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What is Cloud Computing?

What is Cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the Internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, you can access technology services, such as computing power, storage, and databases, on an as-needed basis from a cloud provider.

Cloud computing enables big data to control and distribute the stored data in a suitable way. It also provides security to big data through Hadoop. The main idea of big data is to accumulate, handle, visualize, and evaluate the huge amount of data, which is achieved by collaboration with cloud computing.

A subscription-based delivery model, cloud computing provides the scalability, fast delivery and IT efficiencies required for effective big data analytics. Because it removes many physical and financial barriers to aligning IT needs with evolving business goals, it is appealing to organizations of all sizes.

Cloud computing delivers computing services—such as storage, databases, servers, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet, referred to as “the cloud.”

This model offers flexible resources, faster innovation, and economies of scale, eliminating the need for organizations to own or maintain physical servers and data centers. Instead, businesses access and pay for the services they use, typically on a pay-as-you-go or subscription basis.

Key Models of Cloud Computing

There are three main cloud computing service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

  1. IaaS: This is the most basic cloud service model, providing virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS allows organizations to rent IT infrastructure such as virtual machines, storage, networks, and operating systems. Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Companies use IaaS to build and manage applications without the complexity of physical hardware.
  2. PaaS: In this model, cloud providers deliver a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without worrying about infrastructure management. PaaS is ideal for developers as it supports the entire software development lifecycle, from coding and testing to deployment and updates. Examples include Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Service, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
  3. SaaS: This model delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis. Users can access these applications through a web browser, reducing the need for complex software installation and maintenance. Common SaaS examples are Google Workspace, Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365, and Dropbox.

Deployment Models

Cloud computing also comes in several deployment models, each catering to different business needs:

  1. Public Cloud: Services are delivered over the internet and shared among multiple organizations. It’s cost-effective and scalable, making it suitable for startups and small businesses. Major public cloud providers include AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
  2. Private Cloud: A private cloud is dedicated to a single organization, offering more control and security. It can be hosted on-premises or managed by a third-party provider. Private clouds are popular among organizations with strict compliance requirements, such as healthcare or finance.
  3. Hybrid Cloud: This model combines public and private clouds, enabling data and applications to be shared between them. A hybrid approach offers greater flexibility, optimized infrastructure, and more deployment options. It’s useful for businesses wanting to keep sensitive data in a private cloud while leveraging public cloud resources for less critical functions.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

  • Cost Savings: Companies avoid the capital expense of purchasing and maintaining hardware. They only pay for the resources they use, which reduces operational costs.
  • Scalability: Cloud resources can be scaled up or down based on demand, offering unmatched flexibility.
  • Performance: Cloud computing services run on a global network of secure data centers, which are regularly upgraded to the latest hardware, ensuring high-speed performance.
  • Security: Cloud providers implement advanced security measures, often beyond what many companies could achieve on their own. These measures include data encryption, threat monitoring, and compliance controls.
  • Automatic Updates: Cloud services often come with automatic software updates, ensuring that infrastructure and applications are up to date.