Cloud Computing Concepts and Comparison

Cloud Computing

• Cloud computing delivers on-demand access to computing resources, including applications, data storage, and infrastructure, over the internet.
• Cloud computing offers flexibility for scaling resources up or down based on demand.
• Cloud computing ensures security through network accessibility and access control.
• Popular cloud platforms include AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Traditional vs Cloud Computing

• Traditional computing requires local installation of software, hardware purchases, and manual updates, while cloud computing delivers software as a service, accessed through the internet with automatic updates.
• Collaboration in traditional computing is limited, while cloud computing facilitates collaboration from diverse locations.
• Cloud computing eliminates the need for physical hardware, allowing users to pay only for what they use.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

• On-demand self-service: Users can provision and release computing resources without human intervention.
• Broad network access: Resources are accessible over the network with appropriate security.
• Resource pooling: Providers combine resources to serve multiple consumers using a shared pool.
• Rapid elasticity: Resources can be quickly scaled up or down based on demand.
• Measured service: Cloud computing allows for the monitoring and reporting of resource usage.

Cloud Future

• Everything as a Service (XaaS): A concept where all services, including hardware, software, and applications, are delivered as services over the internet.
• Serverless Computing: An execution model where developers focus solely on coding application logic, without managing servers.
• Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private cloud environments, offering flexibility and control.
• Increased Storage: Increased demand for storage solutions in the cloud due to the growing volume of data.
• The Evolving Internet of Things (IoT): The integration of IoT devices with cloud computing for data management and analysis.
• Containerization: Packaging applications and their dependencies into standardized units for easy deployment and portability.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI): Integration of AI technologies within cloud platforms for enhanced capabilities and automation.
• Security: Continued focus on security measures for cloud infrastructure and data protection.

Cloud Delivery/Service Models

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides access to raw computing resources over the internet, such as servers and storage. It is often referred to as utility computing. Examples include AWS, Azure, Rackspace, and Digitalocean.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Offers complete applications accessible over the network, with the provider responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure. Examples include web-based email, Google Documents, and Zoho.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Provides a development platform for building and deploying applications, including servers, operating systems, databases, and required licenses.

Machines in the Cloud

• Virtual Machines (VMs): Cloud providers allow users to create and deploy VMs in the cloud, enabling multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical machine.

Storage in the Cloud

• Cloud Storage: Provides a hosted object storage service and block storage, offering scalability and durability through redundancy and distribution of data.

Databases in the Cloud

• Database as a Service (DBaaS): Providers manage the physical infrastructure and database software, allowing users to manage their data.
• Cloud Databases: Offered in relational and nonrelational forms, offering flexibility and scalability for data management.

Applications in the Cloud

• Cloud Applications: The applications of cloud computing are extensive, enabling diverse functionalities, including data storage, data analysis, and application execution.

Microsoft Azure

• Billing and Pricing: Offers on-demand pricing, charged by the minute, with discounts for bulk monetary commitments through pre-paid subscriptions.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Offers: Comprehensive cloud services, including computing, networking, storage, machine learning, and the internet of things.
• Global Network: GCP has a robust global network with numerous regions, zones, and edge locations.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Compute

• Google Compute Engine (GCE): Offers various VM families for general purpose, CPU-optimized, and RAM-optimized computing.
• Custom Machines: Allows users to customize their VM configurations for tailored performance.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Storage

• Cloud Storage: Object storage with global edge-caching and instant data access.
• Persistent Disk: High-performance block storage for VMs and containers.
• Local SSD: Ephemeral locally-attached block storage for VMs and containers.
• Cloud Storage Archive: Ultra low-cost archival storage with online access speeds.
• Cloud Filestore: Fully managed and scalable file storage with predictable performance.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - Billing and Pricing

• On-demand Pricing: Charged by the minute, without upfront commitment required for discounts.
• Sustained Use Discount: Retroactively discounts services used extensively within a billing month.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• Launch: Launched in 2006 as the first major player in the cloud computing market.
• Services: Offers over 175 fully featured services from data centers globally.
• Adoption: Used by large companies, including Reddit, Netflix, NASA, and Expedia.
• Magic Quadrant: Positioned as a leader in the Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) by Gartner.
• Global Presence: Has 69 Availability Zones within 22 geographic regions worldwide, with plans for expansion.

Region, Availability Zone & Local Zone

• Region: A geographic location where AWS infrastructure is deployed, offering complete independence and data transfer capabilities between regions. Each region consists of multiple availability zones.
• Availability Zone: A cluster of data centers within a region, isolated from failures in other availability zones.
• Local Zone: A geographically localized deployment option that extends AWS services to specific geographic locations within a region.