Cloud Computing and Storage Solutions- WeTalkIT

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than storing it on a local server or a personal computer. An Internet-based computing service, it is a model for enabling ubiquitous on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable networks, storage, servers, applications and other computer resources.

CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES CAN BE PRIVATE, PUBLIC OR HYBRID AND OUT OF THE SEVERAL BENEFIT IT OFFERS, THE MAJOR ONES INCLUDE SELF-SERVICE PROVISIONING, ELASITICITY AND PAY PER USE.

Cloud computing service categories are divided into three major categories namely, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS).

How cloud computing services work

Cloud computing services have several common attributes:

Virtualisation

Cloud computing utilises server and storage virtualisation extensively to allow resources to be allocated rapidly

Multitenancy

Resources are pooled and shared among multiple users to provide greater economies of scale

Network Access

Resources are accessed via a web-browser or other clients being used on a variety of network enabled devices (computer, tablet, smartphone)

On-demand

Resources are self-provisioned from an online catalogue of pre-defined configurations

Elasticity

Resources can be scaled up or down quickly, efficiently and automatically

Metering/chargeback

Resource usage is tracked and billed based on an agreed service arrangement

AMONG THE ECOSYSTEM OF CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES BEING DELIVERED, THE MOST COMMON ARE:

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software that runs on computers that are owned and managed by the SaaS provider, instead of the end users themselves. The software is accessed over the public internet and generally offered on a monthly or yearly subscription.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Compute, storage, networking, and other elements (security, tools) are provided by the IaaS provider via public internet, VPN, or dedicated network connection. Users own and manage their operating systems, applications, and information running on the infrastructure, which are paid according to the usage.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

All software and hardware required cloud-based applications are provided by the PaaS provider via public internet, VPN, or dedicated network connection. Users pay according to the usage of the platform and can control how applications are utilized throughout.