition to providing the user with an ecosystem that can communicate between devices and programs (for example, download a song on your laptop and it will instantly sync to the iTunes software on your iPhone), these hosting companies can sell the rights to use their clouds and store data on their networks.

You must be familiar with the various cloud service models and cloud deployment types in order to comprehend how cloud computing functions. Cloud computing courses master private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud computing services. 

Read Also: Top Cloud Gaming Jobs

Cloud Service Models

Enterprises and consumers can jump into cloud computing in various ways. From the least to the most complicated, the three main cloud service models are as follows:

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

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS is the most frequent sort of cloud service. Many of us utilize it on a daily basis. The SaaS approach makes software available via an app or web browser. Some SaaS services are free, but many require a monthly or annual subscription to keep the service running. SaaS solutions are popular in the corporate world since they do not require any hardware installation or upkeep. Salesforce, Dropbox, and Google Docs are a few notable examples. Consider Gmail, the omnipresent free email provider. With a SaaS solution, the consumer simply accesses the product through their browser and does not need to worry about installations or upgrades. When paid, these services are usually subscription-based.

Read Also: AWS Study Tips for Passing AWS Certification Exams

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is a cloud environment that allows for the creation and deployment of web applications. PaaS enables the entire application lifecycle, allowing customers to build, test, deploy, manage, and update applications all in one place. Development tools, middleware, and business intelligence solutions are also included in the service. Windows Azure, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, and Google App Engine are some notable instances.

PaaS offers can be thought of as a selected set of services that work together to solve a significant business need. For example, a company may want to design a modern microservices-based product, use remote developers, and have the product available globally with no delays. A PaaS provider will provide a complete development environment in which software may be produced, tested, and deployed within predefined limits. This allows the customer to concentrate on the product's business and creativity rather than worrying about infrastructure.

Read Also: How To Prepare Your IT Team For Cloud Computing Developments

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS is the most commoditized form of the public cloud environment. The major providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, provide their infrastructure resources, network connectivity, and security compliance as a product that organizations may utilize to develop a cost-optimized software offering. IaaS offers consumers fundamental computer infrastructure capabilities such as data storage, servers, and hardware, all in the cloud. IaaS provides access to huge platforms and apps to organizations without the requirement for large onsite physical infrastructures. IaaS providers that are well-known include DigitalOcean, Amazon EC2, and Google Compute Engine.

Read Also: Types of Cloud Computing Service

Cloud Deployment models

Generally, cloud computing follows three deployment or delivery models. They include; private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud.

  • Private Cloud
  • Public Cloud
  • Hybrid Cloud

Private Cloud

A private cloud is a private cloud environment for a single business organization, with physical components housed on-premises or at a vendor's data center. Because the private cloud is exclusively available to one company, this solution provides a high level of control. Customized architecture, sophisticated security mechanisms, and the capacity to extend computer resources in a virtualized environment as needed are all advantages.

In many circumstances, a business maintains an on-premises private cloud infrastructure while providing cloud computing services to internal users over the intranet. In other cases, the business hires a third-party cloud vendor to host and maintain dedicated servers off-site.

Read Also: Top Reasons to Learn AWS in 2023

Public Cloud

The public cloud makes use of the internet to store and administer data and applications. It is totally virtualized, allowing for the use of shared resources as needed. Because these resources are given via the internet, the public cloud deployment model enables enterprises to grow more easily—the flexibility to pay for cloud services on an as-needed basis is a significant advantage over local servers. Furthermore, public cloud service providers use sophisticated security measures to prevent other tenants from accessing customer data.

Read Also: Benefits of AWS EC2

Hybrid Cloud

The hybrid cloud blends private and public cloud models, allowing enterprises to reap the benefits of shared resources while maintaining crucial security needs on existing IT infrastructure. Companies can use the hybrid cloud architecture to store sensitive data locally and access it through applications operating in the public cloud. To comply with privacy requirements, a company may, for example, keep sensitive customer data in a private cloud while doing resource-intensive computation on the public cloud.

Furthermore, enterprises might choose a multi-cloud strategy, in which they use more than one public cloud provider. This method allows enterprises to optimize their environments for performance, flexibility, and cost savings by distributing workloads over multiple cloud platforms.

Read Also: Top Cloud Computing Certifications

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

As IT technologies evolve, so does the demand for cloud computing networks. The following are some cloud network characteristics:

  • Resource sharing
  • Economical
  • Automatic System
  • Use of a vast network
  • Availability

Resource sharing

The cloud service provider employs computing resources and subsequently provides cloud services to various consumers. The resources can be divided into virtual and physical resources that can be used and allocated to users based on their needs.

Economical

If the firm uses cloud services, it will save money. The major organization can use the cloud service and share a portion of it with other small organizations. As a result, the service will become more affordable, and everyone will have the opportunity to use cloud services.

Read Also: Advantages Of Cloud Computing

Automatic System

Cloud services are capable of assessing user requirements and providing services accordingly. The user can monitor and control the service's usage. The network gives the user the ability to access the entire network.

Use of a vast network

The user is given the ability to connect to the big cloud network and use the system's resources and services. The user can access the data via the cloud network, upload data from any remote place, and use services from any device. All it requires is an internet connection to connect to the cloud network.

Availability

The user is always provided with cloud services. The service is available to the customer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The user can utilize a cloud network as a storage platform and can also purchase additional capacity as needed. The user can access the data from the network at any time.

Read Also: How to Become a Certified Cloud Security Professional?

 Conclusion 

Cloud computing is a fantastic tool that people utilize for both professional and personal reasons since it is inexpensive and easy. Allowing for the simple storing of resources in one location allows for quick access to those resources at any time and from any location with internet connectivity, and it is incredibly adaptable. Cloud computing attempts to deliver high-performance computing power with low-cost technologies and customized data connections.

Read Also: AWS Job Roles &  Salary Guide

SENIOR TRAINER: NETWORKING AND PROGRAMMING

Jon Baleva is an IT professional with 20 years of experience in programming and networking. He is an expert in Python & IT Security domains as well as in Operating Systems (OS). He has trained professionals and students in IT Programming courses, Microsoft Azure, Linux   & MAC OS. He is also a writer who writes on tech-related topics for various tech magazines in Philippine. He is now an IT Trainer with Edoxi Training Institute, Dubai.

Tags
Technology
Education