An electrical grid can also be regarded as the same as Cloud Computing. This is where users are able to obtain resources, software and shared information. This is very different from the nineteen eighties mainframe system. This alleviates the need for clients to possess expertise in the field of technology and infrastructure.
This is a common term used to announce the delivery of hosted services on the Internet. There are three categories that these hosted services can be split up into. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The name is derived because the Internet resembles a cloud on the software and diagrams.
This type of hosting is differentiated by three very clear characteristics. This is when compared to normal hosting. It is flexible and is normally sold by the minute or hour. This allows users to determine how much of it is needed at any specific time. The service provider will more often than not manage this in its entirety. For the client all that is needed is access to the Internet and a laptop or PC.
There are a variety of reasons that this has become popular over time. Innovations in virtualization and computing, a weaker economy and more people have access to high speed Internet. The services can be public or private. Private service supplies hosted services to a small number of individuals. The public service provides web services to the public. In the case of a private service, this is possible due to a network or proprietary data center.
Virtual private network clouds are created by public resources that are accessible to service providers. Regardless of whether private or public, the aim is to provide simple scalable access to computing resources and to IT services.
Blocks of storage and virtual server instances are provided on demand by IaaS services. The application program interface (API) is used by visitors or customers to discontinue, configure and access their storage and virtual servers. This works on a pay as you go principle and one can buy more as one requires. It is otherwise referred to as utility computing. Given that it is pay as you go, it resembles the same model of paying as is the case in fuel, electricity and water.
A platform is used to create systems over the Internet by the developers. This is called platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). The customer will have website portals, gateway software or API's installed on their PC's. This is how the service is delivered to the customer. Cloud Computing has many facets to it. This is therefore only scratching the surface when it comes to this very complex subject.
