Information about Cloud Computing in brief?

This article gives information and details about Cloud Computing. Cloud computing is a term much in the air in the realm of Information Technology and modern. Cloud computing is in growing stage and more developments are to take place. In this situation, this article is a useful tool for understanding cloud computing.

What is Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is referred to as delivering computing as a service, provided by a vendor or provider of such services over internet and availed by user who does not own hardware or software other than just the end point access devices like PC or Laptop.

Cloud computing is the use of various services of IT and ,
1) the user does not own any hardware infrastructure or the software applications. He is just having internet connectivity and a device to access the internet like a personal computer or laptop.
2) the user either avails services on payment of a subscription, rent or even as free.
3) the user gets the service upgraded or downgraded as he likes.

What does 'cloud' denote

The term 'cloud' is just a euphemism for internet. During the early stages of internet, a cloud balloon was used to represent internet pictorially. It also suited because of the enigma of what happens inside as it is not seen outside just like that in cloud. What people know is that it rains from up in the cloud. Similarly internet udders do not see what happens in internets. They just get the needed data downloaded from top as if from sky and cloud.
Though the word cloud was used for internet since 1960, "Cloud computing" became popular from 2006 when Eric Schmidt used it to describe Google's approach to Software as a Service.

What are the types of Cloud

In cloud computing, the work load is not run on local applications , but they are shifted to be handled by the network of 'cloud' computers offsite or simply the 'cloud' takes care of it.
There are mainly 3 types of clouds namely:

1. Private Cloud

2. Public cloud

3. Hybrid cloud

What is a Private cloud

Some large want the benefits of cloud computing but they do not want to risk by transferring and entrusting data to third party. This is done by creating a cloud-like infrastructure in own organizational data centre. Private Cloud is that is within the confines of the organisation, maintained by the organisation with its own resources.

Public cloud

Public cloud is hosted and managed by the vendor of service and the use made openly available to the end user. Public cloud simply refers to the service providers.

Hybrid cloud

Hybrid cloud is the combination of both public and private cloud. Here the user avails of both public service and some internal service.

Is cloud computing super computing

The answer for the question whether cloud computing is supercomputing – is 'No'. Though it appears to the user that he gets whatever he wants straight from another super computer in reality, in cloud computing the data and applications actually come from a cloud of web servers. Cloud computing consist of two separate sections. Both interconnected through internet. What the user sees is the front end, and what is not seen by him but works from behind scenes is the back end or cloud. The back end consists of various computers, servers and data storage systems that make the cloud of computing services. A cloud computing system can serve any computer program from that of data processing to complex video games. There will be generally committed servers to separate applications.

What are the models of cloud computing service

Cloud computing is delivering on internet, the shared services of software, hardware and processes and the models are mainly Saas, IaaS, PaaS

Software as a Service-SaaS

As the name itself suggests, here the vendor delivers the software to the end user, over the internet. The user gets functionality. The user has the advantage of getting utility of updated versions. Google's G mail service is an example. Another is Salesforce.com.

Platforms as a Service- PaaS

PaaS is a delivery of aloud platform for the user to run his custom applications. The platforms are delivered configured ready to use applications. Gppgle's App engine, and Salesforce. Com, Windows Azure are examples.

Infrastructure as a Service - IaaS

IaaS is, as name indicates a delivery of all basic infrastructure, hardware and software before running applications.(other than operating system) to the user. In other words, IaaS is just taking on rent virtual space to load the user's choice operating system and applications.. Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud, and Cloud Sigma are examples of IaaS.

What are the cloud computing applications from major providers

Amazon:

Amazon's experience from e-commerce helped it to launch the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) for virtual servers running Linux or Windows. The Simple Storage Service (S3) is for storing files. Other services include database and payment services. a developer platform.

Google:

Google' platform has email; online documents – spreadsheet, word processor, and presentation stored in the cloud and edited in the browser. Then, mapping services; payments; and a platform for custom applications written in one of two programming languages: Python or Java.

Microsoft:

MIcrosfort's cloud platform, includes free services of email, blogging and online file storage under the Windows Live . Business versions as Exchange for email and SharePoint for the BPOS (Business Productivity Online Standard Suite), and a platform for custom applications, called Windows Azure, offering online file storage and database services. Microsoft also has software to offer to organisations building their own cloud platforms.

Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com cloud platform is for customer relationship management (CRM). Along with this is a platform for custom applications called Force.com, with its own unique programming language called Apex. Recently it has added integration with Twitter and Facebook, a partnership with VMware,

What are the features of Cloud computing and its benefits

• Integration of web services: cloud computing technology enables easy and speedy integration of various applications - own or third party's and conventional or modern cloud.
• Installation free: Cloud computing is very simple compared to traditional IT .There is no necessity of difficult installation of hard ware or software.
• Deployment is faster and less risky: The gestation time to launch live one's system does not make long waiting, but ready and up within very short period even with customization.
• Allows customization & upgradation: Cloud computing is ideal for customization of organisation's own needs and even upgradation also can be integrating the customization. Upgradation does not necessitate rebuilding custom resources.
• Availability and multi tenancy: As cloud integrates numerous computers even if one server fails, another takes over and hence down time is very minimal or almost nil. One cloud can serve many clients also.
• Allows for seasonal addition in capacity: As there is no need to install infrastructure, coping up with demand for seasonal need is easy with cloud computing.. After the peak season, the usage can reverse to normal. Hence wastage of money is not there. This is called scalability or elasticity

What are reasons favouring Cloud Computing

Reduced capital costs

As there are no advanced hardwares to be installed because, the cloud system will take care of that. The user needs to buy only inexpensive access terminals

Universal access

User clients will be able to access their data and applications from anywhere at any time. Data storage is not just restricted to a locall hard disk or a local network.

Overall recurring cost less increasing profit

As there is no need to maintain, repair and manage hardware and software, need to have personnel handling these is not necessitated, and user pays only as per usage, the cost recurring is less thus adding to the bottomline.

Storage, editing, retrieval are less cumbersome

For organisations having huge and increasing increasing amount of data, cloud computing makes storage, editing and retrieval of data faster and less cumbersome, due to reason that there is a central repository for data storage by way of cloud with high storage capacity.

Less redundancy and lesser waste

The user does not have any hardware or software which undergoes obsolescence. Hence wastage, on this regard are nil or minimal by availing cloud computing.

Are there any concerns in cloud computing

There are no such things as only good and without some concerns, cloud computing also has its drawbacks:

Security risk

The data are stored with a third party and is also accessible from multi tenants, means more risk of data security. For this if more controls are made, then that affects the freedom and flexibility

Misuse by insiders

The insider threat is of very serious concern as importance as many providers don't reveal how they recruit their staff, how they grant them access or how they monitor them. In such absence of transparency and risk of compliance insider risk looms large on cloud computing service.

Privacy

As access is possible from anywhere, the privacy gets compromised. Hence the system of authentication and authorization need to be strengthened.

Problem of convergence

Having data stored in some particular way with the existing service provider, in case of shifting from one provider to another, there will be a problem of migration if the new provider uses a different application.

situation in the event of disputes

Who owns data in cloud computing system? What will happen if in case of some dispute, the provider stops access to the user? These are some concerns agitating the probables and users.

What are potential markets for cloud computing

As there are many benefits in cloud computing especially on resources, the interest shown to cloud computing is growing. Cloud computing is boon for Small and Medium Business as it economises on resources, personnel and space.
However, due the security concerns, it will not be a priority to Government organisations and departments and very big industries.

What is the status of cloud computing in India

There is a large scope for cloud computing in India, due to reasons of yet unsaturation of Indian IT market, starting up SMEs. India's top IT firms, Infosys, TCS, Wipro and Tech Mahindra have their own cloud projects.

A major Cloud computing joint venture was launched in India with Davis Partners, a global leader in Cloud infrastructure and Bharati Airtel, a leading l telecommunications company. This involves Airtel providing World-class data center facilities, Davis providing its technical expertise to give best Cloud services.
Tata Communications, one of India's leading telecom service companies launched. InstaCompute, (IaaS) which offers to buy basic computing services and pay for it depending on usage. The company's core infrastructure is provided by Cloud.com
Adoption of Cloud computing among schools, colleges and universities is also gaining momentum. NIIT Limited, a leading Global Talent Development Corporation launched NIIT Cloud Campus for students to access educational services using a net book or mobile device.
Indian Youth Congress, Punj Loyd,, Indiamart have joined the Google cloud.
The deployment of 3rd generation Internet technologies,in India it is expected that the shifting rate for Cloud computing is going to increase. IDC reported that in India," cloud computing market would grow at a CAGR of 40 percent by 2014, and to become a $3 billion dollar market by 2015."

What is the future of Cloud computing

The Cloud computing market has become crowded with many players entering. This naturally has caused to start price war and threatens smooth sustainability. Due t the same reasons of overcrowding more promises and less performance is happening.
The transition from traditional computing and migration to cloud computing will be gradual and continuous support from providers is needed. Potential concerns of security and privacy are the main pull backs still existing in the way of shifting to cloud computing.
What is the giant China's look out in cloud computing ? "Chinese telecom operator China Telecom has announced its eSurfing cloud computing strategy, brand, and solution, and it plans to launch eSurfing cloud devices and cloud storage products in 2012."
An international conference ICSMCC 2012 : International Conference on SocialMedia and Cloud Computing is going to be held in Bali, Indonesia on
October 24-26, 2012.

Once the security concerns are addressed convincingly, it is sure that cloud computing is going to be a most useful revolutionary technology in the world.