In case you wonder what exactly cloud computing is then you are welcome to visit this blog. In this blog, we will cover the topics related to cloud computing, its features, uses, and many more.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing can generally be known as the way of storing and accessing data and programs over the internet where there is no use of the computer’s hard drive which means we don’t need to connect or access the hard drive of the computer to store programs or access to it and we can directly connect to the internet to get information. 

It is a type of service provided to the customers over the internet. 

Here, data is stored at a remote place and is synchronized with other various web information. 

The data stored here can be anything such as images, documents, music, files, and various others. 

The user can get access to the data at any time or from anywhere just with the help of an internet connection. 

To access cloud computing, a user should register and will provide with ID and passwords which is the only way to get access through it.

Cloud Computing is a growing idea in the world of IT that is very necessary for computing and can take the world to a different level by showing its use of it. 

Simply, it can also be understood as a delivery system that delivers computing the same way a power grid delivers electricity. 

The cloud satisfies the criteria what IT is always seeking, increasing the capabilities of computing, without having to provide new infrastructure. 

They manage their host by themselves and come up with new modifications with continuous improvement in the service and provide a better and smooth way of services to the people.

The architecture of Cloud Computing

It generally consists of two parts. They are:

a) Front end 

It generally refers to the client part of a cloud computing system which consists of interfaces and applications that are required to access the cloud computing platforms. 

For Example Web browser. 

b) Back end

It generally refers to the cloud itself which consists of all the resources required to provide cloud computing services and consists of huge data storage, virtual machines, security mechanism, services, deployment models, servers, etc.

Cloud Computing Architecture

Cloud Deployment Models

There are different types of cloud deployment models and they are listed below: 

a) Public cloud

The public cloud is made available to the public general by the provider itself and allows systems and services to be easily accessible to the general public. 

They are open types of cloud and can be accessed by anyone at any time. 

For Example Google, Amazon and various other sites provide these services through the internet. 

It has various advantages as well as disadvantages: 

Advantages 

• It is cost-effective and can be used by paying a little amount of money. 
• It has high reliability. 
• It has high scalability. 
• It has good flexibility. 

Disadvantages

• It has low security. 
• It is less customizable.

b) Private cloud

The private cloud allows systems and services to be accessible within an organization only. 

It can only be operated within a single organization and needs an ID and password to go through it access it. It can also be managed internally or by a third party. 

Advantages

• It has high security and privacy than others. 
• It has more control over the cloud system. 

Disadvantages 

• It has limited scalability. 
• It is not usable in restricted areas. 

c) Hybrid cloud

It is generally a mixture of public and private clouds. 

When two or more clouds are bound together to get the advantages of both clouds then it is known as a hybrid cloud. 

Different organization uses the public cloud for non-sensitive and non-critical activities and the private cloud can be used for critical and sensitive activities. 

Advantages 

• It is flexible. 
• It has high scalability. 
• Cost efficiencies are low. 

Disadvantages 

• Networking issues occur. 
• Infrastructural dependency may come around.

Types of services provided by the cloud

There are generally three types of services provided by the cloud computing system. They are:

Types of services provided by the cloud

a) SaaS

SaaS is generally known as Software as a Service and the makers of it are generally developing and managing their own applications through it and rely on the internet and they are in the need of a browser to access it. 

It utilizes the architecture, in which the application serves multiple businesses and the data are maintained accordingly through it. 

Advantages

• They are very scalable and provide different services to the users as per their demand. 
• It is improving day by day with different updates due to which it will be easy for the staff to provide better services to the people. 

Disadvantages 

• It completely depends upon the internet and if the internet service doesn’t get access then the data present in the software might get lost. 
• It has limited functions of the applications.

b) PaaS

PaaS is generally known as a Platform as a Service that allows customers to develop, run, and manage the applications by providing them with the platform and diminishing the complexities of maintenance. 

It not only includes server, storage, and networking but also includes databases, tools and business services, etc.

Advantages

• It reduces the coding time for the user. 
• It enhances the development capabilities where there is no requirement for workers. 

Disadvantages

• It has limited scalability.
• Data backup needs to be done from time to time.

c) IaaS 

laaS is generally known as Infrastructure as a Service which provides access to the computing resource in a virtualized environment. 

It reduces the burden to maintain and manage the infrastructure. It can be modified as per the demand of the customer and customers can only pay up for the things that they have used.

Advantages

• It is flexible in every business condition and is made up per the demand of the customer. If the resources aren’t in use then they are back down to save money. 
• It has better compatibility and doesn’t need to maintain and upgrade software and hardware. 

Disadvantages

• It depends upon the availability of virtualization services. 
• It generally can be used only by accessing the internet.

Features and Specifications of Cloud Computing

There are generally different features of cloud computing. They are listed below:

i) No-up front investment

Cloud computing uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model. 

It generally means that you only have to pay up for the services or space that you have used or utilized. 

