Cloud Computing – share resources – save cost

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is sharing computer resources without owing them and saving valuable resources like storage and maintenance overheads. Computer resources are networks, servers, storage, applications and hosting services. Computer giant  IBM define cloud computing as  “the cloud,” which supplies computer resources on demand.

Cloud computing cost depends on  demand and supply

Cloud computing is pay as you use and the cost depends on demand and supply. This kind of sharing resources cut or increase the cost of local hardware and software as the demand needs.

Cloud computing elevates self-service of IT resources and paid only for what you need.  This sharing resource technique is useful to big enterprises where they gain huge cost benefits in terms of owing hardware, software, networking  and applications.  For small business cloud computing may or may save cost.

cloud computing

 

Cloud Computing services

Services offered by clouds are broadly divided into Software as a service, Platform as a service and Infrastructure as a service. These are the basic operations an enterprise spends money for and spends a major amount of time for organizational infrastructure. These services need man management, human resources and infrastructure of their own. By opting for cloud computing there will be tremendous cost reduction and management can concentrate on main core business.

Software as a service: There are hundreds of business applications that need software. Business applications like productivity, business social networking, finance and expenses, human resource management and security. All these and many more applications need different software to develop, keep up and run them. Cloud computing providers these services through the software as a service, Read more about What is Software as a service?

Platform as a service: Cloud computing client access platform services through browser to develop applications on the Internet. It is not a replacement for the existing business but utilizing third-party platform services to save infrastructure expenses. It offers services like operating systems and their updates. databases like SQL. The platform services support the data bases, offer 100% support and storage.It also includes network access 

Infrastructure as a service:

Infrastructure as services offer data center services like storage. Companies pay for the services they use. Since cloud hosting is through their  their servers so that there is no hardware failure from clients end. Maintenance is by the cloud service provider. Network components like  host firewalls is a part of this service.

Is there different types of cloud computing offer? What are they?

There are variations in cloud computing offers. Broadly they are public clouds, private clouds and hybrid clouds. There is hardly a thin layer of difference between these offers. Slowly but steadily this thin layer between public, private and hybrid clouds are diminishing with providers offering all the three varieties in one package. As the name implies public clouds are like share hosting and private clouds are equal to  dedicated hosting and mix of the two for different levels is hybrid clouds. The choice of these clouds is dependent on necessity, package cost and demand of the company. Public clouds are less secure compared to private clouds as the name implies

More on public, private and hybrid clouds – clouds for dummiess.  about clouds from Intel

Companies that offer cloud computing platform:
  • Amazon: With a powerful CEO  Jeffrey and with strong  finance background, Amazon stand number one in cloud computing. Being very popular as on-line shopping company, it is natural for this company to go for cloud computing offers. To name few clients using their services are New York Times and Washington post
  • AT & T: Randall Stephenson is the CEO at the helm of cloud computing products. This company understands the client requirements and offer various cloud packages enhancing the client’s business, optimizing storage, software and network resources
  • Google: Google is the next big company after Amazon offering cloud services.  Eric Schmidt is the CEO of this company. Many small business enterprises, universities including Arizona State University and Northwestern University. are utilizing Goggle’s cloud services. 
  • Microsoft: Steve  is the CEO, Microsoft is the biggest cloud service provider offering business services over the Web.

More info on cloud  providers: CNN News / Network World News

 .  Sources: Business Insider