Cloud Computing

Cloud is a parallel and distributed computing system consisting of a collection of inter-connected and virtualized computers that provides computing resources based on service-level agreements (SLA). Cloud Computing includes anything that provides hosted services over the internet.

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing resources and services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet ("the cloud") with pay-as-you-go pricing.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing:

On-Demand Self-Service:

Cloud computing allows users to provision and manage resources as needed, without requiring any interaction with the service provider. Users can scale resources up or down based on their requirements.

Broad Network Access:

Cloud services are accessible over the internet from a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more, making them widely available to users from any location.

Rapid Elasticity:

Cloud services can quickly scale up or down based on demand. This elasticity allows users to easily adapt to changing workload requirements and avoid over-provisioning.

Resource Pooling:

Resource pooling is one of the key characteristics of cloud computing. A cloud service provider can provide each client with different services based on their demands by employing resource pooling to divide resources across many clients.

Measured Service:

Cloud computing resources are monitored and metered, providing a pay-as-you-go model. Users are billed for the resources they consume, which can lead to cost savings.

Multi-tenancy:

Cloud computing providers can support multiple tenants (users or organizations) on a single set of shared resources.

Security:

Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect their users’ data and ensure the privacy of sensitive information.

Scalability:

Cloud services can easily scale vertically (increasing the power of a single resource) or horizontally (adding more resources).

Automation:

Cloud computing services are often highly automated, allowing users to deploy and manage resources with minimal manual intervention.

Service Models:

Cloud computing offers various service models, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Deployment Models:

Cloud computing offers deployment models such as public cloud (services available to anyone over the internet), private cloud (services dedicated to a single organization), hybrid cloud (a combination of public and private cloud), and community cloud (shared infrastructure among several organizations).