The market for cloud computing solutions is growing at an astounding rate. It’s expected to be worth over $600 billion in the next few years.
This growth is the result of business leaders investing in cloud infrastructure.
Just what is cloud computing and how does it work? We’ll walk you through the most important cloud computing concepts to bring you up to speed. Once you’re a cloud computing expert, you’ll be able to decide the best way to adapt it to your business.
What Is the Cloud?
First things first. What is the cloud anyway?
It’s a question many people ask as they begin wondering about cloud IT solutions for their business. Should you switch? What are the uses of cloud computing?
Cloud computing makes use of storage on networks of servers and other devices. These machines are non-local, and data may be backed up and synced across several sets of servers.
Cloud computing infrastructure allows for more uptime. It also makes it easier for your team members to collaborate with each other.
In the past, you had to send a file from your desktop to another team member, then ask them to send it back. With the cloud, you can share the document through the cloud and collaborate in real-time.
Of course, sharing documents isn’t the only function of the cloud. Some businesses use the cloud to deliver infrastructure for their own business operations. Others use it to support an app or even to access the software they need to get the job done.
Cloud Computing Concepts of Service
When you talk about cloud computing, you’ll likely hear acronyms being bandied about. SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS looks like alphabet soup, but refer to the different service models.
SaaS is usually the most familiar to people. It stands for “software as a service.” In this model, you’ll buy a subscription to a cloud-based program.
This subscription allows you to access the software from anywhere, on any device. The provider maintains the servers, updates the program, and backs up your data to the servers. That way, your information is always available, even when you’re on the go.
IaaS, or “infrastructure as a service,” is the next most common model. Instead of buying access to a program, you buy access to various hardware, such as servers. This allows you to create a network that can expand to make sure your app is always running.
Finally, there’s PaaS, or platform as a service. PaaS allows your development team to work within a platform, such as Google Platform. Within this structure, they can build and deliver customized apps for your audience.
Private, Public, and Hybrid Clouds
Next up on the list of cloud computing concepts is the types of cloud available. There are three types of cloud available:
- Public clouds
- Private clouds
- Hybrid clouds
The type of cloud is different than the type of service. For example, you can have a public cloud for SaaS delivery, and a private cloud to deliver your infrastructure.
What are the differences between these types of cloud computing? It’s all in the name.
A public cloud serves the general public. Anyone can join and be part of the cloud.
A private cloud belongs to a single tenant. They can also be on-site or off-site, while public clouds are almost always remote.
A private cloud gives your business increased security. If you handle sensitive data or have strict rules you need to follow, a private cloud might be the better choice.
Most businesses adopt public clouds because they’re more affordable and more flexible.
Another good option is a hybrid cloud. As the name implies, this type of cloud gives you the best of both public and private clouds. Many businesses find it more flexible, which helps them meet their needs.
Regions, Zones, and Geographies
Many people think of the cloud as an abstract entity that exists digitally. In reality, the cloud is powered by hardware like servers and connections to power grids.
The major difference is that the cloud uses large, off-site data centers. Microsoft Azure, Google, and Amazon Web Services make use of many data centers to deliver service.
Geography is still incredibly important when it comes to cloud computing operations. Cloud providers offer data centers that are close enough together to provide business continuity. They’re also far enough apart to prevent both from being taken offline in a disaster.
AWS calls these availability zones or AZs. Each AZ has many Internet and power connections. Several AZs are included in each AWS region, which are located in different areas.
Google has a similar structure, with regions subdivided into zones. Clients should deploy their applications across zones and regions to protect against outages.
Microsoft uses a slightly different structure, with regions and what it calls geographies. Customers can use geography to meet data-residency and compliance needs.
Why Geography Matters
You may need to think about geography to ensure compliance with laws, such as about where data is stored.
Geography is also important for disaster planning. If a data center goes down due to a power outage, you’ll want to be able to access your programs or deliver your apps.
The structure provided by the big cloud companies protects against unexpected downtime.
Multicloud Management
More recently, you may have heard business leaders talking about “multicloud management.” As cloud computing has grown, many businesses have started using more than one cloud.
You may have adopted a cloud-based application for your accounting. Your website development team, though, is using Google’s Cloud Platform.
To streamline the use of several clouds, there are now cloud management platforms and cloud service brokers. These options let you manage all your clouds as one.
Put Your Business on Cloud Nine
By understanding these cloud computing concepts, you can make better decisions about solutions.
If you need more business advice, technical or otherwise, be sure to check out more of our informative articles.
