Understanding the Basics of Cloud Computing: A Complete Overview

May 3, 2024
admin-naptera
Internet usage has become a common occurrence in our daily lives. From streaming movies to saving an important document, the internet has become essential to life. But did you know the above activities are more than just ‘’daily internet usage’’? Those activities are possible thanks to cloud computing. This technology offers a vast range of convenience. In this article, we shall discuss the concept of Cloud computing in detail.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is an on-demand access to computing services such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the internet (or cloud). Think of it as managing your entire company through the internet. Instead of managing the files in your computer or paying for different softwares, you can rent a physical or virtual server in the cloud.

In cloud computing, you usually pay only for services you use and need. Companies can pay to access the virtual spaces which are located on remote servers and maintained by cloud service providers. Many individuals and organizations have now started opting for cloud computing as it is more flexible, affordable and scalable as per the business needs.

Uses of cloud computing

Cloud Computing is highly-praised and is used by many organizations and individuals. Cloud computing comes with versatile factors that can be useful to small businesses, big corporate companies, government agencies and even individual people. You might be using it if you use internet services such as to send email, store images, watch series, etc. Although cloud computing can be used for mundane tasks, it can also be used for more complex tasks. Below are some of the uses of cloud computing.

Data Storage: Cloud computing allows organizations and individuals to store data and files over the internet that is accessible from anywhere, anytime. It can also protect your data from potential threats and transfer it across the internet if required.
Remote Execution: Organizations can rent the program or software from the cloud. This reduces the hassle of downloading and installing on your computer. Moreover, it is an on-demand access, therefore, you can just rent the program when required and can stop using paying once the requirement is fulfilled.
Analyze Data: Cloud computing has various features like AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning that can analyze and give insights on a company’s data. The cloud can store and analyze a massive number of data, both structured and unstructured that helps business owners to extract valuable data.
Shared Workplace: A company can share important documents and work together on a project at the same time from anywhere and anytime. Cloud can use the stored data to help the organization communicate with each other. It is like having your own virtual office.
Remote Access: The most helpful feature of the cloud is that you can access the data, software, work documents and many other things remotely. It gives you the flexibility to operate from anywhere, at your convenience.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Many organizations are now deviating towards cloud for their overall business growth. Managing the data and documents in a traditional way can be exhausting and time-consuming, which can affect the performance of a company in this fast-paced era. Moreover, the traditional way of managing the data might not be scalable enough. Therefore, many organizations has started opting for modern cloud solutions, and that might be due to its benefits which are as below.

Flexible: Cloud computing allows you to extend your resources as per the business needs. The cloud holds the potential to accommodate large data and documents, leading to a more flexible and easy management of the organization’s resources.
Agile: The cloud can give you instant access to advanced and innovative technology. This allows you to access various infrastructure services such as data storage, machine learning, analytics and many more just in the matter of a few clicks.
Economical: The most stand-out feature of cloud is how cost-friendly it is. Instead of buying all the tools, cloud computing offers on-demand services for your needs. Therefore, you are only paying for what you need, eliminating the cost of buying the software and hardware in bulk.
Scalable: Cloud is a kind of tool that can be extended as per the business needs. It can easily adjust to a growing business and can also scale back down during the slow periods. This eliminates the need of buying new softwares and hardware or leading them to be just the unused storage place.
Global Reach: Cloud computing services allow you to deploy globally. Cloud lets you operate from a new geographical region without the hassle of setting up a new server in that region. It breaks the overall geographical barrier that holds back the enhancement of the business.
Collaboration: Cloud computing offers a shared workplace where the organization can collaborate and communicate. It can become a core system where the employees can work on a project in real-time, even through different locations. Everyone within the organization can access the data and documents leading to better collaboration.
Security: Cloud offers a strong and sturdy security for your data and documents stored within. The advanced technology of the cloud protects your stored data from potential threats. Its strong security mechanism keeps your data safe. There are minimal security risks with cloud computing.
Accessible: The most remarkable feature of cloud is its broad range of accessibility. With cloud computing, you can access your data, files, documents and application from anywhere and anytime, regardless of the location. It’s like having your whole company online without needing an actual physical office.
Reliable: Cloud computing is a more enhanced way to manage and implement new data. It can distribute your data and applications across a vast network. It minimizes the business disruption with cost-friendly and reliable features.

Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing service provides a wide range of benefits and services. Therefore, not all clouds can be categorized in a single type. Various kinds of models and services have evolved to help organizations and individuals operate with ease. The cloud can be categorized into 3 main types that can be based on deployment models, ownership, access and control. Below are the 3 types of cloud computing.

Public Cloud

A public cloud is a type of cloud computing service provided by a third-party service provider. They are publicly available to anyone with an internet connection and subscription. Best examples of the Public clouds are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure , Google Cloud and many more!

With a public cloud, all cloud resources are managed by the cloud provider. Multiple organizations can access those cloud resources with their individual virtual space. The most notable feature of Public cloud is that it is accessible anywhere over the internet. Public cloud lets the user modify and adjust their resources leading to more flexibility.
In the Public cloud model, the user is assigned a portion of the cloud service provider’s cloud infrastructure where the user can store their data and other important assets. Public cloud provides a broad range of services such as database, storage, software application and many more!

Private Cloud

A private cloud is a secured type of cloud that is reserved to a specific organization. They are commonly known as ‘’on premises’’ or ‘’on-prem’’ as they can physically be located on the organization’s on-site data center.

In some instances, an organization can also outsource private clouds by partnering up with a third-party cloud service provider who can manage their cloud on behalf of ṭhe organizations. However, those clouds are exclusively dedicated to a particular organization to match the business needs of the organization.
Private cloud provides all the computing services such as storage, database and software to a single user. This type of cloud provides high-control, flexibility and scalability as they are maintained on a private network that makes it easy to manage the cloud environment.
Private clouds are usually used by organizations such as government agencies, financial institutions and healthcare providers.

Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is a type of cloud that is the combination of a private and public cloud along with on-premises infrastructure, hence the name ‘’hybrid’’. In hybrid cloud, organizations can utilize public cloud services at the same time, maintain their privacy and security by using private cloud services. Hybrid cloud services are highly demanded these days as almost every organization never relies on a single cloud.

Hybrid cloud allows you to migrate between private and public clouds which help the organization manage their workload more efficiently. It gives the organization more deployment options, compliances and scalability.
Hybrid cloud has proven to be really cost-effective for organizations due to its distributed system. Moreover, organizations can also incorporate the existing on-premise infrastructure with the hybrid cloud which can maximize the investment. Hybrid clouds are aimed to allow organization shifts between private and public clouds that match their needed cloud environment.
Above is just the surface of what cloud computing is capable of and how it has enhanced the performance of various organizations. Want to learn more about how cloud computing can boost your company’s agility and scalability? Visit Naptera for more information!