What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a dynamic style of computing in which virtualized resources are provided as a service over the internet. The users of cloud computing need not to worry about the capital expenditure and maintenance cost of hardware and software resources. They have to pay only what they are using. This can be of two types. User can either pay the provider based on the resources consumed during the time period or a time based subscription.

Cloud Computing Infrastructure

The Cloud Computing services are delivered through data centers & servers with different steps of reliable virtualization technologies. These are accessible from anywhere over the world with only an internet connection as it appears as a single point of access over the net.

Cloud Computing Characteristics

The main characteristics of Cloud computing is:
-  Add or Remove capacity on demand
-  Pay for what you use as you go
-  Reduce cost by implementing Automation

Cloud Computing Types

There are three different types of cloud computing:

• Public computing
• Private computing
• Hybrid computing

Public cloud computing is a type of computing where the providers shares the resources to the consumers dynamically via web services over the internet and bills on consumption basis.

Private cloud computing is a type of computing where the resources are shared in a private network.

Hybrid cloud computing consists of multiple public & private clouds.

Cloud Computing Architecture

Cloud computing architecture is defined as Infrastructure as a Service, Software as a Service and Platform as a Service. Infrastructure as a Service provides all the required hardware resources on terms of consumptions. User has to pay the bill based on the unit consumed during the period. So there is no need to purchase high cost servers, data center spaces or network devices.

In Software as a Service providers gives an application by hosting them on their own servers to the user on demand. It actually delivers a single piece of application to multiple consumers at a time.

Platform as a service delivers computing platform & solution as a service. So there is no need to buy & maintain any hardware & software for building & deploying web applications. It offers design, development, testing, deployment & hosting application throughout it's complete life cycle over the internet.

Cloud Computing Advantages

Cloud Computing is a platform which enables hosting of applications in a virtual environment over the internet. It supplies all the necessary hardware, software & storage capacity in terms of high end servers & data centers. So, there is no need to purchase or maintain those resources locally. Hence, it reduces the cost of purchasing hardware or storage space.

The amount of storage space which required by the end user, has to pay only that much of amount and whenever require he can increase or decrease the amount of space to be paid. Due to its automation, no one has to worry about keeping the software's updated with all the security patches.

For its flexibility over the internet, one can work from any location & can access their data from wherever they are rather than sitting on their own work-desk.