The Concept Of Cloud Computing And Its Advantages

By Author: Cisnet Training
Total Articles: 4
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The term cloud computing refers to the concept of using a network of remote servers to store, manage, share, access, process, handle and manipulate data rather than using a single local server or a personal computer for the same purpose. The connection to this remote server is established through the Internet.

A cloud computing system can be divided basically into two sections: front end and back end cloud computing. They are both connected to each other through a network path, the Internet. Front end is what the user sees and the back end is the ‘cloud’ of the system. Thus, the front end has the client's computer and the application required to access the cloud, while the back end has the cloud computing services being accessed like the servers and data storage devices, which in turn host specific data and applications. Traffic monitoring and system administrating are controlled by a central server, which in turn is governed by certain protocols and security-based parameters.

The impact and application of cloud computing varies slightly between a purely consumer-based model and a pure-business model. In the ...
... case of businesses, models like software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) come in. Again, there are various deployment models like public clouds, private clouds and hybrid clouds.
The main advantages of Cloud Computing for a business are
• By utilising a cloud-based service, companies save on physical infrastructure like servers and other hardware, which in turn are depreciating assets.
• There is a significant cost advantage, since the computing resource becomes more like a utility like electricity, which is payable as per the amount used.
• There is a significant reduction of manpower, since the need for skilled IT personnel is reduced.
• The data and services can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Thus, a common platform is easily established, even when the operations are spread around the world.
• It is easy to scale up and scale down operations, depending on the business need.
• Since systems are centralized, it is easy to install updates to software, monitor performance and perform other functions.

Cloud computing thus allows a business of any scale and type to run smoothly, without being held back by the shackles or need of skilled IT resources and other related IT obstacles. Further, some of the most admired companies from around the world like Amazon, Microsoft and Google provide excellent hosting and cloud computing options and software, to suit any need.
Many businesses have realized the benefits of shifting to a cloud-based system and it will be interesting to see the developments in technology and other aspects in this field in the near future.