Difference between revisions of "Cloud computing"

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= Cloud Computing =
  
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'''Cloud computing''' provides on-demand access to computer resources like data storage and processing power, without direct user management. It typically involves data centers accessible over the Internet, allowing users to access applications, services, and data hosted on remote servers by a cloud provider. This model relies on shared resources for efficiency and is often offered on a pay-per-use basis.
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'''Cloud computing''' is the [[On-demand computing|on-demand]] availability of [[computer resource|computer system resources]], especially [[Computer storage|data storage]] and [[Processing power|computing power]], without direct active management by the user. The term is generally used to describe [[Data center|data centers]] available to many users over the [[Internet]].
 
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Cloud computing relies on sharing resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale. Users can access applications, services, and data hosted on remote [[Server (computing)|servers]] provided by a [[Cloud computing vendor|cloud provider]], rather than managing the underlying [[Computer hardware|hardware]] and [[Software|software]] themselves. It is often offered on a [[Pay-as-you-go|pay-per-use]] basis.
 
  
 
== Overview ==
 
== Overview ==
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Cloud computing shifts the burden of owning, operating, and maintaining IT infrastructure (like servers, storage systems, networking equipment) from the individual user or organization to a third-party provider. Users access these resources typically through a [[web browser]] or dedicated client software over the Internet.
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Cloud computing transfers the responsibility of IT infrastructure (servers, storage, networking) from the user to a third-party provider. Users typically access these resources via a web browser or client software over the Internet.
  
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Key characteristics include:
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Key characteristics:
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* **On-demand self-service:** Users can provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically, without requiring human interaction with each service provider.
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* '''On-demand self-service:''' Users can instantly provision computing resources without provider interaction.
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* **Broad network access:** Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, PDAs).
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* '''Broad network access:''' Services are available over the network, accessible from various devices.
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* **Resource pooling:** The provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
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* '''Resource pooling:''' Provider resources serve multiple users, dynamically assigned as needed.
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* **Rapid elasticity:** Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.
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* '''Rapid elasticity:''' Resources can quickly scale up or down automatically with demand.
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* **Measured service:** Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service. Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
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* '''Measured service:''' Resource usage is monitored and reported, ensuring transparency.
  
 
== Service Models ==
 
== Service Models ==
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Cloud providers offer services at different levels of the IT stack. The most common service models are:
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Cloud providers offer services at different levels:
  
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; [[Infrastructure as a Service]] (IaaS)
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; Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
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: The provider offers virtualized [[Computer hardware|computing hardware]] resources over the internet, such as [[Virtual machine|virtual machines]], [[Computer storage|storage]], and [[Computer networking|networking]]. The user is responsible for installing and managing the operating systems, applications, and middleware.
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: Provides virtualized computing resources (virtual machines, storage, networking) over the internet. Users manage operating systems and applications.
  
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; [[Platform as a Service]] (PaaS)
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; Platform as a Service (PaaS)
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: The provider offers hardware and a software platform, typically including an [[Operating system|operating system]], [[Database|database]], and [[Web server|web server]]. This allows customers to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.
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: Offers hardware and a software platform (operating system, database, web server). Users can develop and run applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
  
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; [[Software as a Service]] (SaaS)
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; Software as a Service (SaaS)
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: The provider offers complete [[Software application|software applications]] over the internet, accessible via a web browser or client application. The user only interacts with the software; the provider manages the underlying infrastructure, operating system, and application maintenance.
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: Delivers complete software applications over the internet, accessible via a web browser. The provider manages all underlying infrastructure and application maintenance.
  
 
== Deployment Models ==
 
== Deployment Models ==
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Cloud infrastructure can be deployed and managed in different ways:
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Cloud infrastructure can be deployed in various ways:
  
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; [[Public cloud]]
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; Public cloud
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: The cloud infrastructure is owned and operated by a third-party cloud provider and shared among multiple customers (tenants) over the public internet. Examples include [[Amazon Web Services]] (AWS), [[Google Cloud Platform]] (GCP), and [[Microsoft Azure]].
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: Owned and operated by a third-party provider, shared among multiple customers over the internet (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).
  
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; [[Private cloud]]
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; Private cloud
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: The cloud infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization. It may be managed by the organization itself or by a third party. It can be physically located on the organization's premises or off-site.
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: Dedicated to a single organization, managed internally or by a third party, on-premises or off-site.
  
