These days, Cloud Computing encompasses most aspects of our digital lives, and you’re probably already using it in some regard and don’t even realise it. But what exactly is it?
To put it simply, Cloud Computing is the delivery of user on-demand resources like servers, storage, and software over the internet. The core idea behind the cloud is straightforward. Instead of having software installed and running on your laptop, smartphone or any other computing device, it actually runs in a remote data centre – a warehouse full of powerful server computers. It’s got nothing to do with actual clouds.
By running programs and applications in a remote data centre rather than locally on your device, the idea is that the experience becomes more convenient, less hassle and lower cost.
What are the different types of cloud computing?
Cloud computing can mean different things these days, but there are three main categories of cloud services. Several different models, types and services have evolved to help offer the right solutions for each business.
Firstly, you’ll need to figure out the kind of cloud deployment, that your business needs. There are three ways that you can deploy your cloud services: on a public cloud, private cloud or hybrid cloud. These services can be partitioned by three main backend architectures. You might have heard about these or used them already; Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Public cloud
Public clouds are owned and operated by third-party cloud service providers, who deliver their computing resources such as servers and storage over the Internet (e.g., Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services). With a public cloud, all hardware, software and other supporting infrastructure are owned and managed by the cloud provider. You access these services and manage your account using a web browser.
Private cloud
A private cloud refers to cloud computing resources used exclusively by a single business or organisation. A private cloud can be physically located on the company’s on-site data centre. Some companies also pay third-party service providers to host their private cloud. A private cloud is one in which the services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network.
Hybrid cloud
Hybrid clouds combine public and private clouds, bound together by technology that allows data and applications to be shared between them. By allowing data and applications to move between private and public clouds, a hybrid cloud gives your business greater flexibility, more deployment options and helps optimise your existing infrastructure, security and compliance.
So, what can you actually do with it?
Most commonly, file storage and productivity software, such as Microsoft 365, can be delivered through the cloud for a simpler, more cost-effective, less hassle alternative than the traditional software.
Rather than spending hundreds or thousands of pounds for programs to create presentations and spreadsheets, you can use a suite such as Office online, or Google Workspace, as all the ‘programs’ run in your laptop or desktop computer’s web browser – rather than being downloaded onto your hard drive – they’re always up-to-date with the latest features and bug fixes.
And as all the documents are, by default, saved online in cloud storage, multiple people can work on them at the same time – a capability that’s tricky to achieve without running software ‘in the cloud’.
I can store stuff in the cloud?
Rather than plugging a hard disk into your computer or buying a smartphone with lots of built-in storage, you can instead subscribe to a cloud storage service such as Microsoft OneDrive. These sorts of services store your files in data centres and deliver them to you as and when you need them. The majority of cloud storage comes with native backup and recovery tools too.
What’s the advantage of this?
Cloud computing is a big shift from the traditional way businesses think about IT resources but there are plenty of reasons as to why organisations are turning towards these services:
Cost
By removing the need for expensive hardware and software, plus the costs of setting up and running on-site data centres – the racks of servers, the round-the-clock electricity for power and cooling and the IT experts for managing the infrastructure – cloud computing provides a cost-effective solution.
Speed
Most cloud computing services are provided as self-service and on-demand, so even vast amounts of computing resources can be provisioned in minutes, typically with just a few mouse clicks, giving businesses a lot of flexibility and taking the pressure off capacity planning.
Global scale
The benefits of cloud computing services include the ability to scale when needed. That means delivering the right amount of IT resources right when they’re needed, and from the right geographic location, for example, more or less computing power, storage, and bandwidth.
Productivity
On-site data centres typically require a lot of setting up, from hardware setup and software patching to other time-consuming IT management chores. Cloud computing removes the need for many of these tasks, so IT teams can spend time on achieving more important business goals.
Plus, you can access your files from anywhere there’s an internet connection across all your devices – phone, tablet, laptop, PC – a convenience that means you can work from anywhere you need.
Performance
The biggest cloud computing services run on a worldwide network of secure data centres, which are regularly upgraded to the latest generation of fast and efficient computing hardware. This offers several benefits over a single corporate data centre, including reduced network latency for applications and greater economies of scale.
Reliability
Cloud computing makes data backup, disaster recovery and business continuity easier and, less expensive. Cloud storage services will back up your files so if you spill your coffee all over your keyboard, or drop your smartphone down the lavatory, you haven’t lost all your precious photos or documents. The same goes for if you lose your device or it gets stolen.
Security
Many cloud providers offer a broad set of policies, technologies and controls that strengthen your security posture overall, helping to protect your data, apps and infrastructure from potential threats. Plus, as cloud service providers can apply security patches quickly, they can be just as secure if not more secure than traditional systems.
