Introduction to Cloud Computing

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    Cloud computing has emerged as a transformative technology paradigm, reshaping the landscape of information technology and revolutionizing the way individuals and organizations access, store, and manage data and applications. This blog provides an overview of cloud computing, delving into its fundamental concepts, service models, deployment models, and the profound impact it has had on industries, businesses, and individuals alike. As cloud computing continues to evolve and expand its influence, understanding its foundational principles is crucial for navigating the digital age and harnessing the potential of this ubiquitous technology.

What is cloud computing ?

Cloud Computing is the on-demand delivery of compute, storage, networking, etc, services that can be rapidly provisioned and de-provisioned through an easy management console. Cloud computing provides businesses new ways of deploying resources faster than ever before and less hassle and management that what was required before.

 There are five terms that describe what the cloud is and the technologies that it makes up according the NIST 800-145.

- On demand self service: This basically means you can provision what you want when you want it without human intervention.

- Broad Network Access: This basically refers to the resources being accessible over the network, like the internet, from any device.

- Resource Pooling: This refers to the Cloud Service Provider(CSP) pooling together resources in a multi-tenant model where customers could share the underlying physical infrastructure.

- Rapid Elasticity: This refers to the ability of resources to dynamically increase or decrease(scale up/down) resources based on demand.

- Measured Service: This refers to how CSP's are able to measure how much of a service you use so that you always only pay for what you use and never more.


Cloud Deployment models

There is four(five?) ways an organization can get involved in the cloud:

- Public: The Public cloud is the part that is open for public use by any person, business, or academic institution over the internet.

- Private: The Private cloud is for private use for an organization that is either hosted on premise or by a third party provider.

- Community: Community cloud is a shared cloud infrastructure that serves a specific community or group of organizations with common interests, such as regulatory compliance

- Hybrid: Hybrid cloud combines elements of both public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.

- Multi Cloud: Multi-cloud is not a distinct deployment model but rather an approach where an organization uses services and resources from multiple cloud providers.


There are 3 different cloud service models

- IaaS: IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, including virtual machines, storage, and networking. Users have control over the operating system, applications, and data, allowing for flexibility and customization. This service model is suitable for businesses that need scalable infrastructure without managing physical hardware.

- PaaS: PaaS offers a platform with development tools, databases, and runtime environments for building, deploying, and managing applications. Users can focus on coding and application development, as the underlying infrastructure and maintenance are handled by the cloud provider.

- SaaS: SaaS delivers fully functional software applications over the internet. Users access these applications through web browsers without the need for installation or local hardware. SaaS is convenient for businesses and individuals seeking ready-to-use software solutions, such as email, customer relationship management (CRM), or productivity tools like document editing and collaboration.

Major Cloud Providers

Several major cloud providers dominate the industry, including AWS, Azure, OCI, GCP, IBM, and Alibaba.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing offers numerous advantages, including flexibility, cost efficiency, global scalability, and economies of scale. Some benefits include trading capital expenses for operational expenses, increased speed and agility, and the ability to go global in minutes.

Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, the cloud presents an opportunity for growth and innovation. Its impact on businesses has been substantial and continues to expand year after year. This introduction provides a foundation for understanding cloud computing, with more detailed content to follow in future blogs. If you found this content valuable, please consider subscribing and sharing this post to stay updated on the latest developments in cloud computing.







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