Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a blanket term for managed, shared applications, development platforms, or computing infrastructure accessible via the Internet. It provides options such as bandwidth and on-demand computing power with flexible capabilities normally purchased as a metered service.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as a "model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction." NIST lists five essential characteristics:

• On-Demand Self Service -- A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.
• Broad Network Access -- Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
• Resource Pooling -- The provider's computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
• Measured Service -- Cloud systems automatically control and optimise resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts).
• Rapid Elasticity -- Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand.

According to NIST, cloud computing is deployed four ways over three service models. The three service models are:

• Software as a Service (SaaS) -- The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through either a thin client interface, such as a web browser, or a program interface.
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) -- The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) -- The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider.

The four deployment models are:

• Public Cloud -- The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for open use by the general public. It may be owned, managed, and operated by a business, academic, or government organisation, or some combination of them.
• Private Cloud -- The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organisation comprising multiple consumers (e.g., business units). It may be owned, managed, and operated by the organisation, a third party, or some combination of them.
• Community Cloud -- The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a specific community of consumers from organisations that have shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations).
• Hybrid Cloud -- The cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more distinct cloud infrastructures that remain unique entities, but are bound together by standardised or proprietary technology.

If you would like to know more about cloud computing and how it may benefit your business, give us a call at 01865 594100.