A Beginner’s Guide to Cloud Computing

What is cloud computing?

• Simply put, cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of services like storage, databases, networking, software, analytics over the internet.
• It is a way to access information and applications online instead of having to build, manage and monitor on own drives or servers.
• With pay-as-you-go pricing model , typically operating costs of business are reduced and the usage is monitored

Three main types of Cloud Computing

Public Cloud: A computing service offered by a third party provider over the public internet, making them available to anyone who wants to use them or purchase them. This type of cloud is usually used for Business to Consumer type interactions. Example: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Provider etc..

Private Cloud : It refers to the cloud computing resources used exclusively by a single business or organization. In private cloud, services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network. This method is more used for intra-business interactions. Example: HPE, DELL EMC, Oracle, Red Hat etc…

Hybrid Cloud: Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds, bound together by technology that allows data and applications to be shared between them. Hybrid cloud maintains private infrastructure which results in data storage along with less effort and smooth functioning Example: IBM, VMware, AWS Outposts etc…

Benefits of cloud computing

• Typically with just a few mouse clicks, vast amount of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes
• Improved performance with reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale
• Productivity is increased as most of the IT management chores are managed by cloud computing and the IT teams can focus on achieving more important updates.
• Data, app and infrastructure security is ensured as many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies and strengthen security posture overall.
• Disaster recovery, data backup and business continuity is made easier and cost effective as data can be mirrored at multiple redundant sites on the cloud provider’s network.

Types of Cloud Services

IAAS: This is the most basic type of cloud computing service where IT Infrastructure — server’s, VM’s, storage, networks. OS is rented from a cloud provider on pay-as-you-go basis.

PAAS: Platform as a service refers to a cloud computing service that supply an on-demand environment for developing, testing, delivering and managing software applications

SERVERLESS COMPUTING: Server less computing focuses on building app functionalities without spending time on managing servers and infrastructure continually. Server less architectures are highly scalable and event-driven, using resources only when a specific function or trigger occurs.

SAAS: Software as a service is a method for delivering software applications over the internet, on demand and typically on a subscription basis. SAAS allows your organization to get quickly up and running with an app at minimal upfront cost

Uses of Cloud Computing:

If you use an online service to send email, edit documents, watch movies or TV, listen to music, play games, or store pictures and other files, you’re probably using cloud computing right now.

Below are the few examples of what’s possible today with cloud services from a cloud provider:

• Build Cloud-Native Application: Quickly build, deploy, and scale applications — web, mobile, and API using cloud-native approaches like such as containers, Kubernetes, microservices architecture, API-driven communication, and DevOps.
• Test and build applications: Reduce cost and time of application development by using cloud infrastructures that can easily be scaled up or down.
• Store, back up, and recover data: Protect your data more cost-efficiently — and at massive scale — by transferring your data over the Internet to an offsite cloud storage system that’s accessible from any location and any device.
• Deliver software on demand: Also known as software as a service (SaaS), on-demand software lets you offer the latest software versions and updates around to customers — anytime they need, anywhere they are.

Leading Cloud Providers:

The leading cloud providers include some of the world’s biggest businesses, some familiar names, and a few in the space not as well known.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud (GCP)
• IBM Cloud
• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure

Conclusion:

Shortly, all size business are likely to implement public, private, or hybrid clouds into their processes. Multi-cloud strategies, low code, and no-code solutions will continue to make cuts on the process of in-house programming and will enable application development without the need to hire an extensive programming workforce. Several professional certifications can be acquired in cloud computing, and the job market as of now is quite welcoming for the rightly interesting talents.