What is cloud computing? Types of Cloud Computing
What is cloud computing and types of cloud computing
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is a model for delivering computing resources over the internet. It allows users to access and use shared pools of configurable resources (such as networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) on demand, without the need for managing or provisioning the underlying infrastructure.
This model can help organizations reduce costs and improve scalability, flexibility, and resilience. There are different types of cloud computing, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, which are defined based on how the cloud infrastructure is owned, managed and used.
Types of cloud computing
There are three main types of cloud computing: public, private, and hybrid.
- Public cloud: A public cloud is owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider, which makes computing resources available to the public over the internet. Public cloud services are provided on a pay-per-use basis and customers do not have control over the infrastructure. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are examples of public cloud providers.
- Private cloud: A private cloud is a cloud environment that is dedicated to a single organization. A private cloud can be owned, managed, and operated by the organization itself or by a third-party provider on behalf of the organization. A private cloud offers more control and customization options than a public cloud, but it may also require more management and maintenance.
- Hybrid cloud: A hybrid cloud is a combination of both public and private clouds that are connected and integrated to allow data and applications to move between them. A hybrid cloud can provide the benefits of both public and private clouds, such as cost savings, scalability, and security.
Another notable type of cloud computing is Multi-cloud: the usage of multiple cloud services from different providers in order to avoid vendor lock-in, minimize risks, and have more flexibility.
Uses of cloud computing
Cloud computing can be used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Data storage and backup: Cloud computing allows users to store and back up large amounts of data in the cloud, and access it from any device with an internet connection.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Cloud computing enables software applications to be accessed and used over the internet, eliminating the need for users to install software on their own devices.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Cloud computing allows organizations to rent computing resources, such as virtual machines and storage, on-demand, rather than having to invest in and maintain their own physical servers and storage systems.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Cloud computing enables organizations to develop, run, and manage applications in the cloud, without having to invest in and maintain their own infrastructure.
- Big data processing: Cloud computing offers powerful computing resources and storage that can be used to process large amounts of data and run complex analytics workloads.
- Disaster recovery and business continuity: Cloud computing allows organizations to maintain business continuity by storing and replicating data across multiple locations, and quickly spinning up new resources in the event of a disaster or disruption.
- Internet of Things (IoT): Cloud computing enables IoT devices to store and process data in the cloud, and run machine learning algorithms on that data to gain insights and make predictions.
- Serverless computing: Cloud computing also allows for serverless computing, also known as Function as a Service (FaaS), which enables organizations to write and run code without the need to provision or manage servers.
- Virtual Desktops: Cloud computing enables virtual desktops delivery to access their work environment from remote locations or different devices securely.
These are some examples of the many ways cloud computing can be used. The flexibility and scalability of cloud computing make it suitable for a wide range of workloads and use cases.