How Cloud Computing Works: Everything To Know In 3 Simple Points

Introduction

What exactly is “Cloud Computing” and how cloud computing works?

Over the last few decades, file saving and sharing has undergone significant development and revolutionized how we access our files or documents, from floppy discs to USB flash drives, the devices we use to share files have gotten smaller, while their capacities have gotten much larger, to serve an on-the-go lifestyle of the modern world. “Cloud computing” refers to sharing resources, information, and data through remote servers via the internet. The information is stored on physical servers which are managed and controlled by a Cloud Service Provider (CSP). As a user, you can obtain your stored data on the cloud through the Internet.

Furthermore, using cloud storage, you don’t have to store the information on your own hard drive, where you run the risk of losing the physical device or having damage caused to it, which may jeopardize your work or any sensitive information stored. Instead, you can access it remotely from anywhere, and on any device of your choice! In fact, if you’ve got an email account with a Web-based email service like Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail, then you’ve already got a taste of how Cloud Technology works! Stay with us as we explain and teach you more about how cloud computing works, in this Cloud computing for dummies article.

1. Types of Cloud Computing 
2. Applications of Cloud Computing 
3. Cloud computing and its concerns

1. Types of Cloud Computing 

Now that we’ve covered what cloud computing is, let’s move on to the different types of cloud computing. 

There are primarily 4 types of “The Cloud” that you may deploy according to your organisational needs 

• The Public Cloud, as its name suggests, is open to all to store and access information via the Internet using the pay-per-usage method. In the Public Cloud, computing resources are managed and operated by the Cloud Service Provider or CSP.  In more simple terms, it’s a cloud service that shares computing services among different customers, even though each customer’s data and applications running in the cloud remain hidden from other cloud customers.

• The Private Cloud is a cloud service that is not shared with any other organization. The private cloud user has the cloud to themselves. This option is most often used by large companies or corporations who deal with a lot of sensitive data. Having their data and information centralized, stored, and maintained internally or through a third party, provides a higher level of privacy and security to their users at a higher price, compared to The Public Cloud which is significantly less secure.

• The Hybrid Cloud, this type of cloud technology is a mix of the Private Cloud and the Public Cloud, it gives you the best of both worlds. Companies in the finance, healthcare, and education sectors most often opt for this type of cloud, as it provides them with the flexible resources from the Public Cloud, as well as, the security of the Private cloud. Some of the best Hybrid Cloud providers are Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.

• An infrastructure that allows information and data to be accessible and shared by several organizations is known as the Community Cloud. It is often managed and operated by one or more organizations within that community or a third party. The best example of how the cloud works is a government organization. More often than not, government organizations make use of a community cloud to store and manage their data.

2. Applications of Cloud Computing 

The applications of cloud computing are practically endless. A cloud computing system could execute all the programs a normal computer could run. Potentially, everything from generic word processing software to customized computer programs designed for a specific company could work on a cloud computing system.

In a cloud computing system, there is a significant workload shift. Local computers have to no longer do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications, but a remote server or a “Cloud” can easily and automatically handle heavy loads. The demand for constant renewal of hardware and software decreases, the client wouldn’t have to buy a brand-new computer that’s absurdly priced and has the most memory, because the cloud system takes care of those needs for you. The only thing the user’s computer requires to be able to run is the “cloud computing” interface software of the system, which can be as simple as a Web browser and the Cloud handles the rest! 

In recent years, companies have grown to become fonder of how cloud computing works and how they can integrate that to increase efficiency and reduce the expenditure of their enterprises. Applications such as PayPal worked with Google Cloud to help it build on its success securely by allowing its developers to work on products that mattered to the customers rather than worrying about server management, which leads to less squandering of resources and increases in efficiency and productivity.

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are some of the most widely used forms of digital interaction and are strong advocates for the working of cloud computing. It allows active users to share files, photos, videos, status, more to their friends, relatives, and business partners using the cloud storage system.

3. Cloud computing and its concerns

The biggest concern about Cloud computing is privacy and security. After all, handing over important data to another company can be quite worrying for most people, most companies will often hesitate to take advantage of cloud computing and how it works to their benefit, simply because they can’t keep their companies information secured.

On the contrary, Cloud computing providers live and die by their reputation, it will be beneficial to them to take every measure and do all in their power to make sure that the information entrusted to them is protected, by all means. If that is jeopardised, it could result in them losing all other clients.

Another concern, regarding the privacy of Cloud computing, is the reduced visibility the user has with regards to where their data is physically stored in the cloud and a reduced ability to verify their data deletion. This risk is particularly concerning due to the data being outspread over multiple different storage devices within the CSP’s infrastructure unless strict precautionary measures are taken and the users have a clear understanding of their CSP’s terms.

Conclusion

As we bring this article to an end, I think we can agree that the working of cloud computing is easily one of the few great technological advancements in recent years, and that “Cloud Computing” is on its way to becoming a household term. We see smartphone apps all utilising “Cloud technology”, all of us having access to a plethora of material, from music to entire libraries, all in the palm of our hands. We hope after reading this article, how “Cloud Computing” works and how the “Cloud” works have become clearer.

If you are looking for an extensive course in Cloud Computing, then the 5.5-month online Postgraduate Certificate Program In Cloud Computing offered by Jigsaw Academy can be of help. This program helps interested learners become complete Cloud professionals.