Cloud computing refers to the storage and access of computing services over the internet rather than through physical hard drives. Our tutorial will explain what cloud computing is, how it works, and how it is currently used.

What Is Cloud Computing?

Any hosted service distributed through the internet is referred to as cloud computing. These services include servers, databases, software, networks, analytics, and other computing processes that can be run through the cloud.

Users of the service can access files and programmes stored in the cloud from any location, eliminating the need to be near physical hardware all of the time.

User-created documents and spreadsheets had to be saved to a hard disc, USB device, or disc in the past.

The data were absolutely unavailable outside of the computer they originated on without some form of hardware component.

Few people are worried about burned hard drives or misplaced or corrupted USB devices thanks to the cloud. Because the material is stored on a network of hosted computers that communicate data over the internet, the papers are accessible from anywhere using cloud computing.

Cloud Computing Service Types

Software-as-a-service (SaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) are the three basic categories of cloud computing services (IaaS).

Software-as-a-Service

Software as a service is the most common cloud service paradigm (SaaS). It is used by many of us on a daily basis. Software can be accessed via a mobile app or a web browser with the SaaS model.

Although some SaaS programmes are free, the majority require a monthly or annual subscription to remain operational. Because they don’t require any hardware installation or upkeep, SaaS solutions are a big hit in the business world. Good examples are Salesforce, Dropbox, and Google Docs.

Platform-as-a-Service

PaaS is a cloud environment for developing and deploying web applications. Users can utilise PaaS to create, test, deploy, manage, and upgrade apps throughout their lifecycle.

The service also includes development tools, middleware, and business intelligence solutions. Windows Azure, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, and Google App Engine are all good examples.

Infrastructure-as-a-Service

Users can access basic computer infrastructure capabilities in the cloud, such as data storage, servers, and hardware, through IaaS.

Companies can use IaaS to gain access to massive platforms and apps without having to invest in enormous physical infrastructures. DigitalOcean, Amazon EC2, and Google Compute Engine are all examples of IaaS.

How Does Cloud Computing Work?

Data can be shared over satellite networks in the cloud, which is essentially a decentralised place. Every cloud application requires a host, and the hosting industry is responsible for maintaining the massive data centres that provide the security, storage capacity, and processing power necessary to keep all of the data users send to the cloud safe and secure.

Major firms like Amazon (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft (Azure), Apple (iCloud), and Google (Google Drive) are the most well-known cloud providers, but there are many others, both large and small.

These hosting businesses can sell the rights to utilise their clouds and store data on their networks, as well as providing end customers with an ecosystem that allows them to download music from their laptop and have it synced to their iPhone’s iTunes app instantly.

Generally, cloud computing follows three delivery models: 

Public

This is the most common, and all of the firms mentioned above (Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and Google) have public clouds that can be accessed from any location with the proper login credentials and web app.

Private

This approach provides the same level of freedom as the public cloud, but with infrastructure provided by the companies or consumers of the service (hosting, data storage, IT staff, etc.). Restricted access and hands-on hosting administration give an added layer of protection to the private model.

Hybrid

Hybrid cloud computing combines public and private cloud computing models. The two types of clouds are connected via the internet and can exchange resources when necessary (e.g., if the private cloud reaches storage capacity or becomes corrupted, the public Cloud can come to the rescue and save the day).

Uses of Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is used by businesses and individuals in a variety of innovative and fascinating ways. Here’s a brief look at some other major application areas, in addition to the ones already mentioned.

Communication & Collaboration

From calendar to Gchat, the whole Google suite of products is cloud-based. Popular programmes like Skype and WhatsApp are also available, allowing users to interact and work on a worldwide scale.

Entertainment

Media streaming powerhouses like Netflix and Hulu, which store massive databases of movies and TV shows available via the cloud, owe their existence to a mix of cloud computing and greatly better internet bandwidth. These companies, as well as others like Spotify and Tidal, are able to exist because of the cloud.

Big Data Analytics

Before the cloud, analysing massive amounts of data to find patterns and insights was a time-consuming and expensive operation. All of that has changed thanks to the cloud, which has eliminated the necessity for in-house development resources when it comes to accumulating and analysing data. 

Companies may now collect data from a number of sources, connect it to the cloud, and analyse it in real time for insights.

Business Processes

Innovative applications like Salesforce, Slack, and a slew of others that help businesses improve and optimise their daily operations would not exist if not for the cloud.

 

Backups

Cloud computing addresses the problem of data loss and recovery on traditional hard drives. The worry of losing irreplaceable files has been experienced by almost everyone who has ever owned a computer. Cloud computing provides a readily accessible backup method to keep data safe, whether it’s a term paper, family photos, or company payroll.

Conclusion

Cloud computing makes advanced computing capabilities on-demand, scalable as needed, with regular updates, and without the need to purchase and maintain on-premise infrastructure.

Teams become more effective and reduce time to market with cloud computing because they can quickly acquire and scale services without the significant effort required to manage traditional on-premise infrastructure.