Knowing of Cloud Computing Services - Essay Example

Measure understand and knowing of cloud computing services The advent of internet has given the people in the world, the ability to gain access to any kind of information in real time from any part of the globe. Marveled by this credibility, there arises a natural question ‘how?’ And the answer is “cloud computing.” Cloud computing has revolutionized the field of information technology and has become the buzzword for industries and businesses. Cloud computing has become the emerging trend for almost each and every enterprise irrespective of its size because, utilizing the power of cloud computing in an organized manner can greatly help in core development of the enterprise, reducing the overhead costs. It also makes the routine computation works, far easier so, undoubtedly cloud computing can be a constructive support for organizations. This report will discuss in detail about the basic concepts of cloud computing, different types of cloud computing services, cloud computing service providers, advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing. Cloud computing is an internet based computing technology that involves a large number of collective resources. The term ‘cloud’ refers to the internet. Instead of relying on a single personal computer or a local server for their applications like data processing, storage, and others, organizations can make use of the cloud computing services that involves a number of remote servers for this purpose (Beal, n. d.). Also applications can be accomplished more efficiently using cloud computing rather than using conventional personal devices (Gordon and Marchesini, 2010).The purpose of cloud computing is to have abundant and easier access to the internet so that, retrieval and working on data is possible from anywhere across the world (Gordon and Marchesini, 2010).The services offered by cloud computing service providers can be broadly classified into three categories. They are software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (Paas), and Infrastructure as a service (Iaas). Let us see in detail about all the above mentioned types with real examples for each type. Software as a service (SaaS) render web services to the clients who access the applications that are accomplished by third party vendors through the interface provided by them. Special installations or downloads are not required for this purpose and applications can be run using the web browsers directly (“Understanding the cloud,” 2013). SaaS exhibits certain characteristics which are discussed further. SaaS offer access to commercial software through the web. A central location manages the software services. SaaS delivers software service following a ‘one to many’ pattern. Software patches or upgrades are not required for the clients to handle the software services provided by SaaS (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). SaaS integrates different pieces of software using certain application programming interfaces. SaaS is more suitable for applications that have a noteworthy interaction between the client’s organization and the world outside. Also organizations choose SaaS, if majority of their applications or based on web access. Most reputed real example of SaaS is Google Gmail (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). It is a web mail service offered by Google. It comes with a wide range of features like storage, social network integration, voice chat, money transfer, and many more. Platform as a service (PaaS) is used for development oriented applications whose software requires the components of the cloud computing architecture. Standalone creation of web applications demands building of complex infrastructure accompanied by huge cost for purchase and maintenance (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). But PaaS provides a platform for creating web applications surpassing the above mentioned demands. PaaS offers similar kind of services provided by SaaS, with additional platform to create software applications. PaaS provides a wide range of services for developing, testing, hosting and maintaining software applications. PaaS makes use of web based user interfacing tools for maintaining compatibility with a variety of user interface scenarios (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). It provides software services with inbuilt preferences for scalability. It provides proper integration between databases and web services. It provides solutions to complex issues like project management, subscription management, and others. Irrespective of the data source needed for an application, PaaS provides a collaborative software development platform coherently focusing on the workflow development. PaaS also has the ability to utilize any kind of proprietary data from any application while developing a software. PaaS is mostly used for project developments were several developers work together in collaboration with each other. A real example of PaaS is Apprenda (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). Apprenda is used as a service provider for organizations and business enterprises that make use of PaaS for applications like Java and.Net. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a type of cloud computing service that serves infrastructure (operating system, servers, storage, and network) basedrequests in an on-demand basis. Clients need not purchase servers and network equipment. Instead they can outsource their requirements by utilizing IaaS (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). The characteristics of IaaS are listed below. IaaS distributes the resources on service demands. According to the needs IaaS services can be scaled up. IaaS costs vary depending on the utility. IaaS is capable of accommodating numerous users on a single piece of hardware. IaaS is suitable for small organizations that do not have much capital to invest and in organizations that have volatile demands. A real example for IaaS is Microsoft Azure (“IaaS, PaaS, SaaS,” 2015). Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service provider that builds, deploys, and manages a wide range of services and applications through a global network managed by Microsoft datacenters. Amazon Web Services (AWS) A cloud computing service provider provides the SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS to individual users or business organizations. Let us discuss about the Amazon web services (AWS), one of the top most cloud computing service provider in the market. Irrespective of the type of application run, any client organization demands low operational cost and speedy access to resources (“Cloud computing with,” 2015). Amazon web services are capable of providing access to cloud resources on demand and with pay-on-use basis. Healthcare, industries, media, educational institutions, public sector, financial services, insurance services, and many more are beneficiaries of AWS. Both private and government organizations make use of AWS which provides them website hosting solutions. AWS renders full support for the migration of the existing applications of an enterprise to the cloud domain and also capable of supporting new applications to be built up in the cloud domain (“Cloud computing with,” 2015). AWS is also capable of providing big data solutions by supporting the entire big data lifecycle right from collection to archive. AWS aids the innovation speed, cost and scaling demands of business enterprises by providing comprehensive, peer-to-peer cloud computing services (“Cloud computing with,” 2015). Some industries like finance and public sector demand storage of indefinite amount of information. Backing up the entire amount of information and recovering them at times of crash is more challenging. AWS renders completely secure and scalable backup and recovery services for such kind of applications. AWS also renders extensive support for building mobile applications. AWS provides a bunch of mobile communication services from which an application builder can select only the needed services and make payment accordingly for the selected service (“Cloud computing with,” 2015). So that it would be cost effective for mobile application developers. Media based companies also rely on AWS for on-demand storage, transcoding, computing, streaming, and others. AWS has certain advantageous special features. AWS is capable of providing cost effective solutions to the IT sector. AWS is capable of providing a full featured development platform that is Advantages and Disadvantages Works cited. “Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing.” Level cloud, n. d. Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://www.levelcloud.net/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloud-computing/ Beal, Vangie. “cloud computing (the cloud).”Webopedia, n. d. Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/cloud_computing.html “Cloud Computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS).”Amazon, 2015. Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://aws.amazon.com/what-is-aws/ Gordon, Michael and Marchesini, Kathryn. “Cloud computing.” UNC, 2010.Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://www.unc.edu/courses/2010spring/law/357c/001/cloudcomputing/definition.html “IaaS, PaaS, SaaS (Explained and Compared).” Apprenda, 2015. Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://apprenda.com/library/paas/iaas-paas-saas-explained-compared/ “Understanding the Cloud Computing Stack: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS.” Rackspace, 22 Oct 2013. Web. 10 Mar 2015. http://www.rackspace.com/knowledge_center/whitepaper/understanding-the-cloud-computing-stack-saas-paas-iaas Read More