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Cloud computing is a modern and highly advanced technology that involves the delivery of hosted services across the Web. Services included can be grouped into three distinct categories namely:
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): being the most advanced service model, the vendor can supply the hardware infrastructure, software products and can interact with the end user via a front-end portal. The end user can use the service from any geographic location since the vendor hosts both the application as well as the data.
Infrastructure -as-a-Service (IaaS): Most basic service model, it allows users to buy processing, network and storage services and create their own systems atop this infrastructure. Amazon and Rackspace are the leading IaaS providers.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): Advanced than IaaS model, it allows vendors to offer preconfigured computers that run set of applications and operating systems across the provider’s platform. Here, developers can build applications on the provider’s infrastructure across the Internet.
The term ‘cloud’ was derived from the cloud sign commonly used for depicting the Internet in diagrams and flowcharts.
Contrary to traditional hosting, a cloud service is sold on demand, in terms of minutes or hours, is elastic in nature, i.e. a user may use as little or as much of a service as they wish to have, and cloud computing service is entirely controlled by the provider. These features make cloud service different from orthodox forms of hosting. The user only needs a PC and high-speed Internet connection. Substantial inventions in distributed computing and virtualization, together with enhanced access to high-speed Internet, have pushed consumers to opt for Cloud Computing (Techtarget).
A cloud can be differentiated as Public or Private. Public cloud: It is the selling of services to anybody on the Internet. At present, Amazon Web Services is the leader in public cloud computing Private Cloud: It is a data centre or a proprietary network providing hosted services to a specific amount of users.
In addition, a virtual private cloud is formed when a service provider applies public cloud resources to build their private cloud. Be it public or private, the objective of cloud computing is to supply simple, scalable and easy access to IT services and computing resources.
This revolutionary service has the ability to produce a series of disruptions which will eliminate from the IT industry and eventually transform several industries across the globe.
Joe Mullich’s BLOG titled “16 Ways The Cloud Will Change Our Lives” gives a brief overview on how the cloud’s potential to access, examine, store and share data will affect the users’ personal and business lives.
He states that the Cloud computing services will make data retrieval and fixing of issues easier. User interaction with computers will become more hands free. Shoppers will find their desired products in stored. It will dramatically affect retailers’ brand value on how they fulfil their customers. Users will make wiser and realistic decisions in that they will be able to process power on demand that will make it easier for end users or business executives to do original research on any subject, so as to better satisfy customers’ demands (Mullich).
Cloud services will increase laptop security, allow small and medium-sized business to go global, companies will increase their suppliers count, and language barriers will disappear. Lastly, the cloud gives users exciting ways of collaborating, developing and testing ideas and innovations in a fast and cost-effective manner, which can speed up the growing rate of entrepreneurialism.
Works Cited
Techtarget. “Cloud Computing”. Techtarget, 2010. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.
Mullich, Joe. “16 Ways The Cloud Will Change Our Lives”. The Wall Street Journal, 2011. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.
