What is Cloud Computing? Everything you need to Know!

There’s a new buzzword around the tech world “Cloud” but what does it mean? Here we will tell you all about cloud computing and how it affects you.

What’s the cloud? Where’s the cloud? Do we live in the Cloud? How is the cloud? (not really!) These are some questions you will hear here and there. You would have even asked these questions to yourself. The real answer is – Cloud computing is everywhere around us.

Cloud Computing Explained

In laymen’s terms – Cloud computing simply means that you’re storing your data over the internet. You are also able to access and make changes to your programs and data online where’s traditionally everything was done on your hard drive. It’s a combination of hardware and software services provided over the internet.

Simply, Cloud just means the internet i.e, everything will be done with the help of the internet.

There are many difference between Cloud Computing and Traditional storage i.e, on you hard drive. When you store stuff on your hard drive that’s local storage. For decades, we’ve been using the local storage method as it’s easy and fast but Cloud infrastructure is catching up.

Even if you now have everything stored on the cloud it’s as equally fast and accessible as local ones. You just need to have an Internet connection and you can access your properties from anywhere, anytime. This comes in handy, suppose you are a fan of traditional method but you get your hard drive corrupted. That would be pretty bad, especially, if you have important business stuff there.

Cloud – Business vs Consumer

Cloud Services are used by and have effects on 2 groups – Business and consumers. Consumers refer to individuals who use internet on a regular basis i.e, us. We use cloud platforms in homes and offices knowingly or unknowingly.

You use Netflix? It’s hosted on the AWS and has no physical presence at your laptop (it doesn’t take up any space). That’s an example of using cloud services unknowingly. There are many other instances as well.

For business – it’s just another thing. It’s offers a lot of variety for business, we’ll talk about them now…

Types Of Cloud Computing

The “Cloud” that businesses use is a totally different one. There are many types of Cloud models that are used. Let’s start…

SaaS

The first one is – SaaS (Software as a Service) in which the business subscribes to an app that provides service over the internet through a web browser. To use SaaS products you need to play for a license on a pay as you go model or on-demand. SaaS is and will remain the most dominant Cloud computing model.

The most popular SaaS cloud services are from Google (G-suite), Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, etc. You also get development environments and extensive configurations with SaaS products.

PaaS

Next we have PaaS (Platform as a Service) which provides most of its services to developers. The services are designed to suit the needs of developers who use shared tools, process, API, etc. for accelerating the process of development and deployment of tools.

The most popular PaaS services include – Heroku, Force.com , Cloud Foundry, OpenShift, etc. PaaS makes the life of developers very easy. It’s a platform for creating and developing software that’s delivered via Internet.

IaaS

Simply putting – IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) cloud services offer computing and storage services at a pay par use basis. But the total services offered by all major IaaS provides include – big data analysis, virtual private networks, highly scalable databases, etc.

The most popular IaaS are – AWS (Amazon Web Services) leads the pack with Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM following behind.

Private Cloud

The Private Cloud downsizes the tech of IaaS cloud into software that can be operated in a business’s data center. With the private cloud the customers can use the virtual resources to build, edit and deploy their own apps with additional features. For admins private cloud ensures maximum control.

But you should note that private cloud isn’t fully a cloud service and is mostly done by organizations. They build and maintain their own cloud service.

Collaboration Platforms

Collaboration Platforms are important messaging platforms that allows teams (or groups) to communicate and work together through the internet effectively. Simply, SaaS products that allow messages, video calls and file sharing possible easily.

Due to the Wuhan Virus pandemic in 2020, Collaboration platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, HipChat, etc. have gained a huge market. Even before that, these platforms were great but during the pandemic these collaboration platforms have been a lifesaver. Without them it would have been impossible to work from home efficiently.

Other Notable Cloud Services – iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service), iDaaS (Identity as a Service), Public APIs, Vertical Clouds, Hybrid Cloud, FaaS (Function as a Service), etc.

Common Arguments Against the Cloud

Cloud Services seems so good. Don’t they? But everything comes with its own downsides. So is there something bad about the Cloud? Is there something harmful about the cloud? Find out on the next episode of Dragon Ball Z.

Just kidding, let’s talk about some arguments against the cloud :

#1 The cloud companies have access to all of your data. Is it Safe?

All of the data stored with the cloud companies is encrypted. That means it’s locked up and now even the employee can sneak on to your private information. Of course, it depends from companies to companies but all the top cloud providers work with encrypted storage.

#2 What if the site goes down?

It’s rare for a top cloud service provider to go down but it has happened. AWS went down for a few hours in 2017, effectively making half the websites on the internet go down with it. But it’s way too rare, even if it happens again it will be back up ASAP.

These two are the most common arguments you will hear against the Cloud that are genuine. Other than these there’s no other apparent issue with the Cloud services. All you need to do is make sure – you don’t get hacked, or leave your common passwords anywhere!

Final Thoughts…

Ahoy folks, that’s all you need to know about Cloud Computing. This is the most in-depth resource for cloud computing that you will ever need. We will add more information as time passes. (If we missed any.)

Also Read: 12 Best Cloud Platform as a Service – PaaS Companies

What are your thoughts about Cloud computing? Do you like it? What kind of cloud services you use on a regular basis? Which aspect of Cloud you don’t like? Let us know in the comments below…

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