Introduction to Cloud Computing

Back to: Cloud Computing Tutorials for Beginners and Professionals

Introduction to Cloud Computing

In this article, I will give a brief Introduction to Cloud Computing, i.e., What Cloud Computing is, where it is used Today, the Benefits of Cloud Computing, and the different cloud computing providers.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to the process of storing and accessing data and computing services over the Internet. It doesn’t store any data on your personal computer’s hard disk. The data can be anything, such as files, images, documents, audio, video, and more. 

Cloud computing is a technology that delivers various services over the Internet. Instead of owning and maintaining physical hardware and software, users and organizations can access and use computing resources on demand from cloud service providers. These resources include computing power, storage, databases, networking, software, and more, which can be scaled up and down based on demand.

Let us understand the above definition with an example. Suppose you want to travel somewhere either by bus or train. Then, you will generally take a ticket for your destination and hold back in your seat till you reach your destination. Similarly, other passengers take tickets and travel on the same bus with you, and it hardly bothers you where they go. When your stop comes, you get off the bus, thanking the driver. Cloud computing is just like that bus, carrying data and information for different users and allowing them to use its service at a minimal cost.

Types of Cloud Computing Services

There are three Types of Cloud Computing Services. They are as follows:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Compute Engine. IaaS provides fundamental IT resources like virtual machines, storage, and networks.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): This type of service offers hardware and software tools over the Internet, typically used for application development. PaaS provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with the underlying infrastructure. Examples include Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): This type of service delivers software applications over the Internet on a subscription basis. SaaS eliminates the need for installation, maintenance, and management of hardware. Examples include Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, and Salesforce.

Deployment Models in Cloud Computing

• Public Cloud: Services are delivered over the public internet and shared across multiple organizations. They are available to anyone who wants to purchase them. Examples include services offered by AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
• Private Cloud: Services are maintained on a private network dedicated to a single organization. This can be managed internally or by a third party and offers more control over data, security, and quality of service.
• Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. This provides greater flexibility and optimization of existing infrastructure, security, and compliance.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

The following are the Benefits of using Cloud Computing:

• Cost Efficiency: Reduces the costs of buying hardware and software and setting up and running on-site data centers.
• Performance: Offers high performance through data centers worldwide, reducing network latency and providing faster computing power.
• Scalability: Provides the ability to scale computing resources up or down as needed.
• Security: Offers robust security measures to protect data, including data encryption, secure access controls, and compliance certifications.

Cloud Computing Providers:

The cloud computing market is dominated by a few key players that provide comprehensive services ranging from basic infrastructure to advanced cloud solutions. The following are the major cloud computing providers:

Microsoft Azure

Azure is a cloud platform by Microsoft that offers a variety of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. The following are the Key Services provided by Microsoft Azure:

• Azure Virtual Machines: Virtual servers in the cloud.
• Azure Blob Storage: Scalable object storage.
• Azure SQL Database: Managed relational database service.
• Azure Functions: Serverless computing service.
• Azure Virtual Network: Networking services.

Microsoft Azure easily integrates with Microsoft’s software products, making it a preferred choice for organizations that rely on Microsoft tools and applications. It also offers strong support for hybrid cloud environments.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is one of the largest and most comprehensive cloud computing platforms. The following are the Key Services provided by Microsoft Amazon Web Services (AWS):

• EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Virtual servers in the cloud.
• S3 (Simple Storage Service): Scalable object storage.
• RDS (Relational Database Service): Managed relational database service.
• Lambda: Serverless computing service.
• VPC: Virtual private cloud for networking.

AWS offers many tools and services for computing, storage, databases, analytics, networking, mobile, developer tools, management tools, IoT, security, and enterprise applications.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) provides a suite of cloud computing services offered by Google. It is known for its robust infrastructure and data analytics capabilities. The following are the Key Services provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP):

• Compute Engine: Virtual machines in the cloud.
• Cloud Storage: Scalable object storage.
• Cloud SQL: Managed relational database service.
• Cloud Functions: Serverless computing service.
• VPC: Virtual private cloud for networking.

Google Cloud is highly regarded for its big data, machine learning, and AI capabilities, as well as its robust data analytics tools. It also excels in container support with Kubernetes.

IBM Cloud

IBM Cloud offers a range of cloud computing services, with a focus on enterprise solutions, AI, and blockchain. The following are the Key Services provided by IBM Cloud:

• IBM Cloud Virtual Servers: Virtual servers in the cloud.
• IBM Cloud Object Storage: Scalable object storage.
• IBM Db2 on Cloud: Managed relational database service.
• IBM Cloud Functions: Serverless computing service.
• VPC: Virtual private cloud for networking.

IBM Cloud focuses on AI, machine learning, and blockchain technologies and strongly supports Kubernetes and hybrid cloud.

Oracle Cloud

Oracle Cloud offers a comprehensive suite of cloud services with a focus on databases, applications, and infrastructure. The following are the Key Services provided by Oracle Cloud:

• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Compute: Virtual servers in the cloud.
• Oracle Cloud Object Storage: Scalable object storage.
• Oracle Autonomous Database: Self-driving database service.
• Oracle Functions: Serverless computing service.
• Oracle Cloud Networking: Networking services.

Oracle Cloud is optimized for high-performance database workloads and applications, making it ideal for businesses that rely heavily on database management and operations.

Alibaba Cloud

Alibaba Cloud, also known as Aliyun, is a leading cloud provider in China and offers a wide range of cloud services. The following are the Key Services provided by Alibaba Cloud:

• Elastic Compute Service (ECS): Virtual servers in the cloud.
• Object Storage Service (OSS): Scalable object storage.
• ApsaraDB: Managed database services.
• Function Compute: Serverless computing service.
• VPC: Virtual private cloud for networking.

Alibaba Cloud offers competitive pricing and is a dominant player in the Asia-Pacific region. It provides robust solutions tailored for e-commerce and retail industries.

In the next article, I am going to discuss Virtual Machines in Cloud Computing.