What Is Cloud Computing?

What Is Cloud Computing:

• The term cloud as used in the computer vernacular is synonymous to the internet. Cloud computing, simply put, is the easy access of data and programs through the internet as oppose to a computer’s hard drive.

• There are four (4) major models of cloud computing which are software as a service, platform as a service, and infrastructure as a service. o Software as a service allows users to subscribe to an application it uses via the internet. o Platform as a service allows users to create its own custom applications o Infrastructure as a service allows users o Security as a service integrates security into a corporate infrastructure on a subscription basis.

• Many applications that individuals use on the daily basis is a form of cloud computing. Let’s take a look at web-based emails for example. In today’s society, emails are a pivotal point of communication. Your emails are not stored on your computer, and neither is the email program. Instead, the program and your emails are stored via the internet.

Brief History:

• Cloud computing dates as far back as the 1950s. Initially cloud computing was only available to schools and corporations. To give an idea of how cloud computing was back then, picture a room (often referred to as the server room) where a mainframe could be located. Users of the mainframe were able to access the information from it via “dumb terminals” that facilitated access to the mainframe. Dumb terminals are simply output devices. Think of them as a just a lifeless shell that gets life from a mainframe or computer. The entire concept of cloud computing back in the 1950s revolved around the idea of cost efficiency. Organizations at the time did have the funds necessary to get mainframes fo...

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... limited growth. Some cloud providers have a limit to the number of users that can access a particular cloud. As organizations grow, the ability to grow and add users will be very important.

• Lake of Support – The days of having IT personnel down the hall to solve questions are long over with cloud computing. Customer service for cloud based apps leave a lot of room for improvement. If you leave an email, it may take a while for someone to respond. This delay in time can really hurt a company that is heavily dependent on their applications to successfully run their business.

Future of Cloud Computing:

• Software floats away from hardware - The future for cloud computing is bright. With the emergence of cloud computing, organizations no longer have servers on site for the operations.

• Low power processors and cheaper clouds

• Improved security and reliability -