When people talk about computing or technology, the term “cloud” is a metaphor for the internet. You would have probably come across icons of clouds in diagrams to symbolize the internet. Imagine the internet as a virtual space that connects the billions of users from all over the world and shares information through various networks. That’s what the cloud does. If cloud computing has piqued your interest, consider signing up for cloud computing course singapore to learn more about how you can utilize the cloud.
What Exactly is Cloud Computing?
When we ask what cloud computing actually means, it refers to the sharing of resources, software, and information through a network, or more specifically through an Internet connection. Unfortunately, the cloud isn’t as fluffy as you would like it to think but is very useful for many individuals and organizations. Your data will be stored in either physical or virtual servers which are maintained and controlled by cloud computing providers like Amazon and their AWS product. As one of the users of cloud computing, you then access your stored information through an internet connection to reach your cloud.
Types of Cloud Computing
There are different types of cloud computing services today that can be categorized into three groups, consisting of Software as a Service (SaaS) like Microsoft 365, Platform as a Service (PaaS) such as salesforce.com, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) with the likes of Rackspace.
Examples of Popular Cloud Computing Services
To get a better understanding, it’s easier to relate the various types of cloud computing services to our modern real-world examples. The scale with NoSQL databases is constantly expanding and removes the need to save our documents on a singular device. With an Internet connection, you can access your personal documents and data from anywhere. You’ll realize that you’ve been spoiled for choice due to the vast cloud storage market.
Gone are the days of users saving our audio files or memorable photos on CDs and hard drives. There are now many cloud storage providers like Dropbox, Box.com, and Backblaze for you to keep your precious documents in the cloud. You can also compare the various providers on platforms like Cloudwards to best suit your financial budget and specific data needs.
Cloud Storage: How Does it Work?
With an internet service connection, cloud storage allows users to access and download data from your laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Users will also be able to edit documents online which allows for increased collaborations with other users as you will be able to work simultaneously on the same document. Depending on your needs, the fees vary for the storage. For individuals, you will probably get some cloud storage at zero cost in the beginning. An example of this would be your initial 5GB of Apple iCloud storage. For additional storage, you will have to pay a small fee either monthly or annually. For groups and organizations, prices will be framed differently to suit their needs.
Other Benefits of the Cloud
Besides just storage, other cloud-based services such as cloud hosting and servers can also help to make your work easier. You can check out how PaaS works with the Fastmetrics cloud phone service as it offers you a cloud PBX phone system and is hosted securely. An example of this would be your free video conference calls where you can communicate with anyone from anywhere with an internet connection, without using a software.
How Does Cloud Computing Work?
Like many other forms of technology, cloud systems have a front and back end. The front end of the cloud is what users or clients work with on their chosen devices and applications to access the cloud. Cloud computing systems don’t always have exactly the same user interface, but many would be roughly similar among their categories. For the back end of the cloud, the system differs based on the category of the service as well. The back end of SaaS will have systems to monitor, collaborate, and communicate, while that of PaaS will generally have a database, identity, and queues. Lastly, IaaS will have block storage, network, and systems to compute. Both the front end and back end of cloud computing services are equally important to ensure a seamless process of the sharing of data and would require experts to manage both sides of the service.
Dangers of Cloud Computing Technology
There are many security risks that are unique to cloud computing and users should be aware of the various risks and avoid vendors who refuse to provide details on their security programs. Some issues that you should consider before choosing a vendor include:
- Privileged user access
- Regulatory compliance
- Data Location
- Data Segregation
- Recovery
- Investigative Support
- Long-term Viability
How is Cloud Computing Technology Managed?
In the back end of the cloud, a central server exists to manage the cloud system. The main aim of it is to manage client demands and traffic to make sure everything runs seamlessly. There are a few rules that it follows and utilizes a middleware, a special software. Middleware provides networked computers’ permission to share information with each other.
How Do Cloud Service Providers Store So Much Data?
Cloud technology companies and providers often have to deal with multiple clients and have an increasingly high demand for storage space. With limited resources, many of us might be amazed by how much space of data they can store. Actually, the technique used here is called server virtualization. It “tricks” a physical server into believing that it’s actually multiple servers while running its own independent operating system individually. This method kills two birds with one stone as it reduces the need for physical machines and also maximizes the output of individual servers.
Cloud Computing is Everywhere
Now, you have a basic understanding of what cloud computing is all about and how it works. Try to think of the various cloud computing services that you are using on a day to day basis, and how it affects your lifestyle. From communication tools like Zoom to storage spaces such as Google Drive, cloud computing technology has helped make work more efficient and convenient, changing our lives for the better.