Computer

What Is Cloud Computing In Layman Language?

Subhash was a smart, innovative, and self-starter, 23 yrs old guy who started a small business with a limited budget. He always wanted to curtail the business expenses smartly and wanted to opt for smarter investment techniques. In the initial phase of his business, he noticed he faced some costly and severe challenges. He enlisted the top challenges, and one of them was buying hardware for each employee along with the software and their licenses which he discovered were extremely taxing. Moreover, he detected other problems like storage capacity, keeping updates for the newest software, and ongoing trends in the market. He felt with every new hire, more software was needed. Such problems worsened the situation and distracted him from the goals of his business. He researched and finally chose Cloud computing- A smart and user-friendly choice that is easy on the pocket. Team Kgsr

Cloud Computing

Flashback

In the earliest of days when Homo sapiens grew, they beautifully transformed themselves as humans from apes. Grew a little: understood basic needs- Food, clothing, shelter. Grew more- found mediums to fulfill those necessities. Then they started ‘Developing,’ now they had farmed for food, wells for water, mills for clothes, bricks for homes. Necessities give birth to utilities. The same scenario applies to business computing. One of the newest successful utilities is Cloud Computing. Traditionally companies built their own in-house IT infrastructure catering to all the technical needs. But that involved expensive equipment and servers and installed everything locally – too much hard work involved making ends meet! Things have changed. With the dawn of cloud computing, a company can have reliable and safer business computing delivered like a utility service. We buy basic utilities for the smooth functioning of our day-to-day lives. Similarly, we ‘BUY’ IT infrastructure as a service! Just spend for what we need and focus on the business, not the technology.

Technically- What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the provision that allows the user to log into a web-based service that hosts all the programs obligatory for completing the job. The cloud computing service provider runs everything ranging from emailing to word processing to complex data analysis programs. The term ‘cloud’ actually refers to the network of computers which handle all the assigned respective tasks. Cloud computing service providers charge for the Maintenance and management of data inputs by clients. Cloud computing has emerged as the next big thing in the dome of application software, storage, hardware, and platform flexibility that provides easy solutions to the most complex things! The system favors all sizes of business but proves really fruitful for middle and small-sized ones.

All one needs to avail of the service is a basic computer system, web browser, and the internet. It has become the lifeline of organizationseekingek a simple solution to the compound problem of choosing and organizing software per each employee work areark. Have you ever noticed every internet user prominently benefits from cloud computing? The finest examples of cloud computing are Gmail, Amazon web services, Google applications, where a browser helps the user access the application whenever she/he feels like it.

How does it work?

Knowing how cloud computing works is interesting. The structural design can be categorized into two main sections: Front end and back end. The front end is controlled by the end-user, client, or web browser that uses cloud services. The back end is the network of servers with any computer program and data storage system that runs, handles, and maintains the cloud (Succinctly- The service provider).

Cloud has a centralized server administration system. The centralized server administers the system, balances and adjusts client supply and demands, monitors traffic, and avoids congestion. This server follows a set of rules (protocol) known as middleware. As the name suggests, Middleware is the intermediary that allows networked computers to communicate with each other. Observing the other side of the process, one can rename cloud computing as green computing because it helps successfully conserve power energy.

Can Cloud computing be pocket-friendly?

Cloud computing is cost-effective too. Unlike traditional computing, the service condenses “Hard Costs” like the cost of hardware, infrastructure, software licenses, and “Soft costs” such as IT staffing, troubleshooting, energy costs to run the servers, desktops, and cooling the entire server room. As far as data maintenance costs are involved, they too are quite reduced athe service provider maintains them (They perform the complete set of tasks, from running the cloud to storing data). In addition, the need for high storage hard drives can be snubbed away as all the data is stored on a remote computer.

Breakdown of the system can cause the owner a serious nervous breakdown because of high data recovery and system repair costs, not to ignore the data loss. In such situations, the show goes on because the data can be operated from the remote computer from any place!

The market is in favor of the buyer. In the past three years, several service providers have swelled. In this computing arena, we have crucial players like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel, and many others competing hard to build effective and impressive clouds for their clients.

Brownie points for Cloud computing users!

Cloud computing’s pros do not end here. Databases in cloud computing are very dynamic and scalable,e which means that local computers no longer have to deal with hefty applications that almost kill the speed of the local computer. Most importantly,y hardware and software demand on the user’s size decrease. But who plays the protagonist in the whole story of cloud computing? The answer is Data. The cloud not only builds, runs, and maintains the data but also secures it.

Data security is the topmost priority in all the data operations of the cloud. Undoubtedly, the data is backed up at multiple locations. This is called redundancy of data- the most important attribute of cloud computing service. Another benefit of cloud computing is that data accessibility is not limited to any particular hardware or storage device. The data can be accessed anytime and anywhere one needs to.

Is the right cloud chosen?

But there are some important concerns that one should not avoid before relying on the service. One of them is choosing the right form of cloud computing from:

 SAAS (Software As A Service): Where users rent application software and databases. It is commonly known as on-demand software. For example, ADP (long-time provider of payroll services), Google apps.

 IAAS (Infrastructure As A Service): Here, the cloud providers provide their client with servers (as many as the client needs) in exchange for the rent on each server. For example: “Amazon web services” is one of the most successful IAAS providers to date.

 PAAS (Platform As A Service): In this form of Cloud computing, users rent the complete package of servers plus the required software to use in them. For example, Salesforce.com is one of the most known PAAS providers.

As per the business needs, the user should tactfully choose the most appropriate form of cloud computing. Secondly, the vital decision in selecting the right service provider proves fruitful in the long run. One must make sure that the provider is reliable, is well-reputed for their customer service and satisfaction, and should have a proven track record in handling the respective business ventures. They should be prudently equipped with proper techniques where data is segregated clearly and discretely. Data of different clients should be dealt with utmost care and confidentiality. Most importantly, cloud computing providers must be equipped with proper disaster recovery policies to deal with any unfortunate event in the future. Cloud computing can be the apt choice that solves umpteen purposes in one go. It is the medium for getting the best performing system with the best value for money. The technology is worth embracing that tunes the business towards the set objectives. After all, in the arena when life is pacing at the speed of light, twenty-four hours seem too precise to do the job. The business actually needs the owner’s undivided attention; technology can be taken care of by cloud computing service providers, so why risk energy, time, and mental peace? When one needs to spend money.