What is Cloud?
The term Cloud refers to a network or internet. Cloud is something, which is present at remote location. Cloud can provide services over public and private network ie- WAN, LAN or VPN
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud Computing refers to manipulating, configuring and accessing the hardware and software sources remotely.
It offers online data storage, and applications.
Cloud Computing offers platform in-dependency, as the software is not required to be installed locally on the PC.
Cloud Computing is a technique which provide a delivery of computing resources over the internet.
History of Cloud Computing -
The concept of Cloud Computing came into existence in the year 1950 with implementation of mainframe computers accessible via thin/static clients. Then cloud computing has been evolved from static clients to dynamic ones and from software to services.
Cloud Computing Architecture -
Cloud computing architecture comprises of many cloud components, which are loosely coupled.
We can broadly divide the cloud computing architecture into two parts :-
1) Front End 2) Back End
Each of the End's is connected through a network, usually internet.
Front End - The Front End refers to the client part of cloud computing system. It consist of interfaces and applications that are required to access the cloud computing platforms. eg- Web browser
Back End - The Back End refers to the cloud itself. It consist of all the resources required to provide cloud computing services. It comprises of huge data storage, virtual machines, security mechanism, services deployment models, servers etc.
Characteristics of Cloud Computing :-
1) On Demand Self Service - Cloud Computing allows the users to use web services and resources on demand. One can logon to a website at any time and use them.
2) Broad Network Access - Since cloud computing is completely web based, it can be accessed from anywhere and at any time.
3) Resource Pooling - Cloud Computing allows multiple users to share a pool of resources. One can share single physical instance of hardware, database and basic infrastructure.4) Rapid Elasticity - It is very easy to scale the resources vertically or horizontally at any time. Scaling of resources means the ability of resources to deal with increasing or decreasing demand.
Advantages -
- One can access any application over the internet.
- One can manipulate and configure the application online at any time.
- It does not require to install a software to access cloud application.
- Cloud Computing offers "on-demand self service". The resources can be used without interaction with cloud service provider.
- Cloud Computing is highly cost effective because it just requires an internet connection.
Disadvantages -
- Security and Privacy - cloud is provided by third party, it is always a risk to handover the sensitive information to cloud service provider.
- Lock In - It is very difficult for the customers to switch from one cloud service provider to another.
- Incomplete Data Deletion - It is possible that the requested for deletion may not get deleted.