Cloud Computing is already a reality in companies and helps professionals develop innovative solutions. Understand everything here!
Digital transformation and its technological advances have caused significant changes in our society. In this context, Cloud Computing — is already a reality in companies.
However, the concept tends to be treated very superficially, leaving open a series of doubts.
The Concept Of Cloud Computing
The concept of Cloud Computing, in itself, is quite simple. Every activity that uses a computer’s resources requires some digital space for storing and processing data.
For decades, this was done on one or more physical servers in the same environment where the system operator performed functions.
The innovative point of the cloud is precisely transferring this data manipulation environment to an external server.
This, in turn, requires a connection to that hardware. We then have two options: create our cloud service, in which the servers are located in another physical environment (at the company’s headquarters, for example), or access via the internet.
Therefore, we can conclude that the cloud makes all these computing resources available through an external link: storage, processing, databases, Software, applications in general, etc. Among these options, the most popular service is storage.
Have you ever stopped to think, for example, that when you access Google Drive or Dropbox, you are storing your data in a place provided by these companies? This is precisely the concept of cloud — although it can vary and include other features beyond simple storage.
Cloud Computing Resources
In addition to storage, Cloud Computing can involve other resources. Processing is an excellent example of this.
Generally speaking, you can hire a service in which the provider offers a solution installed in their environment, and all you need to do is access the website and operate the system. In general, this is called Software as a Service ( SaaS ).
Later on, we will detail some examples of applications of this type. Another example is offering a component platform allowing developers to create and manage web applications.
This involves using programming languages, libraries, execution engines, etc. The category is known as Platform as a Service (PaaS). Finally, we also have the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model.
As the name suggests, it is a complete package with all the resources you need to maintain a digital operation. This includes space for application development or even ready-made resources.
The provider may offer some support or management for the service in all cases. In essential storage services, for example, this includes data security and intelligent management of file locations.
In other words, the responsible company distributes user data in a way that optimizes the use of its servers, avoiding wasted space and, at the same time, guaranteeing the stability of the service.
Cloud Types
The point highlighted above usually raises some doubts. After all, if I hire cloud storage, will the provider use the same server to store my files and those of other companies? This is not necessarily so.
There are different types of cloud, precisely to meet each client’s demands. The first and most basic is the public cloud, which follows the scheme above: all users share space on one or more servers, according to the provider’s management strategy.
The advantage of this model is the cost, as optimization allows the value to be reduced. Furthermore, the service is usually on demand — that is, you can adjust the plan’s characteristics frequently or even pay only for what you use.
The second type is the private cloud. As the name suggests, the user has exclusive access to the server and other resources.
In general, this model has the main advantages of system performance, which is less overloaded, and security. However, the cost tends to be higher.
Finally, we have the hybrid cloud. The model mixes the previous two according to what is agreed in the contract.
In general, this option is adopted by companies that want to keep more sensitive data in a more secure and stable environment. At the same time, generic databases can be maintained in a shared environment with greater peace of mind.
It is worth noting that a public cloud is not an environment in which anyone can access any data.
Roughly speaking, the security issue is because it is easier to protect and monitor a server that, in principle, only your company has access to address.