There is no kind of extra charge that you have to pay after buying it. The customer doesn’t need to invest in the whole infrastructure to get benefits from cloud computing. 

It simply rents resources of its use and needs from the cloud and pays for that only. 

ii) Lower operating cost

Resources in a cloud environment can be rapidly allocated and de-allocated on demand. 

Therefore, a service provider doesn’t need any provision capacities according to the peak load.

iii) On-demand Self-service

It is one of the most important features of cloud computing as the user can continuously monitor the server uptime, capabilities, and allotted network storage. 

With this type of feature, the user can also monitor the computing capabilities. 

iv) Easy maintenance

The servers are easily maintained here. The updates are more compatible with the devices and perform faster than older ones along with the bugs and errors being fixed. 

v) Automatic system

It automatically analyzes the data needed and supports a metering capability at some level of services.

This system can monitor, control, and report, providing transparency for the host as well as the customer. 

vi) Easy access

Services hosted in the cloud are generally web-based. 

Hence, they are easily accessed through a variety of devices with an Internet connection. These devices not only include desktop and laptop computers, but also cell phones and PDAs. 

vii) Availability

The capabilities of the cloud can easily be modified as per the use and can extend a lot. 

It allows the user to buy the extra amount of space needed by analyzing the storage. 

This service is available at any time and can be accessed from anywhere. 

viii) Economical

It is generally known as a one-time investment service and has to invest by the company to buy the storage and a small part of it can provide to the many companies which save the host from monthly or yearly costs only the amount which spends on the basic maintenance. 

ix) Security

This is known as one of the best features of cloud computing where it creates a snapshot of the data due to which the data may not get lost even if the server gets damaged and the storage cannot be utilized by the other person or get hacked. 

This type of service is quick and reliable and can easily be accessed from anywhere just with the help of an internet connection.

x) Reducing business risks and maintaining expenses

To lower the risk, a service provider shifts its business risk to the infrastructures provider, who often has better expertise and has a better way of handling and managing these types of risks. 

In another way, a service provider can cut down the maintenance of hardware because there is no use for this and can also save the costs of staff training.

Related Technologies to Cloud Computing

There are generally different related technologies of cloud computing that work similarly to cloud computing and share certain aspects with that of cloud computing.

Some of them are listed below: 

a) Grid computing

It is a distributed computing paradigm that coordinates networked resources to achieve a common computational objective. 

Generally, they originated from scientific applications which are usually computation-intensive. 

It is similar to that of cloud computing whereas cloud computing takes one step further with the help of virtualization of technologies at multiple levels. 

b) Utility computing

Utility computing refers to the model of giving assets on request and charging clients dependent on use instead of a level rate. 

Cloud computing can be seen as an acknowledgment of utility figuring. It receives a utility-based estimating plan altogether for financial reasons. 

With on-request asset provisioning and utility-based valuing, specialist organizations can genuinely expand asset usage and limit their working expenses. 

c) Virtualization

Virtualization is an innovation that abstracts away the subtleties of physical equipment and gives virtualized assets for abnormal state applications. 

A virtualized server is generally called a virtual machine (VM). 

Virtualization shapes the establishment of distributed computing, as it gives the capacity of pooling figuring assets from bunches of servers and progressively allotting or reassigning virtual assets to applications on request. 

d) Autonomic computing

Initially authored by IBM in 2001, autonomic computing goes for building registering frameworks equipped for self-administration, for example responding to inner what's more, outside perceptions without human intercession. 

The objective of autonomic computing is to beat the administration unpredictability of the present PC frameworks. 

Even though distributed computing shows certain autonomic highlights such as programmed asset provisioning, its goal is to lower the asset cost instead of lessening framework intricacy. 

In outline, distributed computing use virtualization innovation to accomplish the objective of giving registering assets as a utility. It imparts certain angles to network processing and autonomic computing however contrasts from their different angles. 

Hence, it offers one-of-a-kind advantages and forces particular difficulties to meet its necessities.

Uses and Applications of Cloud Computing

a) In the education system

Education plays a vital role in maintaining the growth and development of the country. 

Without a good education, a country cannot move forward. So, education plays the main role to proceed a country forward, and in this increasing world of globalization cloud computing to plays an important role to give advanced education to the students of the country. 

Some of the uses of cloud computing in the education system are: 

i) Personalized learning

Cloud computing manages open doors for more noteworthy students and makes great decisions in learning. 

Utilizing a Web-associated gadget, students can get access to assets and programming devices that suit their learning styles and interests. 

ii) Reduces costs

Cloud-based administrations can enable foundations to reduce costs and quicken the utilization of new innovations to meet developing instructive necessities. 

Students can utilize office applications for free without buying, installing, and staying up with the latest on their PCs. 

Likewise, it gives the office of Pay peruse for a few applications. 

iii) Accessibility

Accessibility of the services is the most essential and wanted by the user utilizing the education cloud. 