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; [[Hybrid cloud]]
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; Hybrid cloud
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: A combination of public and private clouds that remain distinct but are linked together, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. This allows organizations to leverage the benefits of both models.
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: Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
  
 
== Benefits ==
 
== Benefits ==
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Cloud computing offers numerous potential benefits:
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Cloud computing offers several advantages:
  
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* '''Cost Savings:''' Reduces capital expenditures on hardware and infrastructure. Often shifts costs to operational expenses with pay-per-use models.
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* '''Cost Savings:''' Reduces hardware costs, often shifting to a pay-per-use model.
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* '''Scalability and Elasticity:''' Easily scale resources up or down based on demand, avoiding over-provisioning.
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* '''Scalability:''' Easily adjust resources up or down based on demand.
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* '''Reliability:''' Providers often have distributed infrastructure, reducing the risk of downtime compared to single on-premises systems.
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* '''Reliability:''' Distributed infrastructure reduces downtime.
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* '''Accessibility:''' Access services and data from anywhere with an internet connection.
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* '''Accessibility:''' Access services and data from anywhere with internet.
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* '''Faster Deployment:''' Quickly provision resources and deploy applications compared to traditional methods.
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* '''Faster Deployment:''' Quickly provision resources and deploy applications.
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* '''Simplified IT Management:''' Reduces the need for in-house IT staff to manage physical hardware and low-level software.
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* '''Simplified IT Management:''' Less need for in-house IT staff to manage hardware.
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* '''Collaboration:''' Facilitates collaboration through shared applications and data.
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* '''Collaboration:''' Easier sharing of applications and data.
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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The concepts behind cloud computing, such as utility computing and time-sharing, date back to the 1960s. However, the modern era of cloud computing began to take shape with the rise of the Internet, virtualization technologies, and increasing network bandwidth in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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Cloud computing concepts, like utility computing, emerged in the 1960s. The modern era began in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the growth of the Internet, virtualization, and increased bandwidth. Key milestones include Amazon's EC2 and S3 launches in 2006, which popularized the IaaS model and spurred industry growth.
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Early developments included Application Service Providers (ASPs) offering software over the web. The launch of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) in 2006 and Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) in 2006 are widely considered milestones that popularized the IaaS model and helped define the modern understanding of cloud computing. Other major technology companies soon followed, leading to the rapid growth of the cloud industry.
 
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== See also ==
 
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* [[Virtualization]]
 
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* [[Data center]]
 
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* [[Pay-as-you-go]]
 
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* [[On-demand computing]]
 
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* [[Infrastructure as a Service]]
 
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* [[Platform as a Service]]
 
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* [[Software as a Service]]
 
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* [[Public cloud]]
 
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* [[Private cloud]]
 
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* [[Hybrid cloud]]
 
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== External links ==
 
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* [https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-145/final NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (SP 800-145)]
 
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* [https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-cloud-computing/ Amazon Web Services: What is Cloud Computing?]
 
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* [https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/cloud-computing-vs-traditional-it Microsoft Azure: Cloud Computing vs Traditional IT]
 
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== See Also ==
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* Virtualization
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* Data center
  
 
[[Category:Cloud computing]]
 
[[Category:Cloud computing]]
 
[[Category:Internet]]
 
[[Category:Internet]]
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[[Category:Computer networking]]
 
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[[Category:Software as a service]]
 
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[[Category:Data management]]
 
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[[Category:Virtualization]]
 
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[[Category:Technical terms]]
 

Revision as of 09:13, 30 May 2025

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing provides on-demand access to computer resources like data storage and processing power, without direct user management. It typically involves data centers accessible over the Internet, allowing users to access applications, services, and data hosted on remote servers by a cloud provider. This model relies on shared resources for efficiency and is often offered on a pay-per-use basis.

Overview

Cloud computing transfers the responsibility of IT infrastructure (servers, storage, networking) from the user to a third-party provider. Users typically access these resources via a web browser or client software over the Internet.

Key characteristics:

  • On-demand self-service: Users can instantly provision computing resources without provider interaction.
  • Broad network access: Services are available over the network, accessible from various devices.
  • Resource pooling: Provider resources serve multiple users, dynamically assigned as needed.
  • Rapid elasticity: Resources can quickly scale up or down automatically with demand.
  • Measured service: Resource usage is monitored and reported, ensuring transparency.

Service Models

Cloud providers offer services at different levels:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Provides virtualized computing resources (virtual machines, storage, networking) over the internet. Users manage operating systems and applications.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Offers hardware and a software platform (operating system, database, web server). Users can develop and run applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Delivers complete software applications over the internet, accessible via a web browser. The provider manages all underlying infrastructure and application maintenance.

Deployment Models

Cloud infrastructure can be deployed in various ways:

Public cloud
Owned and operated by a third-party provider, shared among multiple customers over the internet (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure).
Private cloud
Dedicated to a single organization, managed internally or by a third party, on-premises or off-site.
Hybrid cloud
Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.

Benefits

Cloud computing offers several advantages:

  • Cost Savings: Reduces hardware costs, often shifting to a pay-per-use model.
  • Scalability: Easily adjust resources up or down based on demand.
  • Reliability: Distributed infrastructure reduces downtime.
  • Accessibility: Access services and data from anywhere with internet.
  • Faster Deployment: Quickly provision resources and deploy applications.
  • Simplified IT Management: Less need for in-house IT staff to manage hardware.
  • Collaboration: Easier sharing of applications and data.

History

Cloud computing concepts, like utility computing, emerged in the 1960s. The modern era began in the late 1990s and early 2000s with the growth of the Internet, virtualization, and increased bandwidth. Key milestones include Amazon's EC2 and S3 launches in 2006, which popularized the IaaS model and spurred industry growth.

See Also

  • Virtualization
  • Data center
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