Cloud Computing

In the last decade, Cloud Computing has sought immense significance in optimising business processes to get better control of the technology infrastructure while effectively utilising data sources for retrieving valuable insights. It is basically, a kind of computing that is largely scalable and directs the use of virtualised resources as a service over the internet. This concept is highly reliable for clients who don’t have expert knowledge of handling databases and can be adapted to suit the needs of the customers. The Cloud Computing services can be accessed via a web browser through the provided online applications and the data and software gets stored on the servers.

Since businesses do not own the physical infrastructure while availing Cloud Computing services, they prefer utilising those resources as a service. They pay only for the resources they use either on the pay as per use or on subscription basis.

Potential Of Cloud Computing

The market for Cloud based solutions is surging rapidly in almost all verticals and in different scales of business. While the Cloud Computing is an indispensable need for top global companies like IBM, Microsoft, Google, etc., it is also an integral part of the IT departments in smaller but fast growing companies like LongJump, Coghead, GoGrid, Enomaly, Mosso, etc.

Various research projects being carried on about Cloud Computing is on the rise owing to its increasing popularity in the mainstream IT literature and high success rate for businesses of all types and sizes. 

Cloud Computing solutions are being made available via these service models:-

1. SaaS (Software as a Service)

This is a kind of software deployment where the customers seek licensing of an application for using this service on demand. Vendors providing SaaS software may render access to the application through their own web server or may get IaaS and PaaS rented from others. In case of SaaS, the vendors offer common business applications accessible online through internet and data and software get stored in the cloud.

2. PaaS (Platform as a Service)

Here an Application Framework as a service layer is provided for building the software applications reliably. The basic purpose of PaaS is to act as an external hosted service to offer a platform for creating, running and operating applications. To fulfil these functions, it comprises of administration and management tools, security facilities, development tools, data management engines, run times and user management services that are based upon internet protocols.

3. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS refers to the offering of computer infrastructure in the form of a service. Instead of buying software, servers, data centre space or any network equipment, clients opt for IaaS resources as a completely outsourced service. The payment for availing this service is generally on the basis of utility computing and the amount of resources utilised.

The major advantages of opting for these Cloud based solutions are reduction in the capital expenditure on infrastructure and its cost of maintenance. Without having to own any hardware and software, enterprises can pay for the resources as per usage. The Cloud Computing service providers can share the computing power among multiple customers, thus improving the work efficiency of the servers and getting good returns on the fixed costs incurred on their maintenance.