Cloud Computing
Overview
Imagine you've built a web app for your business or personal project. You want to make it available to the world and ensure that it can handle heavy traffic without crashing. One solution would be to buy and manage your own servers, but that can be expensive and time-consuming. Instead, you can use cloud computing to easily deploy your web app on a network of powerful computers managed by someone else. This way, you can focus on developing your app while leaving the technical details of server management to the experts.
Cloud computing is a way to use computers and software over the internet instead of having them physically in your office. When you use cloud computing, you can access a vast network of computers and services that are managed by someone else, which can save you a lot of time and money.
Cloud computing allows you to easily and quickly get the computing power you need, such as storage, processing, or software, without having to invest in your own hardware. This means you can focus on building and deploying your projects, without worrying about maintaining the underlying infrastructure.
With cloud computing, you can also scale up or down as needed, depending on your business needs. This means you can easily adjust the amount of computing power you use, so you only pay for what you need.
For example, instead of buying and maintaining their own servers, many companies are using cloud computing services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud to run their web applications. This allows them to quickly and easily scale up their infrastructure as their business grows, without having to worry about the underlying hardware.
SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS
Cloud computing is categorized into different types to help users understand and choose the most suitable cloud service model for their business needs. Each category of cloud computing offers different benefits and capabilities, and understanding these categories can help businesses make informed decisions about how they want to leverage cloud services. The three major categories of cloud computing are Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): IaaS, or infrastructure as a service, is a cloud-based service that allows resources to be delivered to organizations virtually (or through the cloud). IaaS tools help organizations build and manage servers, networks, operating systems, and data storage without needing to buy hardware. Example, Suppose you want to develop a web app that requires a lot of computing resources and storage space. Instead of purchasing and maintaining your own hardware, you could use an IaaS provider like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure to access virtual servers, storage, and networking infrastructure on the cloud. You could then install and manage your own operating system, software, and applications on these virtual resources.
PaaS (Platform as a Service): A PaaS, or platform as a service, provides developers with a framework they can use to build custom applications. PaaS doesn’t deliver software over the internet, but rather a platform that developers can use to create online software and apps. Example, If you want to build a custom web app without worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure, a PaaS provider like Heroku or Google App Engine could be a good choice. These platforms provide a pre-configured environment and development tools that allow you to quickly build, deploy, and scale your web app. You can focus on writing code and developing features, without worrying about configuring servers or managing databases.
SaaS (Software as a Service): SaaS, or software as a service, refers to cloud-based software that is hosted online by a company, is available for purchase on a subscription basis, and is delivered to buyers via the internet. One example of a SaaS provider is PayPal. With PayPal, businesses can sign up for a subscription and use the hosted payment gateway to accept credit card and other electronic payments from customers. This eliminates the need for businesses to develop and maintain their own payment gateway software, as PayPal takes care of it all.
All three categories of cloud computing, namely IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, can be accessed through an internet browser or online apps on various devices.
Each cloud service model offers a different level of control, implying varying levels of responsibility on your part. The service provider manages everything in a SaaS solution, and you can change some configurations once you sign up. Because you rent (rather than own) the infrastructure, you have complete control with IaaS. You control the application and data with PaaS solutions, while the service provider manages the rest of the stack.
When deciding between SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, you must decide how much you want to manage yourself and how much you want your service provider to manage. Here's a diagram showing how the three models (SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS) compare in terms of who manages what.
Public and Private Clouds
Public and private cloud refer to different types of cloud computing deployment models that differ in terms of ownership, accessibility, and control.
A public cloud is owned and operated by a third-party cloud service provider, who offers their computing resources, such as servers, storage, and networking, over the internet to customers on a pay-per-use basis. In a public cloud, multiple customers share the same infrastructure, and the service provider is responsible for managing and maintaining the hardware, software, and security of the cloud environment. Popular examples of public cloud providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
On the other hand, a private cloud is dedicated to a single organization and is typically hosted on-premises or in a data center. A private cloud can be managed by the organization itself or by a third-party service provider, and the infrastructure is not shared with other organizations. A private cloud offers greater control, security, and customization compared to a public cloud, but it also requires a higher upfront investment in hardware, software, and maintenance. Private clouds are commonly used by large enterprises, government agencies, and other organizations with high-security and compliance requirements.
It's worth noting that IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS can be deployed in both public and private clouds. In a public cloud, customers can subscribe to IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services from a cloud provider, while in a private cloud, the organization can build and manage its own IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions using its dedicated infrastructure.
Popular Platforms/Services
Following are a few popular ones that you might have heard of:
