Cloud computing is the use of hosted services via the internet, including servers, databases, networking, software, and data storage. The physical servers where the data is kept are managed by a cloud service provider. Cloud computing provides on-demand access to computer system resources, including processing power and data storage, without requiring direct user management.
Cloud Computing Architecture
Users who prefer to access their files from anyplace with internet access can store their data on the cloud rather than on a hard drive or storage device. Platform-as-a-service (PaaS), software-as-a-service (SaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) are the three main categories into which cloud services can be assigned. Depending on the deployment model, clouds are further separated into public, private, and hybrid categories. Moreover, front-end and back-end layers can be separated within clouds. Users interact with this layer, which is the front-end. Through cloud computing apps, users can access data stored in the cloud thanks to this layer.
The back-end layer consists of computers, servers, central servers, databases, and software. The primary layer of the cloud, this one, is simply in charge of safely storing data.
Types of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing can be categorized according to the type of service or the deployment model. Depending on the deployment model, cloud computing can be classified as public, private, or hybrid cloud. Additionally, depending on the services provided by the cloud model, cloud computing can be classified as infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), or software-as-a-service (SaaS).
Private cloud
A single organization is the exclusive user of computer services provided across a private IT network in a private cloud. Alternatively known as an internal, enterprise, or corporate cloud, a private cloud is often run entirely within the company and is not reachable by outside parties. Along with extra control, protection, and customization, private cloud computing offers all the advantages of a public cloud, including self-service, scalability, and elasticity.
Private clouds provide a higher level of security through company firewalls and internal hosting to ensure that an organization’s sensitive data is not accessible to third-party providers. The drawback of private cloud, however, is that the organization becomes responsible for all the management and maintenance of the data centers, which can prove to be quite resource-intensive.
Public cloud
Public clouds can help businesses save money by eliminating the need to buy, manage, and maintain on-premises infrastructure because the cloud service provider oversees the system. They also provide scalable RAM and flexible bandwidth, making it easier for businesses to scale their storage needs. In contrast to private clouds, public clouds are available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them. These services can be free or sold on an as-needed basis, where users only pay for the CPU cycles, storage, or bandwidth they consume.
Cloud hybrid
Public and private cloud functionalities are combined in hybrid cloud computing. As computation and pricing requirements change, workloads can be moved between private and public clouds using the “best of both worlds” cloud concept. Hybrid cloud computing is useful when processing and computing demand is erratic.
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
Infrastructure as a service or IaaS is a type of cloud computing in which a service provider is responsible for providing servers, storage, and networking over a virtual interface. In this service, the user doesn’t need to manage the cloud infrastructure but has control over the storage, operating systems, and deployed applications.
Instead of the user, a third-party vendor hosts the hardware, software, servers, storage, and other infrastructure components. The vendor also hosts the user’s applications and maintains a backup.
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Platform as a service or PaaS is a type of cloud computing that provides a development and deployment environment in cloud that allows users to develop and run applications without the complexity of building or maintaining the infrastructure. It provides users with resources to develop cloud-based applications. In this type of service, a user purchases the resources from a vendor on a pay-as-you-go basis and can access them over a secure connection.
PaaS doesn’t require users to manage the underlying infrastructure, i.e., the network, servers, operating systems, or storage, but gives them control over the deployed applications. This allows organizations to focus on the deployment and management of their applications by freeing them of the responsibility of software maintenance, planning, and resource procurement.
Software as a service (SaaS)
SaaS or software as a service allows users to access a vendor’s software on cloud on a subscription basis. In this type of cloud computing, users don’t need to install or download applications on their local devices. Instead, the applications are located on a remote cloud network that can be directly accessed through the web or an API.
In the SaaS model, the service provider manages all the hardware, middleware, application software, and security. Also referred to as ‘hosted software’ or ‘on-demand software’, SaaS makes it easy for enterprises to streamline their maintenance and support.