Cloud Computing is a technology that allows you to store and access data and applications over the internet instead of using your computer’s hard drive or a local server.Cloud services are a range of IT applications and resources that include software, infrastructure, and platforms hosted by third-party providers and delivered on-demand to organizations and individual customers through the internet. They can also be referred to as cloud computing; hence the words can be used interchangeably.
In cloud computing, you can store different types of data such as files, images, videos, and documents on remote servers, and access them anytime from any device connected to the internet.
Software as a Service (Saas) is a model for distributing on-demand software applications to consumers through a cloud service. It is offered through a monthly or yearly subscription that is scalable if extra resources are needed, or additional users are added. It is the most recognized cloud service model where vendor applications run on a cloud infrastructure.
Cloud applications allow for data access, storage, sharing, and all types of collaborations through a web browser. Hence, SaaS cloud services are available on multiple devices, which means access can occur on-premises or anywhere else. SaaS cloud service providers include Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspaces, Dropbox, Salesforce, Square Veeva, ServiceNow, Twillo, among others.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is the basic foundation of cloud infrastructure and involves the offer of virtual and physical IT infrastructure and networking features to customers. IaaS is the basic platform to build new technologies and host cloud-based services, including SaaS services.
IaaS services include raw block storage, file and object storage, load balancing, application firewalls, virtual machine disk image library, software bundles, virtual local area networks (VLANs), and IP addresses. Cloud users install their operating system software on cloud infrastructure platforms and are responsible for its maintenance and control. IaaS providers are responsible for the maintenance of all storage servers and networking infrastructure. IaaS is billed on a utility computing basis which measures allocated and consumed resources. Examples of IaaS vendors include:
Platform as a Service (PaaS) is the provision of on-demand tools for developing software applications through a web-based online environment. The PaaS package is a computing platform that includes a database, operating system, web servers, network, and programming language execution environment that users can use to develop cloud-based software and mobile applications. PaaS requires sophisticated development to support technologies such as application programming interface (APIs), automation, routing, orchestration, and containerization.
PaaS services scale automatically to keep up with application demand. They are also shareable through the internet. Using a PaaS service allows customers to forgo investment into the underlying software and hardware layers essential for application development. Examples of PaaS vendors include the following:
Cloud services’ ability to scale as per business needs is an invaluable attribute. It relieves an organization from investment in IT infrastructure resources and software applications as all are provided by a cloud services vendor. Scalability occurs in two ways; increasing user licenses during business booms or enhancing application software to cater to a growing business.
Cloud services allow customers to access cloud storage, application software, and backup facilities without the need to invest in IT hardware and software infrastructure that supports these services and also does away with the need for hardware maintenance and software upgrades.
Organizations enjoy the flexibility to use cloud services when in need only, which reduces costs and at the same time provides assurance of processing capacity to meet demand. If additional resources are no longer needed, organizations can cancel the cloud service subscription.
Cloud service users experience an efficient data system that is not plagued by congestion, network unreliability, breach threats, or common inefficiencies of most on-premises systems. Cloud services use advanced algorithms which optimize servers and find the most efficient routes to guide data traffic.
Cloud services are obliged to use the latest and most efficient data security measures due to the large quantity of data handled through their cloud systems. Security of customer data is a prerequisite, as well as being a daily function. Hence, cloud services use security systems that utilize a distributed architecture that can absorb, filter, and deflect malicious requests that pose a threat to the system.