The Ins and Outs of Cloud Computing

Right now, cloud computing is seen as the future of information technology. The Internet is the cloud, and businesses and personal users are all switching over to computing that is now based on the Internet rather than on their own hardware. You can make use of apps that are based in the cloud and benefit in many ways. However, cloud computing encompasses all sorts of different services, so it’s a good idea to understand them all before you decide what you can use the cloud for.

 

 

Utility Computing

When you use electricity, you don’t have to generate the electricity yourself – the utility providers do that for you. Utility computing applies the same principle. You can run your essential IT services, but you don’t have to maintain the complicated hardware or the applications yourself. All that is taken care of by your cloud computing providers. You use your computing like you use electricity. Someone else takes care of the complex processes, and you simply use it as you need it.

 

Are There Any Risks?

You probably know about the advantages of cloud computing, but what about the risks? There are risks, such as a loss of service if the provider has downtime that is unplanned or if they go out of business. There’s also the risk of losing data and the security of your data. That’s why it is essential to choose your provider very carefully and research their downtime statistics and customer satisfaction.

 

Microsoft’s Cloud Computing

Microsoft has a cloud platform that provides a free basic service which is ideal for personal users. It includes email, blogging, and storing files online. There are also hosted business services that allow you to work collaboratively. Microsoft also provides software for businesses who wish to create their own platforms.

 

Amazon’s Cloud Computing Platform

Amazon is a well-known online retailer, but they have also become a cloud computing provider. They provide services that include the Elastic Compute Cloud, which is used by companies who require Windows or Linux virtual servers. They also offer the Simple Storage Service, used for storing files in the cloud. Unlike other platforms, Amazon is a developer platform. There aren’t applications that are ready to run.

 

Google’s Cloud Computing

Google offers cloud computing in the form of simple apps. These include an email service, online documents such as a word processor, spreadsheet capabilities, and basic graphics for presentations. You can edit your files in the Google Browser, and they are stored in the cloud. There is also the ability to custom-create applications using Java or Python.

 

Platform as a Service: PaaS

Platform as a Service is a series of lower-level services that can be offered by providers of cloud computing. These are services that can include operating systems, web servers, or even a computer language interpreter. With these services, it is possible for developers to create customised apps. Some examples of PaaS are Google App Engine and Windows Azure.

 

Rich Internet Application

These days, the best web browsers have very fast script engines, plug-ins, and rich graphics so that the capabilities of the browser can be extended. The rich internet application offers applications that run in the browser. This provides a great user experience and improved controls via a user interface, which was only previously made possible by installing an application to the desktop. Now, they can be cloud-based, saving space and improving the user experience quickly and efficiently.

 

Software as a Service

Software as a Service, or Saas, is the provision of ready-made services that you are able to use and access through your web browser. There’s no need for you to develop these services – they are there and ready to be used. This is probably how you have already accessed cloud computing without even realising it. For example, Google Mail and Google Docs are both forms of SaaS.