Basics of Cloud Computing with examples

WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING -

The cloud concept is not new, but as more firms and businesses shift to cloud-based services, it is critical to comprehend the complexities of cloud computing terminology and concepts.
Some of us don’t know but we are using cloud computing every day. Every time we access the Internet through our device for a particular data, regardless if that is work-related or for entertainment, there is a good chance that we are using cloud computing.

As per National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Definition -
Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Let me give you very simple definition - 

Think of Cloud as the Internet, and Cloud computing is a technical term for software operation and various services that run through the Internet (or an intranet) instead of installing and managing on your laptop, private servers and hard drives.

Example - using a document editor like Microsoft Word online in a browser rather than installing and using it in a laptop. 
let me give two more example - 
Email, Calendar, Skype, WhatsApp - Personal data can also be stored remotely via the cloud. Emails, calendars, Skype, and WhatsApp are cloud computing examples that we use every single day. They make use of the cloud feature of remote accessibility of data to support our data in the cloud infrastructure, helping us access them thru the Internet anytime, anywhere. Network-based communication tools like messaging and calling apps satisfy our needs for personal connectivity.
Social Media  - The power of social media is undeniable, yet this is the most overlooked cloud computing example. Some of these platforms that keep communities connected are Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter, and others. The process of building a network of communities, we also build network-based storage of our personal data, which is the cloud. Since the cloud can expand its resources based on the demands of the website, it can easily accommodate large data for storage and still be open for continuous growth of this collection of information.

Cloud computing Features -

1. Available on demand - Users can use the cloud to get computing resources whenever they need to, with no engagement from the service provider. Computing services should be completely on-demand, giving users control and agility to meet their changing needs.

2. Access anywhere - Cloud computing services are generally accessible over the network using consumers' preferred tools (e.g., laptops, desktops, smartphones, and so on).

3. Cost effective and scalable - Cloud computing helps businesses save money on hardware, software, and IT staff to maintain and also help in scaling so businesses can easily add or remove resources as needed.

4. Secure and Access control -  Cloud computing providers offer a high level of security for their data centers and businesses can also implement the access role for different users.

Different Type of Cloud Services - 

Cloud solutions come in three primary service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

IaaS - 

IaaS provides users with cloud-based access to storage, networking, servers, and other computing resources. While the customer is still in charge of managing their applications, data, middleware, and so on, IaaS provides automated and scalable settings that give the user a high degree of control and freedom.

Many firms, for example, employ IaaS to accommodate workload spikes during busy seasons (such as the holidays).

Example: DigitalOcean, Linode, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine (GCE), Rackspace, and Cisco Metacloud.

PaaS is a service layer primarily aimed at developers and operations personnel. Cloud-based platforms are rented by service providers allowing users to develop and distribute apps. In other words, PaaS provides a foundation that enables building, customizing, and deploying applications easier and more efficient.

Example: AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Windows Azure, Heroku, Force.com, Google App Engine, Apache Stratos, Magento Commerce Cloud, and OpenShift.

Saas - 

The most well-known cloud service paradigm is SaaS cloud application services. A third party hosts, packages, and delivers the software over the Internet (usually via a browser-based interface). Enterprises can shift management and maintenance costs to the vendor(s) by offering the software application over the Internet.

Email and customer relationship management software are two popular SaaS solutions.  

Example: BigCommerce, Google Apps, Salesforce, Dropbox, ZenDesk, Cisco WebEx, ZenDesk, Slack, and GoToMeeting.

Types of cloud computing -

There are three main types of cloud computing deployment models :-

• Public cloud: Public cloud services are provided by third-party vendors and are accessible to anyone over the internet. Examples of public cloud providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

• Private cloud: Private cloud services are hosted on a company's own servers or on servers that are dedicated to a single customer. Private clouds offer more control and security than public clouds, but they are also more expensive to set up and maintain.

• Hybrid cloud: Hybrid cloud solutions combine elements of both public and private cloud computing. This allows businesses to benefit from the flexibility and scalability of public cloud services, while also maintaining control over their sensitive data.

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