CLASSWORK 10: What is Cloud Computing?

1. What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is the delivery of different services through the Internet and these resources
include tools and applications like data storage, servers, databases, networking and software.
Rather than keeping files on a proprietary hard drive or local storage device, a cloud-based
storage makes it possible to save them to a remote database. As long as an electronic device
has an access to the web, it has access to the data and the software programs to run it.
Besides that, cloud computing is a popular option for people and businesses because it saves
costs, increases productivity, speed and efficiency, performance and also security.
2. What are the different cloud services that are available?
Below are the major types of Cloud Computing:-
I. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – IaaS is the lowest level of cloud solution and it refers
to the cloud-based computing infrastructure as a fully-outsourced service. An IaaS
provider will deliver pre-installed and configured hardware or software through a
virtualized interface. Benefits of IaaS include it reduces total cost of ownership an
capital expenditures, access to enterprise-grade IT resources and infrastructure and
users pay for the service that they want on the go.
II. Platform as a Service (PaaS) – It is similar to IaaS but PaaS is more advanced. With
PaaS, apart from simply providing infrastructure, providers also offer a computing
platform and solution stack as a service. PaaS services are mostly used by companies
that need help to develop, test, collaborate and deploy cloud solutions for particular
applications. Benefits of PaaS include, no more upgrades, lower costs and simplified
deployment.
III. Software as Service (SaaS) – SaaS providers provide fully functionally web-based
applications on demand to customers. The applications are mainly targeted at
business users and can include web conferencing, ERP, CRM, email, time management
and project tracking among others. Benefits of SaaS include rapid scalability,
accessibility from any location with Internet, eliminates infrastructure concerns and
custom levels of service offerings.
IV. Recovery as a Service (RaaS) – RaaS solutions help companies to replace their backup,
archiving, disaster recovery and business continuity solutions in a single, integrated
platform. RaaS providers protect and can help companies to recover entire data
centres, servers (OS, applications, configuration and data) and data (files and
databases). RaaS also helps businesses to reduce the impact of downtime when
disasters happen. Benefits of RaaS include preventing temporary or permanent loss of
critical company data, cost-effective way of recovering data and enabling a faster
recovery while maintaining accuracy.
3. How can Cloud Services benefit small and medium sized companies?
I. Lower costs, more savings and higher profits
With cloud computing, hardware becomes more efficient. What they used to do using a
roomful of computers can now be accomplished with just one or two units of hardware,
situated in one corner of the office premises. In some cases, small businesses do not even
have to buy new servers or powerful (often expensive) machines, because by availing the
service of a third-party provider, they will only have to pay a fee corresponding to what they
used. Lower costs meaning that the small businesses will register higher net earnings, as well
as more savings. It will also be able to put its resources to other ventures that will help to
boost the business further.
II. Increased flexibility and mobility
Small businesses no longer have to be confined in one location. It would be an advantage for
the small businesses to be more flexible and mobile. Small businesses will have advantages
like the ability to access files, data and other information wherever they are by using any
devices. This way, managers and employees are able to continue working even they are away
from the office Being able to work remotely has been seen as an effective way to increase the
employees’ productivity.
III. Facilitated collaboration among members
Through cloud computing, file sharing is enabled so everyone can collaborate among
themselves easily. It is painstaking process for many employees to be working on something
that has only one source file like in the past, but now, with a right permission settings, multiple
employees can do so. And they do not need to worry about overlaps leading to confusion
since synchronization of all data will be done over the Internet.
IV. Increased data security and document
Recent developments in cloud computing technology were focused on improving the security
of data. Cloud now has security certificates and encryption processes that make data more
secured thus giving small businesses peace of their mind that vital and confidential
information will remain so. Backup worries will plague managers and business owners less
especially since automatic backups are built into cloud.
V. Faster disaster recovery
The backup and recovery solutions available in cloud make disaster recovery much faster,
easier and fuss-free. Not only does it speed up the entire recovery period, it also will save the
business owners from buying a new hardware, software and programs.