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| 4.1. Cloud - An Introduction |
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"The Cloud, or Cloud Computing, is a term used to refer to a model of network computing
where a program or application runs on a connected server or servers rather than on a
local computing device." (Wikipedia) |
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What this means is that end users connect to servers in another location, thanks to the
internet, in order to perform tasks. It is almost as if technology has come back around to
the days of the main frame and dummy terminal. However nowadays we have speeds that
make this feel like you are on your own computer. The cloud allows us to essential store
nothing on our own computers, only using them as a portal to our software and data. |
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The term “Cloud” came from network diagrams. It was common practice
when drawing network diagrams to use a cloud symbol to denote unknown
segments of the network. The cloud originally contained all components
external to physical location of the business. |
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Today we have a multitude of different cloud set up. In Jeff Borshowa’s book, 8 Pillars for
Exponential Business Growth, Jeff lists the deployment models and variations. |
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| Models and Variations Of Cloud: |
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| Private Cloud |
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| Dedicated resources for your needs, behind a corporate firewall |
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| Public Cloud |
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| Shared resources available to the public over the Internet |
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| Community Cloud |
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| Resources shared between organizations |
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| Hybrid Cloud |
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| Combination of private, public, and/or community |
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| Within each deployment models, there are several variations in terms of service models: |
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• SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SaaS) - software is licensed on a subscription basis and is
centrally hosted on the cloud. |
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• INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE (IaaS) - Physical or virtual machines are shared via
the cloud. |
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• PLATFORM AS A SERVICE (PaaS) - the consumer creates an application or service
using tools from the provider. |
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All “as-a-service” offerings have low initial cost, incremental cost based on usage,
self-service, and offer a great degree of scalability. |
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| Kort Mehrle |
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Majored in Management Information Systems and has put his schooling to
work in various tech and software companies. His passion for technology
really shines when aiding others to understand the benefits of a new
software or technology. |
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