Are you UP to speed on Cloud Computing?
The emergence of the cloud has changed the world of computing. The term “cloud” consistently comes up and for some, its function and purpose aren’t quite clear. What is this phenomenon? How does it help us in computing? These are just some of the questions that can pop up in anyone’s mind.
Considering that you can’t run away from technological progress, you shouldn’t miss out on the benefits of cloud computing. You might have some information about it, but for the purpose of completely resolving any mystery that surrounds the cloud, we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about it.
What is the Cloud?
In simple terms, cloud computing presents a network through which we can share information, resources, and software. That network that enables sharing of the data is the internet or to be more precise, the internet connection.
The name cloud symbolically presents how cloud computing is present everywhere just as the clouds in the sky are. Or, anywhere where the internet connection exists.
For my first job I will do a backup of my music (MP3) files from my D drive to my Z drive but first I will use the Fake It option to make sure things look the way I want them to look before doing the actual synchronization. So I will call the job Music and change the color to blue just to make it stand out a little bit more. For the source and destination directories you can either type them in manually or click the ellipsis (…) to browse for them.
One of the most popular ways of exploiting the advantages of the cloud is cloud storage. You can upload your files, documents, or images to the cloud storage from one device and then access them from any other device.
The data that is in the cloud isn’t codependent with any physical item. It can be used by the cloud user at any moment and from different devices as long as there is an internet connection.
Some examples of cloud storage providers are Dropbox, Backblaze, and Box.com. They have replaced the file saving on floppy disks and CDs.
451 Research shared their predictions that about one-third of enterprise IT spending will cloud and hosting services which is "indicating a growing reliance on external sources of infrastructure, application, management and security services". Additionally, Gartner shared that it is predicted that 50% of global enterprises using the cloud now will have gone all-in on it by 2021.
What these predictions indicate is that the cloud is the present and the future of computing.
How Does It Work?
Cloud computing consists of two sections:
- the front end
- the back end
The network connects these two sections and enables the input of data from the computer or other device (the front end) and the saving of the data in the cloud (the back end).
The front end is the computer network, the user’s computer, and the application you need to access the cloud system. However, not all cloud computing systems need to have the same interface.
The back end of the cloud is made of servers, data storage, computers, and different systems. Depending on the application the server is different.
What makes the cloud so useful is that companies and individuals no longer have to depend on their device or computing infrastructure and data centers. The risk that all files will be gone because of some error system or physical damage is eliminated. As long as there is an internet connection you can access the files on the cloud.
What Are The Different Types Of Cloud Computing?
While cloud computing is used for many different purposes nowadays, there are three categories that present the main types of cloud computing. These categories are:
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
You have already used some or all of these types of cloud computing without knowing the name of it.
What Do Cloud Computing Services Cover?
The usage of cloud is continuously growing and the options are versatile. To paint the picture of the purposes that the cloud serves, here are some situations in which cloud computing services are used:
- basics of storage
- networking
- processing power
- natural language processing
- artificial intelligence
- standard office applications
Some of the world-famous platforms rely on cloud computing such as Netflix and Gmail. Not to mention that cloud computing has become the default option for many apps.
Is Cloud Computing Safe?
All the talk about storing your files practically "on the internet" or using the internet to power an application can raise some security questions. We hear stories about hackers breaking networks and stealing data all the time. So, can it happen to you?
The cloud does operate as a network and using cloud computing does mean that you will depend on the internet. However, you should keep it doesn’t hackers rarely target personal accounts. On the other hand, as more and more companies migrate to the public cloud, the protection methods arise that keep the hackers away. The new methods of cloud computing security are consistently appearing.
The chances that someone will attack your cloud storage for example are less than someone stealing your computer. Don’t think for a second that hacking into a cloud system is easy. Even if you don’t go all out to ensure the security of your data, the cloud application providers use encryption to make the hacker’s job harder.
Final Thoughts
The cloud is an inevitable phenomenon that is all around us. You can’t talk about current or emerging technology without mentioning cloud computing. The predictions about cloud computing’s future clearly indicate that this is only the beginning. The use of cloud is rapidly growing across all industries and has no plan to stop any time soon.
Kristin Savage nourishes, sparks, and empowers using the magic of a word. Along with pursuing her degree in Creative Writing, Kristin was gaining experience in the publishing industry, with expertise in marketing strategy for publishers and authors. Besides working as a freelance writer at SupremeDissertations she also does some editing work at WowGrade and BestEssayEducation. In her free time, Kristin likes to travel and explore new countries around the world.