In a nutshell, cloud computing refers to the provision of computing services over the internet. This movement helps to reduce operating costs and, above all, to obtain a more efficient and scalable infrastructure. To give you an idea, according to Statista, the sector will exceed US$679 billion by 2025. This shows how cloud computing is now one of the main factors in digital transformation. It helps to decentralize IT infrastructure and other applications, thereby improving the user experience.
Want to know more about this innovative branch? Read this content to the end to learn about how cloud computing works, its benefits and especially what types of cloud computing there are!
How does cloud computing work in practice?
According to Google Cloud, “cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computing resources as services over the Internet. It eliminates the need for companies to purchase, configure or manage infrastructure, so they only pay for what they use. In other words, this modality uses the idea of sharing computing resources, programs and data instantly over the internet (cloud). In this way, organizations pay to access a virtual pool of shared resources, such as computing, storage and connectivity services, which are located on distant servers.
More clearly, cloud computing uses a network (usually the Internet) to connect users to a cloud platform, where they request and use computing services on a rental basis. A central server is responsible for all communication between client devices and servers to facilitate the exchange of information. Security and privacy features are standard elements to guarantee the protection and security of this data.
When choosing to deploy cloud computing technology, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. What may work for one company may not be suitable for another. In fact, this ability to adapt and be flexible is a distinctive feature of the cloud, enabling companies to easily adjust to new demands or market scenarios.
What are the advantages of cloud computing?
As mentioned earlier, investing in cloud computing services brings many advantages to a company. They help reduce costs by only paying for what is actually used. In addition, this feature enables companies to scale their businesses quickly and efficiently, without the need to acquire and maintain their own data centers. But there are many advantages to this feature. Here are the main ones:
Cost-effectiveness: migrating to the cloud helps to optimize IT costs, since cloud computing eliminates the need to buy hardware and software and to set up and run data centers.
Quickness: because they are provided in self-service and on-demand mode, cloud computing services provision resources in minutes even when there is an abundance of demand.
Scalability: cloud computing allows for elastic scaling, which means that the right amount of IT resources is available in the cloud whenever and wherever they are needed.
Improves productivity: cloud computing removes the need to implement local data centers, allowing professionals to invest time in other more important tasks.
Improves security: using cloud computing resources reduces the costs of data backup and disaster recovery since the data is mirrored on several sites on the provider’s network.
Moreover, these providers offer policies, technologies and controls that help improve the security of data, applications and infrastructure.
What are the cloud computing service models?
There are currently three types of cloud computing: infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service. The style of service you choose determines the level of control, flexibility and management you will have over the product you choose. Let’s take a closer look:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS): provides users with access to virtualized IT infrastructure resources over the Internet. This includes virtual servers, storage, networks and operating systems.
Here, users can create, manage and monitor virtual machines and storage resources as required. They have control over the operating system, applications and network settings.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS): offers a complete platform for developing, testing and deploying applications over the Internet. This includes development tools, execution environments and related services.
Here, users can create applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. They concentrate on developing the application while the provider manages the infrastructure, scaling and updates.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): offers ready-to-use software applications over the Internet. Users access these applications via a web browser, without having to install anything locally. Here, the cloud service provider manages the entire infrastructure, maintenance and software updates. Users simply access and use the applications as needed.
These three cloud computing models offer different levels of control and responsibility for users, allowing them to choose the best option based on their business needs, IT resources and deployment objectives.
What are the types of cloud computing?
In order to understand what cloud computing is, you need to know the three types that exist and how each can be adapted to your business. Let’s go?
Public Cloud: is operated and maintained by third-party service providers. The entire infrastructure, including servers, storage and networks, is owned and managed by the cloud provider.
It is ideal for organizations looking for a cost-effective and scalable solution, without the need to maintain a local infrastructure. It is suitable for non-confidential applications that can be accessed publicly over the internet.
Private Cloud: is operated exclusively for a single organization. The infrastructure is maintained in-house or by a dedicated provider, offering greater control, security and customization.
It is ideal for companies that handle sensitive data and need to meet strict compliance and security requirements. It allows for greater customization and control over the infrastructure and services offered.
Hybrid Cloud: combines public and private cloud resources, allowing the company to keep some workloads in a private local infrastructure and others in the public cloud, according to the needs and requirements of each application.
It is ideal for organizations that want to take advantage of the benefits of the public cloud, such as scalability and economy, while maintaining control over sensitive data locally. Each type of cloud has its advantages and challenges, and the choice between them depends on a company’s specific needs in terms of security, control, scalability, regulatory compliance and budget.
Companies often opt for a multi-cloud approach, using multiple providers and types of cloud to meet different business and application requirements.
