CLOUD COMPUTINGTravis, Stephanie, Alex

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet.

These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that's often used to represent the Internet in flow charts and diagrams.

Cloud Computing Con’t

Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" that supports them.

Cloud computing services often provide common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers.

Cloud Computing Con’t

Cloud computing is a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software.

Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities.

SaaS

This type of cloud computing delivers a single application through the browser to thousands of customers using a multitenant architecture.

On the customer side, it means no upfront investment in servers or software licensing; on the provider side, with just one app to maintain, costs are low compared to conventional hosting.

Salesforce.com is by far the most well known among enterprise applications, but SaaS is also common for HR apps

There has been a sudden rise of SaaS "desktop" applications, such as Google Apps and Zoho Office.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service is a provision model in which an organization outsources the equipment used to support operations, including storage, hardware, servers and networking components.

The service provider owns the equipment and is responsible for housing, running and maintaining it. The client typically pays on a per-use basis.

PaaS

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a paradigm for delivering operating systems and associated services over the Internet without downloads or installation.

PaaS is sometimes called "cloudware" because it moves resources from privately owned computers into the Internet "cloud.“

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is an outgrowth of Software as a Service (SaaS), a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a vendor or service provider and made available to customers over the Internet.

Key Characteristics of Cloud Computing

Agility Cost Device Multi-tenancy Reliability Scalability Security Sustainability

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

Agility

Improves with users ability to rapidly and inexpensively re-provision technological infrastructure resources. The cost of overall computing is unchanged, and the providers will merely absorb up-front costs and spread costs over a longer period.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Device

Device and location independence enable users to access systems regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile) by using a web browser.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Cost

Cost is reduced by focusing on the operational expenditure as multiple applications are purchased for multiple tasks and shared by all users.

Fewer IT skills are required for implementation (in-house) because the costs shift to outsourced providers.

Any cost reduction benefit must be weighed against a corresponding loss of control, access and security risks.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Multi-tenancy

Multi-tenancy enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users allowing for: Centralization of infrastructure in locations

with lower costs (such as real estate, electricity, etc.)

Peak-load capacity increases (users need not engineer for highest possible load-levels)

Utilization and efficiency improvements for systems that are often only 10–20% utilized.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Reliability

Reliability improves through the use of multiple redundant sites, which makes cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster recovery.

Many major cloud computing services have suffered outages, and IT and business managers can at times do little when they are affected.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Scalability

Performance is monitored, and consistent and loosely-coupled architectures are constructed using web services as the system interface.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Security Security typically improves due to

centralization of data and increased security-focused resources. Concerns can persist about loss of control over

certain sensitive data, and the lack of security for stored kernels.

Security is often as good as or better than under traditional systems because providers are able to devote resources to solving security issues that many customers cannot afford.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing Con’t.

Sustainability

Sustainability comes about through improved resource utilization, more efficient systems, and carbon neutrality.

Computers and associated infrastructure are major consumers of energy.

Types of Clouds

Public Cloud Hybrid Cloud Private Cloud

Types of Clouds Con’t.

Public Cloud

Public cloud or external cloud describes cloud computing in the traditional mainstream sense, where resources are dynamically provisioned on a self-service basis over the Internet, via web applications/web services, from an off-site third-party provider who shares resources and bills on a fine-grained utility computing basis.

Types of Clouds Con’t.

Private Cloud Private cloud and internal clouds are what

some vendors have recently used to describe offerings that emulate cloud computing on private networks.

These products claim to "deliver some benefits of cloud computing without the pitfalls", capitalizing on data security, corporate governance, and reliability concerns.

They have been criticized on the basis that users "still have to buy, build, and manage them" and as such do not benefit from lower up-front capital costs and less hands-on management.

Types of Clouds Con’t.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud environment consisting of multiple internal and/or external providers will be typical for most enterprises.

Summary

Because of the way Cloud Computing is advancing, companies such as Microsoft are going to have to follow the trend of cloud computing and will have to re-evaluate their applications such as Microsoft Office.

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