Cloud Computing – Introduction

Cloud Computing is a general term for any activity that involves delivering hosted services over the internet. These services are broadly divided into three categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service {SaaS). The National Institute of Standard and Technology defines Cloud Computing as a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. See full brochure here Cloud Computing enables companies to consume computer resources as a utility just like electricity rather than having to build and maintain computing infrastructures in-house. It provides sufficient cost effective IT resources as cost on demand IT based on the actual usage of the customer.

Categories of Cloud Computing

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers supply a virtual server instance and storage, as well as application program interfaces (APIs) that let users migrate workloads to a Virtual Machine (VM) and storage desired. Platform-as-a-Service: In the PaaS model, providers host development tools on their infrastructures. Users access those tools over the internet using APIs, Web portals or gateway software. PaaS is used for general software development. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a distribution model that delivers software applications over the internet often called web services. Users can access SaaS application and services from any location using a computer or mobile device that has internet access. According to wikipedia.org, advocates of public and hybrid clouds note that cloud computing allows companies to avoid or minimize up-front IT infrastructure costs. Proponents also claim that cloud computing allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with improved manageability and less maintenance, and that it enables IT teams to more rapidly adjust resources to meet fluctuating and unpredictable demand, providing the burst computing capability: high computing power at certain periods of peak demand.