Imagine if you can access your data or information from anywhere at any time; this is possible by the cloud. In contrast, a traditional computer requires you to stay at your location where your data storage device is located. Cloud eliminates the need to stay at a particular place to access all the information which you want. Users can access the required resources available on a cloud at any time and from any site.
In the field of information technology, a new technology comes into existence that is cloud computing. This new technology is widely used in information technology. Many organizations and users are using cloud services. This reduces local hosting, hardware failure, software installation, and other upgrades which in turn saves huge costs. Information, Resources and Software can be easily shared using cloud services.
It is replacing the large corporate data centers, private server infrastructure, which are expensive and it also decreases the labor operations, eliminates capital investment in hardware and other facilities. Cloud computing is also called internet computing as cloud is a set of hardware, interfaces, software-network which allow delivery of computing as a service.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing offers different services over the internet. Many resources are provided, like tools and applications such as software, hardware, data storage, databases, and networking. If we keep files on a local storage device, we cannot access the information from a remote location. Still, the cloud makes it possible to store the data at a remote area to access the data at any time and from any distant location. When the device is connected to the internet, all the data can be accessed and services can be used.
Users pay only for services and resources used which reduces cost and brings flexibility in managing and sharing the resources. This feature works like a rent instead of buying all the information, softwares, and databases. Many organizations of different sizes, types are using the cloud for various services such as data storage, data backup, software, resources, development, data analysis, web applications. For example, multinational companies use cloud services to store and manage massive data. Financial companies use the cloud for fraud detection and prevention. Business industries use the cloud for data analysis and statistics. Gaming industries use the cloud to provide online games to billions of users across the world. Learn more about cloud computing with the free cloud foundations course and get yourself started in this field.
Cloud Computing Services:
There are three types of services that the cloud provides. They are IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), and SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). When it comes to benefits, SaaS is a cloud-based software that is hosted in the cloud and can be accessed by a web browser, a desktop, or an API that integrates with desktop or mobile. SaaS can be availed by using pay as you go. It is the delivery model for commercial software. It offers thousands of solutions like departmental applications, artificial intelligence software. Therefore, a cloud architect training course can be helpful while setting up these services.
Paas offers developers on-demand platforms such as hardware, software stack, and other infrastructure. It is used for running, managing, and developing applications with minimum cost and much flexibility. Containers play a vital role in PaaS. These containers virtualize the operating system and allow developers to package the application with operating system services that need to run on any platform. No modification is necessary, and no middleware is required.
IaaS is also an essential service of cloud computing. It provides some of the fundamental computing resources such as virtual servers, physical servers, and storage. Users can use these resources over the internet based on their requirements and pay as per usage i-e pay-as-you-basis. It is a good cloud model for various types of workloads.
Working of Cloud apps :
Cloud data is stored in a remote data center and various compute cycles are operated by a third-party company. Security, uptime, integration, and several access methods are ensured by a back end. These cloud applications give quick responses, and the user doesn’t need to depend on the local device for data storage and management. It also provides offline function and online updation. These applications don’t always consume storage space on a computer. A faster internet connection enables cloud applications to offer all the interactivity of a desktop application.
In Both cloud applications and web applications, data is stored and accessed from a distant storage device; servers are used for processing a request and sending the reply, which is located in a remote data center. The main difference between a cloud application and a web application is architecture, and web applications always need a continuous internet connection for their functionality, whereas a cloud application does not need it. It functions processing tasks on a local computer. To download or upload data, an internet connection is required. A web application cannot be used if the remote server is unavailable. The cloud application can be used even though the remote server is unavailable and operations can be performed till the remote server is restored.
An example of a cloud application is google docs or office 365. A device qualified to run a web browser and an internet connection must access google docs or office 365. The remote servers provide the data storage and all the interface functionality . Gmail, for example, is a web application that requires a browser and internet connectivity for its functioning. By using the browser we can open, write and organize messages through search and sort techniques. In this way, cloud applications have a vast demand in information technology for faster access and operation of data with utmost security.
Testing cloud apps :
It is the type of software testing in which the application software is tested using cloud computing services. Cloud testing ensures that the software used is fully functional, and is available with flexibility and security to save time and cost. That is why cloud testing has a huge scope in business industries.
Before deployment of a cloud application, it must be tested to ensure good performance and security. It must allow all the internet communications with various clouds to access data from multiple sources at a time. As the cloud contains containers, these are to be tested in terms of their performance, accuracy, and security. Various potential attacks like phishing, denial of services and social engineering must also be tested.
Benefits of cloud apps :
Fast response: By using cloud applications data storage, updating and management can be performed quickly, providing business enterprises with fast time to market and agility.
Simple to operate: The third-party could providers can manage the infrastructure.
Instant scalability: Depending on the market need, adjust the available capacity.
API use: By using an application programming interface third-party data and storage services can be accessed.Reduce the size of the cloud applications by using APIs to hand data to applications.
Reduced costs: As cloud applications offer pay-as-you-go, it results in huge costs saving. The data centers which are run by a major cloud infrastructure have lower prices.
Data sharing and security: As data is stored on remote data centers, authorized users can access the data from any place and at any time. World-class security is provided to all the cloud applications.
Access to automatic updates: Automatic update feature allows users to get all the latest technology installed automatically onto their system. This includes software updates and upgrades of servers.
Conclusion
Various institutes like JAIN University, Amity University, IIT Madras etc., provide PG programs in cloud computing which can help elevate your career options.
