What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a term for the supply of hosted services over the internet. it’s somewhere at the other end of your internet connection – a place where you can gain access to apps and services, and where your data can be stored safely.
Essentially, cloud computing is a kind of outsourcing of computer programs. Using cloud computing, users are able to use software and applications from wherever they need, while it is being hosted by an outside party — in “the cloud.” This means that they do not have to be concerned, about things such as storage and power, they can simply enjoy the end result.
The Cloud Addresses Three Main Areas of Operation:
- SaaS (software-as-a-service)
- PaaS (platform-as-a-service)
- IaaS (infrastructure as a service)
Cloud computing enables companies to use the resource, such as a virtual machine (VM), storage or an application, as a utility — just like electricity – instead of having to build and maintain computing infrastructures in-house.
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IaaS provides infrastructure as a service. In an IaaS model, a third-party provider hosts hardware, software, servers, storage and other base components on behalf of its users. It also hosts users’ applications and handles tasks including system upkeep, backup and resiliency planning.In simple words, we can say that IaaS is like we are giving computer without operating system and we can install the OS and all the necessary software on top of it.
IaaS platforms provide highly scalable resources that can be adjusted on-demand. This makes IaaS well-suited for workloads that are temporary. Other characteristics of IaaS environments include the dynamic scaling, automation of administrative tasks, desktop virtualization and policy-based services.
Examples of IaaS are AWS (Amazon Web Services), GCE (Google Compute Engine), Microsoft Azure.
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Software as a Service (SaaS)
Cloud application services, or Software as a service(SaaS) it is largest and quickly growing market today. SaaS uses the web or internet to deliver applications or software which are managed by third party and interface is accessed on the client sides. Some SaaS applications need plugins and most of the application can run directly from web browser.
There is no need to install and run the application on individual computers as SaaS is the web-based model. With SaaS, it is easy for enterprises to simplify their maintenance and support. Applications, server, storage and networking everything is managed by vendors.Saas is just like we are borrowing a book from the library, we read it, use it, and return it back i.e. we use online available software instead of installing it.
Examples of SaaS are Microsoft office 365, Dropbox, docs, Gmail, Google Apps.
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Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Platform as a Service also, known as PaaS, is the type of cloud computing which provides a platform and environment for developers to build applications and services over the internet. PaaS services are hosted in the cloud and accessed by users simply via the internet.In other words, we can say that computer that we get in a PaaS have fixes OS and software and we can run our software on top of this.
Businesses can build up their own internal software, particularly to create distinct ring-fenced development and testing environments and also Software developers can take advantage of a PaaS solution to develop an application which they are planning to offer over the internet or software to be sold out of the box. Web developers can use special PaaS environments at each stage of the process for developing, testing and hosting their websites.
Examples are AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Windows Azure, Heroku, Force.com, Google App Engine, Apache Stratos.