What Is Cloud Computing Architecture and Its Main Components?

Introduction to Cloud Computing 

There is no question that cloud computing is here to stay because its architecture is simple, stating its components and subcomponents in clear terms. It is ubiquitous today, offering many advantages in terms of flexibility, maintenance, sharing, and storage, among others. Let’s dive in to understand what cloud computing is, what is cloud computing architecture and its components. 

Cloud computing refers to a wide range of cloud computing services that are offered through the internet, including storage, databases, software, analytics, and other platforms. This is any service provided without physically being in the same place as the hardware. Cloud computing is used by Netflix, for example, to provide video streaming services. G Suite is another example of a cloud-based service. 

Cloud computing is simply a way of delivering on-demand resources (such as servers, databases, software, etc.) over the internet. The cloud platform can also be used to develop, design, and manage applications. 

Cloud computing is a vast growing segment in the IT sector. The cloud computing segment of the IT industry accounted for almost 400 billion dollars in revenue in 2021, and it’s unlikely to slow down anytime soon. 

Features of Cloud Computing 

• Broad network access: A variety of heterogeneous devices and standard networks are used to provide cloud computing services. 
• On-demand self-service: In cloud computing, resources are provisioned, monitored and managed by the users. 
• Resource pooling: There is an uncommitted sharing of IT resources among multiple applications and occupants. A single physical resource is used to provide service to multiple clients. 
• Rapid elasticity: Scalable IT resources should be available for computing services on an as-needed basis. When a user requires services, they are provided to him, and they are scaled out when the requirement is met. 

What Is Cloud Computing Architecture? 

There are two components to the cloud computing architecture: 

• Back-End 
• Front-End 

The front end of cloud computing architecture is client-side computing. It pertains to the interfaces, services, and networks that enable a cloud system’s accessibility. Despite the fact that all computing systems will not function as a single interface, we still need to make sure we understand this. 

Similarly, cloud computing servers utilize back-end resources. A large part of this component is dedicated to servers, virtualization, security scenarios, data storage, and many other things. In addition, back-end protocol design and traffic congestion reduction mechanisms are the responsibility of the back-end. A bare metal server with an operating system known as a hypervisor runs numerous guest virtual servers concurrently using well-defined protocols. As a communication medium between containers and the outside world, the hypervisor serves as an interface for communication between the two. 

Also included in cloud computing architecture layers are cloud-based delivery and cloud services networks. It is possible to deliver cloud services through the internet, either publicly or privately. Both types of scenarios are used by enterprises in some cases. 

Benefits of Cloud Computing Architecture 

Let’s go through some of the core benefits of cloud computing architecture: 

Infographic Title: Benefits of Cloud computing Architecture 

• Helps to enhance your data processing 
• Offers good user accessibility 
• Makes the overall cloud computing system simpler 
• Provides high security 
• Significantly reduces IT operating costs 
• It has better disaster recovery 

Cloud Computing Architecture Components 

Given below are the different components of cloud computing: 

• Application: There are many different types of applications that can be used by a client to access a particular platform or software. 
• Client Infrastructure: In terms of front-end components, Client Infrastructure is one of them. In order to interact with the cloud, it provides a GUI (Graphical User Interface). 
• Runtime Cloud: A runtime cloud provides virtual machines with the execution and runtime environments that they need to run. 
• Service: In cloud Services, you can choose which type of service you want to use, based on your client’s requirements, according to your cloud service provider. 

There are three types of cloud system architecture that are briefly explained as follows: 

– Software-as-a-Service (SaaS):
Cloud application services are also referred to as cloud computing services. Most SaaS applications can be accessed directly via the web browser, which means that we do not have to download and install them on our computers.
Examples: Google Apps, Hubspot, Salesforce Dropbox, Cisco WebEx
– Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): 
It is also called a cloud platform service. SaaS is quite similar to PaaS, but there is one big difference between them: with SaaS, we can access the software over the internet without the need for a platform, and with PaaS, we can create the software.
Examples: Magento Commerce Cloud, Windows Azure, OpenShift
– Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS):
This type of service is also known as cloud infrastructure services. The department has to manage the application’s data, middleware, and runtime environment.
Examples: Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2, Cisco Metapod, Google Compute Engine (GCE) 

• Storage: There is no doubt that cloud computing relies heavily on storage as one of its most important components. As a result, you will be able to store a great deal of information in the cloud as well as manage it easily. 
• Security: There is no doubt that cloud computing provides a high level of security as part of its back end. Back-end security mechanisms are implemented to protect the application’s data. 
• Infrastructure: In addition to providing services at the host and application level, the software also provides in-depth networking services. In order to support the cloud computing model, the infrastructure will need to include hardware components such as servers, network devices, computer resources, storage,  and virtualization software such as disks and tapes that are needed to support cloud computing. 
• Management: A management system is used in the back-end to manage components such as applications, services, runtime cloud, storage, and infrastructure, in addition to other security issues, and it is responsible for coordinating the actions to ensure they are carried out correctly. 
• Internet: As a medium, the internet provides a platform through which the front and back ends can communicate and interact. 

Conclusion 

So you now might have a clear view of cloud computing architecture and its components. If not, you must check out UNext’s Cloud Computing course, which will guide you through the deep concepts of cloud computing architecture.