Show understanding of cloud computing
☁️ Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
Key Characteristics
- On‑demand self‑service: Users can provision resources as needed without human interaction.
- Broad network access: Services are available over the network and accessed via standard mechanisms (e.g., HTTP).
- Resource pooling: Provider’s resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi‑tenant model.
- Rapid elasticity: Capabilities can be scaled out or in quickly, often automatically.
- Measured service: Resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both provider and consumer.
Service Models
| Model | What is Provided | Typical Use‑Case |
|---|---|---|
| IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) | Virtual machines, storage, networks | Running custom applications, backup, disaster recovery |
| PaaS (Platform as a Service) | Runtime environment, databases, development tools | Developing and deploying web/apps without managing servers |
| SaaS (Software as a Service) | Complete applications accessed via a browser | Email, CRM, office suites (e.g., Gmail, Office 365) |
Deployment Models
- Public Cloud: Services offered over the public Internet and shared across organizations (e.g., AWS, Azure).
- Private Cloud: Infrastructure dedicated to a single organization, either on‑premises or hosted.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combination of public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to move between them.
- Community Cloud: Shared infrastructure for a specific community with common concerns (e.g., healthcare, finance).
Benefits
- Cost reduction – pay‑as‑you‑go model.
- Scalability – resources can be increased or decreased instantly.
- Reliability – providers offer high availability and disaster recovery.
- Speed – rapid provisioning of services.
- Global reach – data centers worldwide.
Challenges & Considerations
- Security & privacy – data stored off‑site.
- Vendor lock‑in – difficulty moving services between providers.
- Network dependency – requires reliable Internet connectivity.
- Compliance – meeting industry‑specific regulations.
Example: A student uses Google Docs (SaaS) to write an essay, stores the file in Google Drive (IaaS‑backed storage), and collaborates in real time via the Internet—all without installing any software locally.
Revision
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