Cloud Computing : The most familiar term in current technologies & there are many questions we have related to Cloud, But the real fact is “Yes” we all are on Cloud now 🙂 & there are miles to go, So what it is?:

Data Cloud

Few years back someone asked me to make a simple definition for cloud who has no idea about Cloud, I answered: You can store or access your data over the internet from anywhere. This may sound so simple, But at background Cloud has got gigantic, structured infrastructure through which you can customize all your needs On-Demand & pay as you go. It is secured and most reliable, More than the technology security level, Mutual trust also plays a vital role to choose Cloud from major cloud service providers. There are Private, Public, Hybrid deployment modes are available.  When I talk about Cloud to those who has no preference to cloud, the first thing comes to my mind  : People don’t like change, Do not work in technology 🙂

Cloud services typically have the following characteristics:

  • Fast and efficient deployment
  • Less or no capital investment
  • Reliability, Scalability, Sustainability & Resource pooling
  • Pay as you go, with no monthly commitment
  • Customization is limited
  • Highly automated with Utility based system
  • On-Demand-Service

There are few Cloud services I have explained below, all below technologies put together can also be called EaaS, Everything as a Services (*aaS), It has not only garnered excitement from technologists but has captured the attention of business leaders around the world.

 

IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service

Cloud infrastructure services or referred as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is an offering form of Cloud Computing that provides secure virtualized resources over internet which are self-service models for accessing, monitoring, and managing remote data center infrastructures, this includes servers, storage, networking & firewalls.

IaaS users can manage applications, data, Runtime, middleware. IaaS platforms offers highly scalable resources that can be adjusted on-demand. There are lot the Major Cloud service Providers provides this IaaS and they have a wide variety of hardware and software combinations to choose from.

PaaS : Platform as a Service

Cloud Platform Services, also known as Platform as a Services is similar to IaaS with the major difference as there will no control for the users over the network, resources, servers etc, With that said PaaS typically provides no control. This indirectly explains that there will no costs involved for users to manage administration and service provider takes responsible to manage, administrate & and also the maintenance.

SaaS: Software as a Service

Cloud application services or referred as Software as a Service (SaaS) is a software licensing and delivery model, This can also be referred as “Software-on-Demand”, SaaS uses the web to deliver applications that are managed by a the service providers and whose interface is accessed over internet using Web interface.

Being web delivery model there is no need of any installation or complicated setup. Popular SaaS widely used for Email Messaging & Collaboration systems like Exchange, Sharepoint, Lync

 

Be in Cloud , Stay in Cloud & Enjoy Cloud 🙂

By Kingson Jebaraj

Microsoft MVP, Blogger, Owner and Publisher for Cloudexchangers.com, Microsoft TechNet Author, Solution Architect, Former Office365 Technical Lead for Microsoft(Partner) Extensive knowledge and experience in Microsoft Exchange and Cloud Messaging Services and has got more exposure on Messaging environment deployment,migration,designing and other project management activities, I have earned real time experience in handling multi-site distributed critical large environment of messaging system. Been awarded as an MVP (Microsoft Most Valuable Professional) for Office Servers and services from Microsoft for an exceptional real world contribution made through Microsoft forums and other Microsoft communities. Currently working as “Solution Architect” on Private/Public cloud and SaaS environment for Pacific Controls, UAE, Dubai. One of the largest TIER III certified green data center campus in the middle east.