Introduction to Cloud and Cloud Computing

What is a Cloud?

Cloud can be defined simply as a collaboration of hardware,network,services,storage and interfaces that helps in delivering computing as a service.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a comprehensive solution that helps in delivering IT as a service.It is an internet based Computing Solution where shared resources are provided like electricity distributed on the electrical grid. Computers in the cloud are configured to work together and the various applications use the collective power as if they were running on a single system.

AS PER NIST CLOUD COMPUTING CAN BE DEFINED ------------------------------------------ AS cloud computing is 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. Now the question arises as to why its really necessary to learn Cloud Computing and why everyone is rushing to Cloud Computing. Some basic reasons are:

1 Reduced Cost:No need to spend money on infrastructure as you can directly use the infrastructure of the service provider and deploy your application or service.in other words CapEx and OpEx is reduced(Operating and Capital Expense).

2 Refined Usage of Personnel:Less infrastructure less people required to maintain and more people can work on giving appropriate upto the mark services to customers.

3 Robust Scalability: Clouds can be rapidly Provisioned

Read Full article to better understand the above concepts.

### There are five essential characteristics of Cloud Computing:

1- On-demand Self Service

2- Broad network access

3- Resource pooling

4- Rapid elasticity

5- Measured Service

On-demand Self Service:

It refers to the service that a cloud provider provides(Amazon aws,Microsoft Azure etc) when we request for the appropriate or a particular service. In other words it gives the user the flexibility to use the service only when they need, for the time the need and the amount of a particular service that they need.

Broad Network Access:

It refers to a wide range of access that a cloud provides to its intended user. For example if we are hosting a private cloud BROAD NETWORK ACCESS can be assumed as wide variety and range of devices that can be used to access the data like codeforces.com must be hosted on a server and we are using variety of devices like iPads,mobiles,computers,to use the same data.

Resource Pooling:

In a present scenario cloud providers serve multiple clients at one and the same time with provisional and scalable service this situation can be termed as resource pooling in cloud computing paradigm. In modern age computing Cloud service providers carry theoretically infinte number of resources and that can be immediately provisioned to a customer as per his demand. This is resource pooling. Resource pooling is used in variety of services like data storage,bandwidth provided services etc.

Rapid Elasticity

In accordance to RESOURCE POOLING Rapid Elasticity just means the flexibility to expand and compress the cloud and its services according to our needs and demands. Measured Service

In simple words it just means that you pay as you use. The service provider monitors your activity and requests and charges you accordingly.

Cloud Deployment Models in the next Article.