Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Introduction to Cloud Computing

• Cloud computing broadly refers to hosted services delivered over the internet
• It enables companies to use computing resources like virtual machines, storage, and applications as a utility
• Cloud service platforms grant quick access to adaptable, low-cost IT resources

How Cloud Computing Functions

• Provides easy access to servers, storage, databases, and various application services via the internet
• AWS (Amazon Web Services) offers a platform to create an account, launch virtual machines, and store media

Advantages and Benefits

• Allows for global expansion in minutes
• Eliminates expenses related to running and maintaining data centers
• Increases speed and agility
• Converts capital expenditure into variable costs
• Produces benefits from substantial economies of scale

Types of Cloud Computing

• The main types include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)

Cloud Solutions

• Cloud-based solutions include mobile services, websites, and backup and recovery
• AWS delivers a wide array of global services, including compute, storage, database, analytics, application, and deployment
• Facilitates faster organizational movement, reduced IT costs, and application scaling

Origin of the Cloud

• UNIVAC I, the first commercial computer, cost $159,000 in 1951(adjusted)
• It required considerable care and maintenance due to its price, size, and energy consumption
• Early computers were shared, requiring users to travel to the computer's location
• Remote job entry (RJE) emerged in the early 1960s, enabling users to remotely send data requests
• Computer scientist J.C.R. Licklider introduced the computer network concept in the mid-1960s
• The internet was portrayed as a cloud from the early 1990s on patent diagrams
• In 1996, Compaq Computer Corporation first used the term “cloud” in a business plan
• Salesforce.com became a cloud computing pioneer
• Salesforce launched CRM cloud software in 1999 to replace traditional desktop CRM

Cloud Computing Services

• The major offerings are Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Businesses use these components based on their requirements
• SaaS is a popular delivery model using Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) or Web Services
• PaaS is constantly updated & new features are added, benefits software developers, and provides platform for app development
• IaaS provides access to virtualized computing resources in a virtualized environment

Cloud Computing Architecture

• Cloud computing architecture comprises a front end and a back end
• The front end includes the client-side components of the cloud computing system
• The front end includes interfaces and applications needed to access the cloud platform
• The back end includes the cloud infrastructure needed for computing services
• The back end includes virtual machines, servers, data storage, and security mechanisms

Virtualization

• Virtualization is the core technology that facilitates cloud computing
• Virtualization is the division of a single physical server into multiple logical servers
• Each logical server operates like a physical server after virtualization
• This means an operating system and applications can be run independently on partitioned servers

Cloud Computing Architecture Cont'd

• Cloud architecture is composed of many loosely coupled components and is divided into a front end and a back end
• These ends connect via a network, typically the Internet

Front End Details

• The front end is the client-side portion of the cloud computing system
• Consists of the necessary interfaces and applications to access cloud computing platforms, like a web browser

Back End Details

• The back end refers to the cloud itself and encompasses all the resources to provide cloud computing services
• Composed of data, storage, virtual machines, security mechanisms, services, deployment models, and servers

Cloud Computing Infrastructure

• Cloud infrastructure is composed of servers, storage devices, networks, cloud management software, deployment software, and platform virtualization

Infrastructure: Hypervisor

• Hypervisor acts as a Virtual Machine Manager
• Hypervisor allows sharing of physical cloud resources among tenants

Cloud Infrastructure: Additional Software

• Management software maintains and configures the cloud infrastructure
• Deployment software deploys and integrates applications in the cloud

Cloud Infrastructure: Network

• A network is a key component of cloud infrastructure
• Cloud services connect over the internet
• Delivers network as a utility, allowing customers to customize the network route and protocol

Cloud Infrastructure: Server and Storage

• A server computes resource sharing and provides services like resource allocation, and security
• The cloud stores multiple copies of data
• If one storage resource fails, data extraction happens from another, enhancing reliability

Types of Clouds

• There are four cloud models: private, community, public, and hybrid

Public Cloud Model

• Public cloud systems and services are easily accessible to the general public
• IT leaders like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft provide public cloud services via the Internet

Public Cloud Benefits

• Cost effective
• Reliable
• High scalability
• Flexible
• Utility Style costing
• Location independence

Public Cloud Disadvantages

• Data and resources are hosted off-site, which raises some security risks
• Public clouds are generally less customizable than private clouds

Private Cloud Model

• The private cloud makes systems and services accessible within an organization
• Only one organization operates it
• Managed by the organization or a third party

Benefits of Private Cloud

• Higher security and privacy
• More control
• Energy efficiency
• improved reliability

Disadvantages of the Private Cloud

• Restricted area of operation, and difficult to deploy globally
• Scalability is limited to the capacity of internal hosted resources
• Higher price due to purchasing new hardware to fulfill the demand
• Requires additional skills to maintain deployment and expertize

Hybrid Cloud Model

• Hybrid clouds mix public and private cloud services
• Public cloud handles non-critical tasks, and the private cloud handles critical activities

Hybrid Cloud Benefits

• Scalability
• Security
• Cost efficiencies
• Flexibility

Hybrid Cloud Disadvantages

• Complex networking caused by the presence of private and public clouds
• Necessary security compliance that cloud services meet security policies
• Reliance on internal IT infrastructure necessitating redundancy across data centers

Community Cloud Model

• A community cloud allows access by a group of organizations
• Shares infrastructure from a specific community
• Managed internally by organizations or a third-party

Community Cloud Benefits

• Cost Effective
• Sharing Among Organizations
• Security

Cloud Computing Management

• Providers are responsible for managing resources and their performance
• Resource Management includes load balancing, performance, storage, backups, capacity, and deployment
• Management is essential for full functionality

Cloud Management Tasks

• Cloud providers perform a multitude of tasks to ensure effective resource use
• Cloud Management Tasks include: audit system backups, solution testing/validation + capacity capabilities knowledge and knowing provider's security procedures

Cloud Computing Challenges

• Cloud presents a number of challenges related to data and information handling

Security and Privacy

• Protecting data is the major challenge in cloud computing
• Overcome security via encryption, security hardware, and applications

Portability

• Applications should migrate between cloud providers
• Prevent any vendor lock-in
• Each cloud provider uses different standard languages, making migration difficult

Interoperability

• Applications on one platform must incorporate services from other platforms
• Achieved by web services, but development is complex

Computing Performance

• High bandwidth for data-intensive apps on the cloud results in high costs
• Low bandwidth harms cloud app computing performance

Reliability and Availability

• Necessary for cloud systems to be reliable and robust
• Businesses increasingly depend on third-party services