In today’s modern era, the word “Cloud” may no longer refer to the white, fluffy formations in the sky. In technology terms, cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. This development changes the world of computing. Cloud computing is a term for technologies that provide computation, software, data access and storage services. Applications are run via the Internet, giving users the benefits they can get from the Internet—ease of access from different locations. Files, application and software are hosted in a cloud by a virtual private server or Cloud VPS hosting service, a virtual machine that has the functionality equivalent to a separate physical computer but runs as software on the user’s personal computer. It is more cost-efficient than actually buying a dedicated server, a separate physical hardware used for managing your I.T. needs.

With Cloud Hosting, you don’t need to be inside the office to access the necessary tools needed to work. Local computers no longer need to do the all the work. The network of computers that make up the cloud handles them instead.  The only thing that the local computer needs is the software interface which will be used to access the cloud services. As long as you have Internet, you can access the applications needed, anytime, anywhere, inside the cloud.

Types of Clouds

1. Public Clouds –In this type of cloud, services are offered “as a service” over the Internet. Service providers make resources, such as application and storage, available to the public over the Internet, free or on a pay-per-usage mode.

2. Private Clouds – This applies the same concept of the public cloud. The difference is that the services provided are solely for the use of the client. Services are not shared with outside agencies.

3. Hybrid Clouds – This is a composition of two or more clouds, either public or private. The clouds remain as unique entities but are bound together, offering the benefits of a multiple deployment models.

Common Cloud Services

1. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) – This refers to an end user accessing a remote product or e-commerce service via the Internet.

2. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) – This is geared towards developers who want to organize applications in a cloud but does not want be involved in the complex set-ups of a server infrastructure.

3. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) – This allows developers maximum interaction with the primary server infrastructure. It includes organizing back-office applications on a remote environment.

Why are the advantages of cloud hosting?

• Ease of access.  Clients can access the computing system with any computer linked to an Internet. Data would not be confined on the local computer or even the company’s network alone. Instead, it is stored in the cloud for easy access.

Brings the cost of hardware down. No need to buy expensive hardware because the network that handles the cloud does it for you. A company can survive with only basic computers as long as it has access to the Internet.

• Company-wide access to cloud software. No need to buy individual software licenses for each employee because the cloud service provider gives company-wide access to cloud software.
• Pay for the storage you actually use. Companies do not need to buy expensive hard drives used to for storage of files. With dedicated servers, clients also need to buy separate hard drives to back-up files. If the space is not used, it just goes to waste. But with cloud hosting, files are stored in the cloud. If you need to back up the files, the cloud service provider does it for you.

• Save on physical space. Hardware consumes physical space. Some companies even have separate rooms to housededicated servers. With cloud hosting, there is no longer a need for all these bulky hardware since data are stored on a cloud, managed by a remote computer. In essence, it is stored on a virtual space.

  

• Save money on I.T. support. Streamlined hardware has fewer problems than a network of heterogeneous machines and operating systems. Cloud service providers also offer I.T. support for their clients. As a result, companies will be more focused on their core business processes instead on the support group.

  Bonus Round:

  Here is an Infograph about the history of Cloud Computing and its advantages.

  

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