Cloud Computing Basics

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the internet (the "cloud").
Services include storage, servers, databases, networking, software, and analytics.

On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision services independently (e.g., storage, processing power).
Broad Network Access: Services are accessible via the internet across various devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops).
Resource Pooling: Providers use a multi-tenant model to serve multiple customers by pooling resources.
Rapid Elasticity: Resources can be scaled up or down quickly, according to demand.
Measured Service: Resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported for transparency and billing.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
- Virtualized computing resources over the internet.
- Example: Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine.
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
- Provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications without dealing with infrastructure.
- Example: Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Services.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
- Software is hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet.
- Example: Google Workspace, Salesforce.

Public Cloud: Services are offered over the public internet and available to anyone. (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud)
Private Cloud: Exclusively used by a single organization, offering more control and security.
Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
Community Cloud: Shared infrastructure for a specific community with common concerns.

Cost Efficiency: Reduces the cost of hardware and maintenance; pay-as-you-go model.
Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down as needed.
Accessibility: Access services from anywhere with an internet connection.
Disaster Recovery: Enhance data backup and recovery solutions.

Security Risks: Concerns regarding data privacy, regulatory compliance, and data breaches.
Downtime: Risk of service outages can impact business operations.
Limited Control: Less control over infrastructure and operations compared to on-premise solutions.
Vendor Lock-In: Difficulty in transferring data or applications between different cloud providers.

Edge Computing: Processing data closer to the source to reduce latency.
Multi-Cloud Strategies: Using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid reliance on one vendor.
Serverless Computing: Focus on deploying applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
Artificial Intelligence Integration: Leveraging AI to enhance cloud services and analytics.

Encryption: Protects data both at rest and in transit.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Controls who can access cloud resources.
Regular Audits: Assessing security protocols and compliance.

Understanding these aspects provides a foundational knowledge of cloud computing, its features, benefits, and challenges.

Cloud computing delivers computing services over the internet as a network of remote servers and data centers.
Services include storage, servers, databases, networking, software, and analytics.

Users can provision services independently (e.g., storage, processing power).
Services are accessible via the internet from various devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets, laptops).
Providers use a multi-tenant model to serve multiple customers by pooling resources.
Resources can be scaled up or down quickly based on demand.
Resources usage is monitored, controlled, and reported for transparency and billing.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
- Offers virtualized computing resources over the internet (e.g., Amazon EC2, Google Compute Engine).
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
- Provides a platform for developing, running, and managing applications without dealing with infrastructure (e.g., Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Services).
Software as a Service (SaaS):
- Software is hosted in the cloud and accessed via the internet (e.g., Google Workspace, Salesforce).

Public Cloud: Services are offered over the public internet and available to anyone (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud).
Private Cloud: Exclusively used by a single organization for more control and security.
Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds for shared data and applications.
Community Cloud: Shared infrastructure for a specific community with common concerns.

Cost Efficiency: Reduces hardware and maintenance costs with a pay-as-you-go model.
Scalability: Easily increases or decreases resources based on demand.
Accessibility: Services can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
Disaster Recovery: Enhances data backup and recovery solutions.

Security Risks: Concerns regarding data privacy, regulatory compliance, and data breaches.
Downtime: Service outages can impact business operations.
Limited Control: Less control over infrastructure and operations compared to on-premise solutions.
Vendor Lock-In: Difficulty in transferring data or applications between different cloud providers.

Edge Computing: Processing data closer to the source to reduce latency.
Multi-Cloud Strategies: Using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid reliance on a single vendor.
Serverless Computing: Deploys applications without managing underlying infrastructure.
Artificial Intelligence Integration: Utilizing AI to enhance cloud services and analytics.

Encryption: Protects data both at rest and in transit.
Identity and Access Management (IAM): Controls user access to cloud resources.
Regular Audits: Assesses security protocols and compliance.