Introduction to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, intelligence, and more—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.  

Core Concepts

• On-demand self-service: Users can access cloud resources independently without requiring interaction with service providers.
• Broad network access: Resources can be accessed from various devices with internet connectivity.
• Resource pooling: Cloud providers combine resources from multiple users to create a shared pool.
• Rapid elasticity: Resources can be quickly scaled up or down based on demand.
• Measured service: Users pay only for the resources they consume.

Types of Cloud Services

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides fundamental computing resources like servers, storage, and networking. (e.g., AWS EC2, Azure Virtual Machines)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers a platform for developing, testing, deploying, and managing applications without the complexities of building and maintaining the infrastructure itself. (e.g., Heroku, Google App Engine)
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet (e.g., Google Docs, Salesforce).

Benefits of Cloud Computing

• Cost-efficiency: Pay only for the resources used.
• Scalability: Easily adjust resources based on demand.
• Flexibility: Access to various services and tools.
• Reliability: High availability and disaster recovery features.
• Speed: Rapid deployment and provisioning of resources.

Introduction to Cloud Computing

Read More..