All you need to know about Cloud Computing?

Key takeaways:

• Cloud computing is a compilation of various internet services available at your fingertips. 

• The advantages of cloud computing may overlap with its downsides, as every customer is entitled to their own experiences. The main two to blend are security and cost. 

• It is extremely simple to use, now available even on smartphones to supply connections everywhere and at all times. 

• No specific qualification is mandatory for a company to adapt to cloud computing. Any organisation or individual user can take it upon themselves to make this technological leap. 

What is Cloud Computing? 

Cloud Computing, to put it in simple words, is a collection of online services offered on the internet or the cloud. It essentially implies the replacement of local hard drives and personal data centres with remote servers for the purpose of storing, processing, managing and accessing data. 

It provides quicker innovation, more flexible delivery of resources, as well as scale economics. Usually, payment is only asked for your choice of services, which ultimately will reduce your operating expenses, assure the effective flow of your infrastructure and optimise as and when your business needs to modify. In this article, we shall discuss what is cloud architecture, what is cloud computing with examples, cloud applications examples, advantages of cloud computing, and much more.

Types of cloud computing are explained below –  

Public cloud	Private cloud	Hybrid cloud	Multi-cloud
These are operated by third-party cloud providers. Services are delivered over the public internet.	A single individual or business firm makes use of resources and storage. Users access private cloud services via a private internet which others in public servers cannot.	It combines both private and public services. Organisations enjoy the freedom of choosing elements of the two types.	Under multi-clouds, businesses prefer to use numerous third-party cloud providers in order to strengthen their cybersecurity systems.

A brief history of cloud computing 

It was in the 1960s that the very first concept of time-sharing was well known, mostly with regard to one the largest vendors like IBM and DEC. 

Cloud as a term was used as a reference to distributed computing platforms in 1993 at the time of Apple’s spin-off General Magi along with AT&T applied it to describe their Telescript and PersonaLink technologies. In December 2019, Amazon declared AWS Outposts—a completely managed service extending AWS infrastructure and services, APIs, and tools for consistently authentic hybrid experiences. 

How does cloud computing work? 

The majority of today’s most sparkling names on the internet (example: Google, Microsoft, Amazon) are growing with the times by extending their services to both enterprises and consumers, aiming to make maximum use of the gravitating potential and flexibility it has to offer. 

The process of Cloud Computing is a rather simple one. It is programmed to start when computer-associated processes and calculations occur remotely. Listed below is a step-by-step information guide –

• Customers sign up/register to cloud services 
• The user accesses them online through either of the two specialised computer programmes or in-web browsers 
• Extensive and resourceful remote servers look after heavy lifting and number crunching

Benefits of cloud computing 

A number of advantages of cloud computing can be enjoyed. Some of them are as follows-

• Performance

As Cloud providers invest without holding back in the latest, best, and speedy hardware at hand, they can serve customers with constant upgrades in the system while offering maintenance when and where needed. To keep up to their high-performance status, they ensure that the least span of downtime is witnessed while offering the fastest access to all. 

• Reliability 

A vast network of server farms enables the providers to bear a resilient presence all the time, despite the circumstance in which one server may fail. Server farms guarantee efficient load balancing and accurate scalability. 

• Loss control and data recovery 

The backup system is so reassuring that with numerous replicated copies saved of any given file at many varying locations, it gives complete security against loss of data and damage. 

• Usability 

Minimised setup is demanded from the users as the providers take care of managing their systems. With their mastermind teams of well-trained staff to handle technical glitches, customers can comfortably focus on their business without being bugged by complex support problems. 

• Automated Updates

On top of high-priority activities in your business, fretting over software updates only wastes time. With Cloud Computing, application updates are set to update and refresh automatically. Not only do you save up time, but external IT consultant expenses are also prevented. 

Automated updating privilege rids the users of any inputs and thus, warrants that they have access to the newest and quickest version. 

• Insight

Cloud-based storage features provide integrated cloud analytics with a microscopic focus. With it, you can easily trace and locate any misplaced information. Additionally, customised reports can be created for analysing the information across the organisation. You will no longer have to sift through mass data to find what you’re looking for. 

Disadvantages of cloud computing 

Similar to any other IT-based setup, it’s natural for the cloud to experience technical fallouts, such as –

• Reboots
• Outage of network
• Downtime
• Gaps in security measures (example: Code Space shut down because of deleted database) 
• Vulnerable to cyber attacks
• Limited control
• Data issues arising at the time of vendor lock-in
• Expense concerns

What is cloud architecture?

The combination of SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) and EDA (Event Driven Architecture) makes up the architecture of the cloud computing system. Components of cloud architecture are –

• Client Infrastructure 
• Application
• Service 
• Runtime cloud
• Storage
• Management
• Security 

The cloud architecture is categorised as follows-

Frontend	Backend
A component of Front-end is client infrastructure, that is consisting of user interface and applications a client utilises to successfully access the cloud computing services	It handles the sources along with managing them and offering security tools
Client side of the system	Service provider side of the system
	Includes application, service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, management, security, internet.

Uses of cloud computing

Usage of cloud computing can range from technical use to commercial use. Go through this list to learn more in-depth –

• Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
• Hybrid cloud 
• Multi-Cloud
• Test
• Development 
• Vast data 
• Complex analytics
• File storage
• Backup data and archiving feature 
• Communication 
• File sharing
• Data recovery 
• Others like banking, email, services, media, streaming and e-commerce

Who uses cloud computing?

Organisations of any and every kind in terms of type, size, and not limited to industry type. 

Cloud computing users include Pinterest, Amazon, Spotify, Netflix, and Expedia, among others. 

How can I launch a career in cloud computing? 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to becoming a cloud professional –

• Graduate with a bachelor’s degree
• Study coding and programming languages 
• Get applicable experience and certificates 
• Make a resume
• Apply for cloud engineering positions 
• Work on your hard skills and soft skills

Where can I earn a cloud computing certificate?

You can earn all the required cloud computing skills by enrolling in PGCP in Cloud Computing course at Online Manipal. Offered by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), this six-month comprehensive programme covers all the components of cloud computing that enables you to become an in-demand cloud professional.

ALSO READ:

Cloud computing course details

Benefits of learning cloud computing courses online

Winding up

If you are looking forward to pursuing an online PGCP in cloud computing, Online Manipal may be the right match for you. With an impressive variety of courses created by Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) along with seasonal resources to prepare you for your future cloud computing career.