Cloud-based computing is becoming more and more popular by the day. Many businesses have moved to the cloud and some are considering doing so too. This is because cloud computing offers a lot of benefits to businesses. But what exactly is cloud computing? We answer this and more in this article, so read on.
What is cloud computing?
The term cloud computing simply means computing that involves the storage of computing resources over the web from where end-users can access them.
Illustration--------Let's look at how you store data on your computer. Data on your PC is stored on a hard drive, right? But what happens when your hard drive fails? You are likely to lose data that is stored there. Also to access your data you have to log in to the pc where your data is stored. However, this is not the case with cloud computing, where data is kept in the cloud and can be obtained at any instance.
Types of cloud services
Now that we've defined cloud computing, let's look at the types of cloud services which are, Software as a Service, Platform as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, and Serverless.
Note: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and Serverless are also given the name stack.
1. SaaS
SaaS stands for Software as a Service. As the name implies it is cloud computing where software is made available for clients without them having to install them on their devices. The deal on this service is, that you pay a monthly or yearly subscription amount depending on your provider of course.
What are the advantages of SaaS?
Offers great features without the need for clients to buy hardware
Clients or end-users do not have to do any maintenance work(everything is done by the provider of cloud service)
Users can retrieve data immediately
2. PaaS
PaaS stands for Platform as a Service. This one, as the name implies, offers developers a platform where they can easily develop apps, do projects like programming as well as create any other software they want.
What are the advantages of PaaS?
Allows clients to create software without the need for special environments to test
Ideal for app development
Platforms like Salesforce which is in the market of PaaS offer clients the privilege to write code in a language they are comfortable in
3. Infrastructure as a Service
IaaS is considered one of the most fundamental types of cloud computing service. In this service, the cloud provided provisions for different infrastructures to the business or client. Good examples of this infrastructure are OS, servers, and networks.
Advantages of IaaS
The infrastructure offered to clients is ready to use
No money spent by clients to buy infrastructure
Service is rentable and you can pay as you go
4. Serverless
Advantages of Serverless computing
- Highly Scalable architectures provided
- Event-driven architectures produced
Cloud deployment models
For your business to make the most out of cloud computing, it's important that you familiarize yourself with the different cloud deployment models. In this article, we will look at the most popular three of them.
(i) Private cloud
In private cloud computing, resources are used by the client or business. In other words, we're saying resources are privately available for a business. Internal users receive services from the data center.
Advantages of private cloud
- It's flexible
- Convenient
- Secure
(ii)Public cloud model
Unlike the private model, we looked at above, the public cloud model involves a third-party cloud service provider making the cloud service available for clients over the internet.
Computing resources like hardware and software are managed by the cloud provided. Clients only pay for such things as the bandwidth that they utilize. Azure and Oracle are some great examples of public cloud model service providers.
Advantages of the public cloud model
- management of computing resources and infrastructure is done by the service provider
(iii) Hybrid cloud model
This model is made up of both private and public clouds, and it enables clients to enjoy both the benefits of the private as well as public models.
Advantages of the hybrid cloud model
- Clients have the ability to handle essential or sensitive data
Why is cloud computing good for my business?
Cloud computing offers numerous advantages, which is why a lot of businesses are adopting this technology. Whether you are concerned about saving time and resources or concerned about your business' performance, cloud computing is probably the way to go. Let's look at the benefits cloud computing has to offer below.
a) It's time-saving and boosts your business' performance
Time is money and can't be wasted if you want to achieve success. Cloud computing is great as it helps you make the most of your available time. Most of the work in cloud computing is done by the service providers. This is great as it allows you and your team to focus on other high-priority work, and obviously, this improves your overall business performance.
b) Allows immediate retrieval of data
With cloud computing, users can obtain data at any instance with just the touch of a button. Whether they are in the office or at home, they can easily obtain data. This is a great thing as it allows quick completion of tasks which improves productivity.
c) Cost-effective
If you don't want to strain your budget, cloud computing is unquestionably the way to go. It's cost-effective since there are no costs incurred on buying computing infrastructure and hiring tech personnel. The cloud provider covers all that. This helps your business to get maximum profits.
d) Self-service
Cloud computing offers clients the ability to obtain services without having to go through the cloud provider. An example of this is a situation where users just go on their portal accounts, log in, and access services.
e) Easy removal or addition of resources
With cloud computing, resources being offered to a business or client can be altered easily if the need for change arises. Let's say your business now requires fewer resources, this is possible. Your service provider can remove unneeded resources quickly so that you get exactly what you want for your business.
Conclusion
From what we've covered above, there is no doubt that cloud computing is great for businesses and organizations. With it, you don't have to worry about losing your data. Data backup, as well as recovery, is a breeze with this awesome technology. If you are yet to move to the cloud, what are you waiting for? Hurry and start reaping the benefits.
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