24 x 7 is the accessibility that is required by this framework without disappointment. From any place at anytime one can log in and get to the data.

iv) Improved administrative efficiency of schools and colleges

Schools, colleges, and the administrative staff can concentrate on the central elements of the foundation rather than useless endeavors on IT framework and the applications set-up. 

v) No need for extra infrastructure

Schools, colleges, and governments are presently allowed to concentrate on their objectives which are making more research offices accessible to the students, and making nature worldwide hate sitting around idly stressing over the buildings, labs, teachers, and so on. 

vi) Higher quality of education is provided

Courses with refreshed substance can be conveyed reliably over all areas. 

 All of the people from different areas can get access through it and can learn various refresh and new contents from here. 

vii) Contents are standard and unique

Courses conveyed over the cloud through a central area will lead to standard content delivery to numerous remote virtual classrooms. 

viii) Collaboration

Students and Schools can team up on studies, and projects utilizing coordinated effort arrangements. 

ix) Scalability

Scalable systems on the cloud to arrange huge information stages for research and examination. 

x) Go green

Educating the students with the help of cloud computing will surely reduce the carbon footprints and no deforestation will be there and the environment will go green. 

b) In Business

Cloud computing has turned out to be one of the more current popular expressions in business circles for little and medium-sized organizations. 

While not every private company has begun utilizing cloud computing, many discover the cloud offers them extra administration or storage room for their undertakings or records. 

Most organizations are getting to the cloud to improve their capacity to share records inside to representatives or remotely to clients; be that as it may, there are numerous valid justifications to add cloud computing to your organization's asset list if you haven't effectively done as such. 

There have been various uses of cloud computing for different purposes and some are listed below:

i) Infrastructure as a service

With the help of cloud computing, you can offer your customers the utilization of your foundation to have their cloud administrations. 

Another alternative is to move the outsider framework for making sites to advance customers' items and administrations. 

ii) Platform as a service

On the other hand, you can offer your stage to customers through cloud computing. 

Most online stages keep running on cloud computing today since they are accessible to anybody with an association. 

Organizations are quickly moving to the cloud to wipe out the requirement for PC equipment in their very own workplaces diminishing their IT cost. 

iii) File storage

File storage is a typical use for cloud computing. 

You can store basically any kind of file on the cloud, and on the off chance that you require constrained access to your records, private cloud administrations can be made very secure. 

Cloud computing is basically just restricted to the most extreme file storage accessible from your supplier. 

iv) Data backup

Data backup is another regular main use of cloud computing. 

While you can backup to your PC or a drive, both of these can be physically harmed in a storm, flood, or fire. 

The cloud offers you a place to back up the information that is far from your area and will protect the information in a safe domain. 

If necessary, you can likewise share these backup files with different colleagues which will help to maintain data if any bad situation comes. 

v) Disaster recovery

In case of a disaster, you can recover your records, projects, and information from the cloud as long as you have a PC and an internet connection accessed through it. 

Cloud computing is a decent method to shield your essential business data for recovery later on.

c) Personal Use

Cloud computing has made much of our work easier based on day-to-day life. Some of its uses are: 

i) There is no need of carrying devices such as thumb drives or CDs and no need to worry about losing devices. We can easily get access through the internet and can get our stored information from cloud computing. 

ii) Easy access

It can be accessed at any time from anywhere if you want some information from it just be accessing through the internet. 

iii) Shareability

The files can easily be shared with anyone at any time and can get information about anything certainly just within a few minutes with the help of it. 

iv) Trackability

With the help of cloud computing, we can easily get access to the old things that we wanted because cloud computing can trace them back and restore the things that we want back. 

v) Stability

It is a very stable technology to rely on where various information is saved and can easily get access through it.

Conclusion

Cloud computing has recently developed as a convincing worldview for overseeing and delivering administrations over the Internet. 

The ascent of cloud computing is quickly changing the scene of data innovation and eventually turning the long-held guarantee of utility computing into a reality. 

In any case, despite the critical advantages offered by cloud computing, the present advances are not sufficiently developed to understand its maximum capacity. 

Many key difficulties in this space, including programmed asset provisioning, control of the board, and security of the executives, are just beginning to get consideration by the examination network. 

Subsequently, we accept there is as yet a huge open door for specialists to make momentous commitments in this field, furthermore, acquire noteworthy effect to their advancement the business. 

In many remote places of the country people still don’t have any idea about cloud computing. 

The people residing there should be made aware of the importance of cloud computing and should show the importance of cloud computing to them due to which it will be easy for them to do their work by sitting at home or anywhere and can do their work efficiently. 

No need for investments are required for the infrastructures or hardware purposes and the money can be saved from that which will help to secure the future. 

Cloud computing is used only by medium-scale businesses and small-scale businesses, the uses of cloud computing should be followed at every time by business and multi-national companies which will help the country to move forward in the terms of technologies and various other things. 

In this way, we can conclude that in our day-to-day life basic need for cloud computing is very important which helps to carry our work more smoothly and efficiently and makes our tasks easier and can complete in less period with the help of cloud computing.