You may have heard the term “cloud computing” in association with many new devices such as Amazon’s™ Kindle® and certain “smart phones.” This term refers to a new way of storing and sharing information which may well revolutionize data manipulation in the next few years.
What is the Cloud?
A “cloud” refers to a central location where data, software, operating systems, and other information is stored, but which the end user is unaware of in terms of location or operation. A cloud offers virtual resources to many customers at once, although these customers will not necessarily interact with each other. It is a way of pushing out programs and taking in data which includes almost no involvement from the end user, although users can access the information, software, and applications instantly from any enabled device.
Cloud servers operate through the internet, although there is great variation in the structure and security of clouds. Some clouds are accessible by almost anyone; others are carefully secured to prevent unwanted entry. Many government infrastructures have been reorganized along cloud protocols to greatly enhance storage space and accessibility by authorized officials.
Most cloud infrastructures currently in use are commercial applications for downloading content to phones and computers. Because of the great flexibility of a centrally-located cloud in terms of allocating resources, many companies now rely on cloud computing to push out information to their customers or employees, or to store information from many diversified users.
What are the advantages of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing has several advantages for end users. Clouds allow computers to communicate more easily with a central server, through a process known as application programming interface, or API. A cloud can manage far more API than a single server or computer, and greatly speeds facilitation of numerous types of software. Costs are typically less for cloud-based infrastructures than for those which rely on single dedicated servers. Users also enjoy location independence, which means that information is accessible from anywhere the user happens to be, not just in certain “coverage areas.”
Perhaps the greatest advantage to end users with cloud systems, however, is the ability to share programs across large groups of users. This concept is inherent in the web itself; by placing software on a website, for example, large numbers of users can utilize the software without having to have access to a particular computer with the software pre-downloaded. Unfortunately, however, a person using web-based software must usually download the components on his or her device, and repeat the process for each device which is to be used. With cloud computing, the software and data are both stored in the cloud, providing any access from any enabled device.
Are Cloud Servers Secure?
Security may also be easier to manage with cloud computing. Most users have no need or desire to participate in the security structure of their supporting servers. By using clouds, security measures can be largely confined to one location, greatly enhancing the security measures’ effectiveness and cutting down on security-related costs.
Clouds consist of “layers” which all allow for different levels of sharing among users. At one end of the cloud spectrum is the server. This is a centrally-located machine which manages the data and software supported by the cloud. These may include hardware such as servers and hard drives, and software such as operating systems. Next is the infrastructure of the cloud. This is the protocol under which the cloud operates, and is usually full outsourced in terms of users. Infrastructure usually uses a platform virtualization model, and clouds may operate more than one infrastructure simultaneously, depending on users’ needs and the demands on the system. Infrastructure controls access to the server and interprets the demands made on the system each moment, adjusting to increases or decreases in usage or software needs.
Cloud platforms come next; these are slightly more intricate versions of the infrastructure, designed to meet specific needs of users and to operate software in specialized ways. Next in line comes applications. Most of us are familiar with “apps” from using smart phones or computers, and understand the basic end-user perception of these applications. However, applications are a crucial link in the cloud between users and the software they want to access. By holding applications in the cloud, users do not have to download particular software every time they want to use a program; rather, they operate the software in the cloud, freeing their own device’s space. Finally, the client is the hardware or software on the user’s end which relies on the infrastructure and applications of the cloud to do its business.
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