Cloud Computing Simplified

Cloud computing has the potential to create irreversible changes in how computers are used around the world. It is a general term for the delivery of hosted services over the internet. Gartner views it as SaaS, PaaS and IaaS.

Cloud computing architecture

Cloud computing architecture comprises of loosely-coupled cloud components. Its two parts are: Front End that refers to the client part consisting of interfaces and applications to access the cloud computing platforms, such as Web Browser; and Back End that refers to the cloud itself which consists of all the resources required to provide cloud computing services, Example–huge data storage, servers, etc. Both ends are connected through Internet.

Rapid Growth of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has grown exponentially over the last few years and the growth continues. Almost 60% of current SMBs use cloud services and 72% of these businesses virtualized substantial portions of their servers. Few current trends in cloud computing are Hybrid clouds (infrastructure that combines private cloud security with cost-effective, powerful and scalable public cloud attributes), BYOD (integrate personal cloud services for employees in a BYOD environment), PaaS (reduce IT costs while increasing application development through efficient testing and development methods), Big Data Analytic (offer businesses of any size an easily attainable and scalable tool), Graphics as a Service (allow end users to run high-end graphics applications with a simple HTML5 browser), Identity Management and Protection (identity management solutions based on cloud based security paradigms), etc. Cloud computing promises attractive benefits like Self-service provisioning, Elasticity and Pay per use.

Are you planning to Adopt Cloud Computing Solutions?

Here are some information you need to get through. The adoption of cloud computing has some issues, which include Security and Privacy (risks of site hacking), Service Delivery and Billing (difficult assessment of costs make business reluctant to switch to cloud without strong service quality guarantee), Interoperability and Portability (leverage of migrating in and out of cloud and switching providers whenever they want), Reliability and Availability (lack of round-the-clock service results in frequent outages), Performance and Bandwidth Cost (delivering intensive, complex data over the network requires sufficient bandwidth, which costs more than hardware).

Despite a few road blocks, cloud computing has captured the market such that Apple Chairman Steve Jobs says “I don’t need a hard disk in my computer if I can get to the server faster…carrying around these non-connected computers is byzantine in comparison.”