What Is Cloud Computing?
Ever heard of cloud computing? Surely, you have already, considering its surge in popularity in recent years.
In fact, by 2032, the global cloud computing market is projected to reach around USD$2,495.2 billion.
Storing files over the internet, streaming music or videos, and using web-based productivity tools, do they sound familiar to you? Yes? That reflects cloud computing’s impact on people’s lives in today’s increasingly digitized world.
But if there’s someone who’s genuinely feeling the magic of cloud computing, it is the business owners. With cloud computing, organizations can scale their IT resources as needed. Not only that, data storage and backup have also become more efficient than ever. Want to access files and applications from anywhere at any time? That has been made possible, too.
You’re in the right place if you want to know more about cloud computing. Ready to explore more of its fascinating realm? Read on to learn more.
What are the Different Types of Cloud Computing?
To truly answer the question, ‘What is cloud computing?,’ the discussion must begin with its different types. Take a closer look at each of them below:
- Public cloud: If a third-party provider owns and manages the cloud computing resources that you’re using, then you’re utilizing the public cloud. As its name suggests, it can be used by multiple users or organizations simultaneously.
So, who is the public cloud ideal for? It’s for businesses that want something that they can easily scale up or down based on demand. - Private cloud: Next is the private cloud. It’s basically just the opposite of the public one. So, instead of being available to multiple users or organizations, the cloud infrastructure is now solely dedicated to your company.
So, the private cloud is hosted on-premises, right? Since it’s ‘private,’ it’s not really. A third-party provider can still manage it. However, the level of control is higher than that of the public cloud. Data and resource security is also significantly enhanced in a private cloud infrastructure. - Hybrid cloud: Do you want to enjoy the best of both worlds (public and private cloud infrastructures)? If that’s the case, then you’d be better off with a hybrid cloud.
What happens with hybrid cloud infrastructure is that you get to enjoy the public cloud’s scalability and cost-efficiency for non-sensitive data and applications. However, for critical data where a higher level of control and security is required, a private cloud will take care of them for you.
Each type of cloud computing caters to different requirements. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for all organizations. So, what you can do when figuring out which suits you or your company best is to consider your specific needs and then explore again the characteristics, benefits, and disadvantages mentioned and discussed above for each type to see which fits your current situation better.
Cloud Computing’s Key Components
Cloud computing may seem a straightforward approach, but there are actually several service models for it. Curious to know how each of them works? Check them out below:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
What you’ll get with IaaS are virtualized computing resources. Does it include everything necessary for your computing needs? Yes. Virtual machines, storage, network capabilities, you name it.
IaaS will give you a blank canvas, and it’s up to you how you’ll build your own IT environments with it. You also get to decide when it comes to application management. Simply put, the underlying infrastructure is all yours, even if provided virtually.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Next is PaaS. Does your organization develop applications? Do you want your developers to focus on the coding aspect of development and the application logic itself? If so, this service model will make it possible for you.
PaaS doesn’t only provide an environment for developing applications; you can also deploy the app using it. Do you need a complete development framework that includes infrastructure and programming languages? PaaS has got it all for you, plus even libraries and tools.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
If you need a ready-to-use software application that you don’t have to install or manage locally, SaaS has got your back.
Another good thing about SaaS is that you can access it through the web, anywhere, anytime. There’s also no need to fuss about software maintenance and updates since the third-party provider will take care of that for you.
Cloud computing already has different types that cater to the unique needs of users, which is amazing. But the different service models took cloud computing’s flexibility to the next level!
How Do Businesses Utilize Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a highly flexible solution and offers many other advantages, such as improved disaster recovery, good accessibility, and ease of collaboration. But as a business, how can you use cloud computing in your company?
There are many use cases for cloud computing across various industries, including:
- Data storage and backup: It’s believed that storing and backing up data on the cloud is more secure than doing it on an on-premises structure. With eight million records worldwide getting exposed to data breaches in the fourth quarter of 2023, this is definitely a use case that business owners would want to look more into.
- App development and testing: As previously mentioned, efficient app development and the testing workflows it involves are possible on a cloud platform. There’s no longer a need for development environment setup and management, reducing cost and time spent.
- Web hosting and content delivery: Did you know that you can also leverage the cloud to deliver content to your target market efficiently and effectively? Just build a website on a cloud infrastructure, and then you can stop worrying about high traffic volumes that affect site performance and overall user experience.
- Business software and tools: Does your organization use customer relationship management (CRM) software? How about an enterprise resource planning (ERP) tool? You’re also using productivity tools like a project management app, that’s for sure. All these can be run on the cloud so that you can say goodbye to local installations and management.
- Data analytics and machine learning: A 2022 report mentioned that 90% of startup businesses fail. Do you know why? That’s because most new, small enterprises rely on instincts instead of data. It’s no wonder why more and more companies invest in data analytics and machine learning. Can the cloud also accommodate machine learning development and deployment? The answer is a resounding yes!
Not leveraging the cloud through any of the use cases mentioned above would mean missing out on an opportunity to propel your business forward through tech.
Final Thoughts
Cloud computing is revolutionary. There’s no doubt about that. Is it here to stay? Absolutely!
There are many advantages to leveraging cloud computing. But do you know what truly makes it special? It’s the fact that it leveled the playing field in today’s business landscape. What does that mean? It means that unlike the past, where only big corporations can access sophisticated tech solutions, all businesses, regardless of size, can now propel their organizations forward with the right tech solution for their unique needs. That’s all thanks to cloud computing!
