Introduction:
I know for sure the first time
you guys heard cloud computing no one had an idea what the well known
mobile operator meant. I'll try my best to make the explanation as
simple as possible.
According
to wikinvest.com/concept/cloud_computing
: "It is a
technology that uses the internet and central remote severs to
maintain data and applications”.
It goes ahead and gives yahoo and gmail among others as examples.
Another definition: “A
general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services
over the internet”.
In
layman's language...It
is a service provided to persons and business entities via the
Internet by host companies that have sufficient infrastructure and
security. The
clients simply log in the service provider’s site and make use of
the service they subscribe to at a cost.
Categories
of cloud computing:
These
are basically the types of services one is likely to get in a cloud.
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
When
a client subscribe to this category, it simply means having an
‘external hard drive’ somewhere safe with the information. The
clients basically pay for storage facilities the same way one would
pay for a space in a go-down. The charges solemnly depend on the
amount of space you require. The client can use the space as a server
(virtual) to run all the machines.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
This
is a category that provide the client (you) with a set of software,
and product development tools that are actually in the service
provider’s server. Depending on the type of software a client
chooses then the cost is calculated by the number of software and
tools you subscribe to and the frequency of use (mostly done on time
basis). Good examples of PaaS are Google Apps.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
This
is a category that distributes software to clients hosted by the
service providers. The software service can be anything from database
processing, email, and inventory control. Here the service provider
hosts both the application and the data. Client can work from
anywhere as long as there is a computer and internet connection.
Pros
& Cons
- Services are sold on demand and charge per duration of time and number of users.
- Service is elastic. Can have as much as you want and also as less as you want.
- Loss of computer doesn’t affect loss of data or running of business.
- The client has no additional cost on security or any other cost, all covered by the host.
- Unstable internet connection could affect running of business.
- Data back-up and high level of security cannot be guaranteed.
Conclusion
- Cloud computing: It is a service provided to persons and business entities via the Internet by host companies that have sufficient infrastructure and security
- IaaS – Storage. PaaS-Applications. SaaS – Both Storage and Application.
- SME’s should consider Cloud as a way of cost cutting and flexibility.
References
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