Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the art of processing and delivering computing services over the Internet – “the cloud” for speed, flexibility, efficient innovation, and cost advantages.
Typically, cloud computing is a major transition from the conventional business approach to IT resources – purchasing and servicing physical data centers and servers – to accessing such services as data backup, disaster recovery, networking capabilities, virtual desktops, software development and testing, analytics and intelligence, and web applications, on-demand, from a cloud service provider and with a pay-per-use model (Amazon Web Services, 2024).
Origin of Cloud Computing
The invention of cloud computing technology dates back to the early 1960s when Dr. Joseph Carl Robnett Licklider, an American computer scientist and psychologist known as the “father of cloud computing”, introduced the earliest ideas of global networking in a series of memos discussing an Intergalactic Computer Network. However, modern cloud technologies were initiated in the early 2000s when Amazon Web Services started cloud-based storage and computing services precisely in 2002, introducing its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) in 2006. In the same year, Google went on to launch its Google Apps suite (now called Google Workspace), a collection of SaaS productivity applications. Microsoft followed with the launch of its Microsoft Office 2011 in 2009 (IBM, 2024).
Cloud Computing Models
Cloud computing is deployed based on needs and the cloud computing framework. There are three different models of cloud computing: public, private, and hybrid clouds.
- Public Cloud: This refers to the delivery of cloud services over the public Internet by a third-party cloud service provider (CSP). Such services provided include SaaS applications, individual virtual machines (VMs), bare metal computing hardware, complete enterprise-grade infrastructures and development platforms. They are often accessible free of charge or based on a pay-per-use pricing model. In a public cloud, the CSP owns, controls, and takes responsibility for the infrastructure on which customers’ workload operates. The provider also ensures a high-bandwidth network connectivity for high performance and swift access to applications and data.
- Private Cloud: A private cloud describes a cloud setting where cloud computing resources and infrastructure are used solely by a particular organization or client. It is usually hosted on the client’s onsite data center. Also known as internal, enterprise, or corporate cloud, a private cloud can also be hosted on an independent cloud service provider’s infrastructure in an offsite data center. The benefits of a private cloud include the flexibility of moving data to a public cloud or operating them within a hybrid cloud environment when ready, others include access control, a high level of security through company firewalls and internal hosting plus resource customization of on-premises infrastructure (IBM, 2024).
- Hybrid Cloud: This cloud setting uses a combination of public and private cloud features with on-premise infrastructure adopting the “best of both worlds” cloud model which allows a shift of workloads between private and public clouds as the computing and costing requirements change. In such instances, businesses can set their on-site infrastructure up to the public cloud to manage the overflow while avoiding unnecessary expenses and ensuring that no third-party data center has access to their data (Spiceworks, 2024). A hybrid cloud affords businesses a greater measure of flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, optimization of infrastructure, security, and compliance (Microsoft, 2024). According to IBM (2024), more than 77% of businesses and IT professionals opt for a hybrid cloud strategy.
- Multi-Cloud: This is the use of two or more clouds from different cloud providers. With multi-cloud, organizations can choose and customize a unique set of cloud features and services to meet their business needs and avoid vendor lock-in (IBM, 2024). For example, you can choose Telliswall Inc. for web-hosting needs and other service providers for certain other needs.
Types of Cloud Computing Services
Cloud computing services are categorized into: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), and Serverless Computing. They are sometimes called the cloud computing “stack” because they build on top of one another and it’s not uncommon for an organization to use the combination of all four in accomplishing their goals (Microsoft, 2024).
- IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service)
This contains the essentials for cloud computing services. It provides on-demand access to information technology (IT) and networking resources such as virtual or on dedicated hardware, storage, networks, and operating systems, from a cloud service provider on a pay-as-you-go basis. IaaS affords end users the highest level of flexibility and control over the storage, operating systems, and deployed applications for steady business growth (Spiceworks, 2024).
IBM (2024) citing a Business Research Company report states that the IaaS market is more likely to witness a growth to the tunes of $212.34 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.2%.
- PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service)
PaaS refers to cloud computing services that provide an on-demand platform which includes hardware, complete software stack, infrastructure and development tools required to develop, operate, deliver and manage software applications.
PaaS allows the cloud provider to host the infrastructure at their data center saving users the burden of cost and the complexity of setting up and maintaining the platform on-premises. This enables end-users to focus on the deployment and management of their applications and become more efficient.
- SaaS (Software-as-a-Service)
This is an application software hosted in the cloud. It is a method for delivering software applications over the internet, on demand and on a subscription basis or a pay-per-use pricing. Users access software applications, such as web-based email, through a web browser, on their PC, phone, tablet, or PC or an API that integrates with a desktop or mobile operating system (IBM, 2024).
Citing an International Data Center (IDC) survey, IBM (2024) further posits that SaaS applications represent the largest cloud computing segment, accounting for over 48% of the $778 billion global cloud software revenue.
SaaS, also known as cloud-based software or cloud applications, offers the benefits of data protection, automatic upgrades, cost effectiveness, scalability and efficiency.
- Serverless Computing
This is a cloud computing model that offloads all the back-end infrastructure and management tasks to the cloud provider. In Serverless, the cloud provider is responsible for the setting up, capacity planning, and server management for the client. The client only pays for the resources used when the application runs; they never pay for idle capacity (IBM, 2024).
Serverless also generates application codes only based on requests and automatically scales the supporting infrastructure in response to the number of requests, allowing developers to focus time and effort on the code and business logic specific to their applications.
What’s in Cloud Computing?
Avant-garde businesses are opting for cloud computing services. Here are reasons you should do same:
- Speed and Flexibility: Cloud services and resources can be accessed right on demand and in a few minutes offering organizations some flexibility of operation.
- Cost Effectiveness: Cloud computing saves you the expenses of purchasing and maintaining on-site infrastructure such as hardware and software devices, and the additional cost of setting up and managing data centers.
- Reliability: Data backup and recovery become seamless and less demanding with cloud computing since data can be replicated at multiple redundant sites on the cloud service provider’s network. This prevents business downtime and ensures organizational productivity. Telliswall Inc. assures you unlimited and reliable cloud service access from anywhere with excellent response time.
- Safety: Cloud computing services are enabled by regulations, protocols, and technologies that protect your data, applications, and fortify your entire information systems framework against cyber attacks.
- Enhanced Service Delivery: Organizations leverage cloud computing services to upgrade their service delivery for increased profits and improved customer satisfaction.
Telliswall and Your Cloud Technology Services
We understand your IT needs and how they contribute to your business growth and profitability. Hence, our robust cloud technology infrastructure affords you the benefits of IT modernization and enhances your business performance without exerting on your finances. No matter what on-prem services that your businesses use today, you can leverage the advantages that the cloud provides. You can leverage the cloud to give your business the opportunity to authenticate to cloud enterprise applications in azure, or even deploy cloud machines for your remote workers to work on, instead of shipping new gear to their locations. The opportunities are endless and TellisWall can help you with designing a tailor-made solution to help your business become more efficient by moving some of your services to the cloud.
References
Amazon Web Services (2024). What is Cloud Computing?
https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-cloud-computing/
IBM (2024). What is Cloud Computing?
https://www.ibm.com/topics/cloud-computing
Microsoft (2024). What is Cloud Computing?
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-dictionary/what-is-cloud-computing
Oracle (2024). What is Cloud Computing?
https://www.oracle.com/ng/cloud/what-is-cloud-computing/
SAP (2024). Cloud 101: What is Cloud Computing Technology?
https://www.sap.com/africa/products/technology-platform/what-is-cloud-computing.html
Spice works (2024). What Is Cloud Computing? Definition, Benefits, Types, and Trends
https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/cloud/articles/what-is-cloud-computing/amp/
Zdnet (2024). What is Cloud Computing? Everything You Need to Know About the Cloud Explained
https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-thunderbolt-and-how-is-it-different-from-usb-c/