introduction to cloud computing

A Simple Introduction to Cloud Computing

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]

Introduction to Cloud Computing – Lately, there has been an exponential rise in technology advancements, especially in the field of cloud computing. ​​Believe it or not, the concept of cloud computing has been around since the 1950s. At that time, large-scale mainframes were available to schools and enterprises. The mainframe’s colossal hardware infrastructure is installed in a “server room” (this is because a typical room can only accommodate one mainframe). Some users can enter these mainframes via a “dumb terminal”, a station with the sole function of facilitating access to the mainframe.

The cost of purchasing and maintaining the mainframe can be quite heavy. Oftentimes, organizations cannot afford to buy a mainframe for every user. It’s  more practical to grant multiple users access to the same data storage layer and CPU power from any station. By doing so, organizations will receive a better return on investment from this cutting-edge piece of technology. To better understand the Cloud’s history, you can learn more about it here. So what exactly is cloud computing?

What will you read:

Introduction: What is Cloud Computing?

Simply put, cloud computing is a digital service that provides the means to open programs or data from servers on the internet. Cloud is a computing model in which servers, networks, storage, development tools and even applications are operated over the internet. Instead of placing large investments in purchasing equipment, staff training, and providing ongoing maintenance, some or all of these needs are handled by cloud service providers.

Cloud computing utilizes the internet as a central server for managing data and user applications,  making it easier for people to run programs without having to install the actual applications first. Moreover, users will have the convenience of accessing data and information whenever, and wherever there is internet connection. 

Why is Cloud Computing Important?

What are the benefits of cloud computing? Prior to cloud technology, companies had to store all of their data and software on hard drives and servers. This can be a hassle because the bigger a company grows, the more storage they’ll need. It’s neither scalable nor efficient. For example, if your business is booming and there’s suddenly an influx of online orders, your server may crash. Cloud technology prevents this from happening and having a skilled IT team well versed in utilizing it can lead to a more effective business model. 

In fact, without us realizing it, it’s not only businesses that benefit from cloud computing. Many of us use cloud services every day. When you update your status on social media,  stream a new TV series, or check your bank account, you are most likely using an application hosted by a cloud service. This application is powered by an internet connection, not installed on your hard drive or device.

Cloud Computing can save businesses time and money by increasing productivity, enhancing collaboration, and promoting innovation. The following are additional benefits that small and medium-sized businesses can get from cloud computing solutions:

Hassle-free Data Access

Cloud computing stores data on the internet, instead of on computers or servers in your office. The information is available from a central internet-based server that gives anyone access to information from any location..

Cost Saving

Maintaining server equipment takes a lot of time, expertise, and money. Instead of building your own bespoke servers, which are prone to downtime, cloud computing providers store the data for you without all the drawbacks.

Seamless data backup

Data loss can happen at any time. It could be due to a natural disaster, a power surge, or a hardware failure. By leveraging the cloud to store important data, business owners can rest easy knowing that important files are safe even if the hardware fails.

Updated and synchronized

When multiple workers are working on the same digital file,  it can easily go wrong. Since files hosted in the cloud are at the same central location, data is automatically synced between all devices, which means people can automatically get the latest versions of the files stored. 

Anytime, Anywhere

Sometimes businesses utilize software not commonly used at home. Since specialized software is often installed on corporate computers in the office, cloud computing allows users to access all kinds of files and applications anytime, anywhere By removing barriers for employees, no matter where they’re physically located, cloud computing brings the office to their desk.

Maybe you also want to read Are Programmers Still In High Demand?

Introduction to the Types of Cloud Computing Services

IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service

IaaS provides the basic computing resources, such as physical or virtual servers, operating system software, storage, network infrastructure, and data center space that can be implemented on a pay-as-you-go basis. IaaS allows you to lease a physical IT infrastructure to build your own remote data center in the cloud, instead of building an on-premises data center. The MVPs in this particular field are Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.

PaaS – Platform as a Service

PaaS provides a complete cloud-based platform to develop, run, and manage applications without the cost, complexity, and constraints  of building and maintaining those platforms on-premises. The PaaS provider hosts servers, networks, storage, operating system software, and databases in its data centers. Through these cloud services, software developers are given access to cloud-based tools such as APIs, gateway software or web portals. Services like Salesforce’s Lightning, Google App Engine, and Elastic Beanstalk from AWS are popular solutions.

SaaS – Software as a Service

SaaS is an application software that runs in the cloud, and is usually used over the internet with a web browser for a monthly or annual fee. This is currently the most widely used form of cloud computing. If you’ve used salesforce.com, Hubspot, or Carbonite, then you’ve used SaaS. It is accessible via computers  as well as internet-connected mobile devices, with applications that allow you to collaborate, download files, and work directly on specialized programs.

Serverless Computing

Serverless computing (commonly referred to simply as “serverless”) is a highly efficient PaaS, which differs from conventional PaaS in two important ways:

  • Serverless shifts all responsibility for infrastructure management tasks (scaling, scheduling, patching, and provisioning) to the cloud provider, allowing developers to focus all their time and energy on code.
  • Serverless runs code only on demand — that is, when requested by an application, allowing cloud customers to pay for computing resources only while their code is running. With no servers, you don’t have to pay for idle computing capacity.

 

 

There are still many more topics to cover when it comes to introduction to cloud computing. Such as other variations of cloud computing,  cloud computing security, cloud financing and others that will be discussed in our next articles. But worry not, you can get this information at various seminars and webinars. One of which is  Clouducation: Simplify Technology For Your Life; a virtual event hosted by G2Academy on November 19th 2021.

This event, which is held in conjunction with Amazon Web Service, will provide a new experience in understanding cloud technology and its impact on businesses in Indonesia. You can connect with leading experts as they share key insights on how the AWS Cloud and other emerging technologies provide new growth opportunities for everyone.

We are excited to bring a platform where you can interact with other technology enthusiasts and learn from some of the brightest minds in the industry.

Looking forward to seeing the possibilities and milestones that emerge when brilliant humans connect with brilliant technology. Join Clouducation event and discover the future of Indonesia’s digital transformation with us. 

References:

https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/cloud-computing-index

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4427-cloud-computing-small-business.html

https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/cloud-computing-gbl

Image credit: Technology photo created by rawpixel.com – www.freepik.com

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Posted

in

by

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments