There’s a lot of talk around at the moment about cloud computing and its benefits to organisations and individuals. So what is cloud computing and why should you care?
The term ‘cloud’ comes from the wide-spread practice of diagrammatically representing everything outside of a local network (ie the internet) as a cloud.
Basically, cloud computing is internet-based computing using shared resources, software and information that is provided on-demand.
In essence, all software, servers, applications and data storage are hosted by a third-party provider instead of in-house.
If you use Hotmail or Yahoo, Flickr, YouTube or GoogleDocs, you’re already using the cloud! Facebook is in the cloud. So is Twitter. Amazon is also there.
The Benefits of the Cloud:
- Accessible anywhere, anytime, from any internet-enabled tool: PC, laptop, phone
- Scalable: you can increase or decrease computing capability according to need and only pay for what you use
- No hardware or software maintenance required. That’s all carried out by the provider
Issues to consider:
- Security: Responsibility for the safety of your data is with a third-party provider, not you. Susceptibility to cyber attack
- Availability: Loss of access to your data or applications during bandwidth interruptions
- Data Governance: Compliance with data protection regulations of wherever your data is stored. Control over data if the provider goes out of business
The advantages of cloud computing to organisations like the LGAQ are that costs can be substantially reduced. Data storage capacity can be quickly and easily scaled up (or down) without the need to purchase (and maintain) extra servers. IT staff are freed up from managing server and software issues like licencing, updates, compatibility and can focus on innovation instead. Staff can work from anywhere.
Cloud Service Models:
- Software As A Service (SaaS): Also known as an Application Cloud. Nothing is hosted on local computers. All the software runs on the provider’s cloud infrastructure and users access it via a web browser. The software vendor makes the software available to users on a subscription basis and charges are based on the product usage. SaaS can save organisations the expense of buying hardware and software and removes the maintenance costs.
- Platform As A Service (PaaS): Also known as a Service Cloud. Allows organisations to develop their own applications using programming language and tools supported by the provider, who is responsible for the maintenance and control of the underlying cloud infrastructure.
- Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS): Also known as Hardware as a Service. As its name implies, an organisation pays to use the equipment that supports its operations – the servers, hardware, storage and networking components. The provider is responsible for housing, running and maintaining the equipment.
Deployment models:
- Public Cloud: what we understand as the cloud. Operated by a thrid-party provider. Open to everyone. Comprises of a mix of users logging into their part of the server. Has maximum scalability but alos increased risks.
- Private Cloud: the cloud infrastructure is run exclusively for an organisation. It may be run by the organisation or by a third party. It may be housed on site or off site.
- Community Cloud: a cloud shared by several organisations, eg a government cloud, that have shared concerns. Again, it can be run by the organisations, or a third party and be hosted either on or off site.
- Hybrid Cloud: Also known as cloudbursting, a hybrid cloud is a composition of any or all of the above cloud models. A hybrid cloud allows an organisation to take advantage of the scalability of the public cloud without compromising its data security.
Still confused about the whole cloud computing thing? Have a look at this video. It gives a very clear explanation of what cloud computing is and how it works
