Cloud Computing: Definition and Exploration of Online-Based Storage and Computing Services
Cloud Computing, a revolutionary computing style, has been transforming the IT landscape for decades. This article aims to provide a clear understanding of Cloud Computing, its origins, and its various aspects.
The roots of Cloud Computing can be traced back to the 1960s, but it was not until the 1990s, with the widespread availability of Internet bandwidth, that it became a viable service. The Internet, the most popular computer network, has been in existence for some time, and the progress in computer network technologies over the past few years has paved the way for Cloud Computing.
Cloud Computing provides massively scalable and flexible IT-related capabilities as a service using Internet Technologies. It is divided into three main components: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
IaaS provides self-service models to monitor, access, and manage the infrastructure from a remote location. PaaS, on the other hand, offers a self-service module for software developers to manage computing infrastructure from Centralized IT operations. SaaS, the most familiar to users, delivers applications over the web, managed by third-party vendors, whose user interface can only be accessed by the client.
Google Docs, YouTube, and services like Facebook, Picasa, and Flickr are examples of cloud computing in action. Google Docs allows users to upload, edit, and publish documents, while YouTube hosts the video files of millions of users. Facebook, Picasa, and Flickr store hundreds of millions of digital photographs. Even Twitter, though it may not seem so, indirectly uses cloud computing.
Cloud Computing is not just about storing and sharing data. It includes facilities like infrastructure, platform, application, and storage space. When using services like Amazon or Google, data is stored in the cloud, ensuring accessibility and security.
The benefits of Cloud Computing are manifold. It offers self-service provisioning, elasticity, pay per use, workload resilience, and migration flexibility. These benefits have made Cloud Computing an essential part of nearly all companies today, either directly or indirectly.
Cloud Computing is divided into four types: Private Cloud, Public Cloud, Community Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud. A Private Cloud serves all the applications of a particular IT organization and is over the entire control of data, reducing the risk of security breaches. Public Cloud providers like Google and Microsoft own their cloud infrastructure and give access to the public. Community Cloud is a multi-tenant cloud infrastructure, with which cloud is shared between IT organizations. Hybrid Cloud is the combination of 2 or more different types of clouds, reducing the risk of security and compliance and helping to maximize the value of cloud infrastructure.
The global cloud computing service market is expected to reach up to $1933 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of cloud-based services by individuals, small businesses, and global enterprises. Today, there are many providers like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, in addition to AWS, offering cloud-based services.
Understanding Cloud Computing requires understanding Distributed Computing as well. Distributed Computing, which includes Distributed Information Systems, Distributed Databases, and Distributed Object Systems, aims to distribute information across different servers using various communication models such as RMI and RPC. Cloud Distributed Computing is required for applications that need to serve the Internet at all times without delay.
Cloud Computing has come a long way since its inception. From Salesforce's successful implementation of SaaS commercially for the first time in 1990 to the current market projections of around 1 trillion US dollars by 2030 according to a McKinsey study, Cloud Computing continues to shape the future of IT.
In conclusion, Cloud Computing is a powerful tool that offers businesses and individuals the ability to access and utilise computing resources on demand, providing flexibility, scalability, and cost savings. As technology continues to evolve, the potential for Cloud Computing to transform industries and revolutionise the way we work and live is immense.
