Cloud Computing
Access to the centralization of your business power
Traditional IT environments consisted of investing in the physical existence of all the components needed to access corporate applications, file sharing, storage, etc. In contrast, the cloud provides the same resources over the Internet.
So the cloud offers companies of all sizes a pool of well-maintained, secure, easily accessible and on-demand computing resources, such as servers, data storage and application solutions.
Cloud Computing Usage
The use of Cloud Computing can increase operational efficiency, improve flexibility, reduce costs and enable a more agile and innovation-focused approach for companies, regardless of size or industry.
In terms of statistics, the growth of cloud computing has been remarkable. It is expected to continue to grow, with an increased emphasis on the adoption of cloud services due to the need for flexibility, agility and scalability in the enterprise environment.
Next, we will delve into the definition of Cloud Computing, types of Cloud and characteristics of each.
What is Cloud Computing?
It is a model that allows accessing and using computing resources over the Internet instead of having a local physical infrastructure; that is, it refers to the delivery of computing services over the Internet, which allows accessing and storing data, as well as running applications without the need to have a local physical infrastructure with a pay-as-you-go system.
The general benefits of cloud computing include scalability, cost efficiency (pay-per-use), global accessibility and enhanced security (if implemented correctly).
With the power of the cloud, your information is everywhere and nowhere, offering freedom and security for a connected world.
Cloud Computing Types
There are three main types of cloud services, each offering different levels of control, flexibility and accountability for users:
Public
It is operated by cloud service providers that offer computing resources, such as servers and storage, over the Internet. These resources are available to the general public and are shared among multiple customers. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform.
Private
It is a cloud infrastructure dedicated exclusively to a single organization. It can be hosted on the company’s premises or managed by an external provider, but in both cases, the resources are dedicated solely to that company. The private cloud offers greater control over security and customization of services.
Hybrid
It combines public and private cloud resources, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. This allows companies to keep certain sensitive data in the private cloud, while using the public cloud for less critical workloads or to scale resources as needed. Hybrid cloud offers flexibility and allows you to take advantage of the best of both environments.
In addition to these main types, there are also deployment models such as:
Community
Shared among several organizations with common interests (such as educational institutions or governmental entities).
Multicloud
Which involves the simultaneous use of services from multiple cloud providers.
The choice between these types of cloud depends on the specific needs of the company, considering factors such as security, control, scalability and costs.
Cloud implementation within an enterprise does not exist in isolation from other IT investments at a corporate level.
Currently, companies use a combination of public and private cloud services with their data center that, depending on their business needs, integrations of these services will be made.
Building a hybrid environment comes from the complexity of the workloads and how you look to optimize the performance of those workloads.
Regardless of which model is used, some essential core capabilities in the cloud environment are determined by business needs.
Cloud Computing Models
Understanding the fundamentals of cloud computing requires an understanding of three main cloud service delivery models: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.
Each designed to meet different needs. A description of each is explored below with examples:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Provides virtualized infrastructure resources over the Internet. Users can access and manage virtual machines, storage and networks as needed.
Examples:
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- Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Allows users to run virtual machines in the cloud.
- Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines: Provides scalable virtual machines in the cloud.
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
It offers a complete platform that includes hardware, operating system, middleware and development tools. Users can focus on application development without worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure.
Examples:
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- Google App Engine: Application development platform that automatically manages the underlying infrastructure.
- Heroku: Allows developers to deploy and manage applications without worrying about the infrastructure.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
It provides ready-to-use applications and services over the Internet. Users can access these applications without having to worry about installation, maintenance or upgrades.
Examples:
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- Microsoft 365: Offers services such as email, word processing and spreadsheets through the cloud.
- Salesforce: Provides customer relationship management (CRM) solutions through the cloud.
These cloud service models allow organizations to efficiently scale their resources, reduce infrastructure costs, and focus on application development and delivery without having to worry about managing the physical infrastructure. In addition, the cloud provides flexibility and agility to adapt to changing business demands.
