Cloud Computing 101
Cloud computing extends IT’s capabilities. It turns infrastructure
(IaaS), platforms (PaaS) and software (SaaS) As A Service, thereby
eliminating the capital expenditure on hardware, software and other
services that users might need to access the computing power of
computing facilities.
Instead of huge investments, cloud computing users need only to pay
utility bills (resources consumed, electricity, etc) or subscription
(time-based). This means more can use the existing infrastructures of
cloud computing facilities (of Google or Amazon and the like) for less
than the normal cost.
What it is made of. The layer components of cloud
computing are: clients, services, application, platform, storage, and
infrastructure. Its infrastructure consists of data centers built on
servers with virtualization technologies.
What characterizes it.
- Users pay less, and pay operational costs instead of capital expenditure.
- Easy access wherever user is, as long as there is Internet connection.
- Sharing
of resources and costs among different users mean lower cost for real
estate or electricity as infrastructure is centralized; increase of
peak-load capacity; and, better utilization of systems.
- Better business continuity and disaster recovery due to use of many, repetitive sites.
- Sustainability comes about through improved resource utilization, more efficient systems, and carbon neutrality. Computers and associated infrastructure can become greener, because otherwise they are major consumers of energy.
What the different kinds of Cloud Computing are.
- SaaS - delivers a single application through an Internet browser to users using a multitenant architecture
- Utility computing - offers storage and virtual servers that can be accessed on demand
- Web services in the cloud - allows
developers to fully use the functionality of the Internet instead of
delivering full blown applications. Examples are Google Maps, ADP
payroll processing and the US Postal Service
- Platform as a service - enables users to build applications that run on the provider’s infrastructure. Examples are the Google App Engine and Force.com.
- MSP (managed service provider) - is an application for IT instead of users. Examples are virus scanning services for email or an application monitoring service
- Service commerce platform - offers a service hub that users interact with, usually found in trading environments like expense management systems
- Internet integration - joining together cloud-based services
There are still other possibilities to cloud computing that are yet
to be discovered. But the advantages of cloud computing are evident
already, judging from the companies involved and the benefits users and
smaller companies get. Students, once already aware of this
technological development, can then participate in how their
information will be handled in the future.
Sources:
“Cloud computing.” Retrieved June 17, 2009 from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
Knorr, Eric and Gruman, Galen. “What cloud computing really means.” Retrieved June 17, 2009 from
http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031?page=0,2
(Published 29 June 2009, Smart Communications, Inc.)
