This article was written by Charlie Campbell, Systems Engineer at Bay Pointe Technology.
They are questions that have been asked many times…What is Cloud Computing? How is it going to change the face of IT in the foreseeable future? In a nutshell, Cloud Computing is an intriguing innovation that is rapidly gaining popularity, and is sure to change the face of Information Technology for years to come. But if you’re seeking a more comprehensive definition without too much technical verbiage…Cloud Computing is the concept of turning every aspect of IT from consumer based to subscription based.
For example, instead of going to your consumer electronic store and buying a copy of word processing software, you would instead go to the software developer’s website and purchase a subscription. The application itself would be totally web-based, meaning no “Download Now” buttons, or time spent fiddling with the firewall to install a download properly. Instead, you would be able to do all of your word processing from your web browser on any computer with an internet connection. So, rather than stuffing your laptop in a bag, or storing your work on a disk, you can access documents remotely at any time as long as good weather (internet service) prevails.
That is only one component of the multi-faceted behemoth known whimsically as Cloud Computing. Cloud Computing itself has three major components: Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, and Cloud Storage.
Software as a Service is when a provider sells the consumer or enterprise a subscription for a software application. This application is usually offered on-demand, meaning it can be accessed at any time as long as you have an active subscription. A perfect example of this is Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG).
Infrastructure as a Service outsources an enterprise’s entire information technology infrastructure to a third party. The third party service provider bills the enterprise based on their monthly usage (similar to a utility). Service providers usually guarantee a certain amount of uptime, bandwidth, etc. and may also offer different service agreements based upon the size of the company.
Cloud Storage involves storing data on multiple virtual servers that are hosted by third parties. So instead of saving data and performing backups locally on hard drives or to removable media, all the data will be saved to a remote database serviced and maintained by a third party.
Cloud Computing is continuously evolving, with more and more companies providing internet based services that utilize advanced network topologies. Industry leaders like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and IBM have offerings already on the market. The “everything as a service” trend will continue to grow over the next few years…so it might be time to get with the program and get your head into the clouds.
