We have all heard of Cloud Services and many of us might be using them also. But do you know exactly What Cloud services are?
In basic terms, Cloud services are delivery of various computing services by a service provider. Computing services include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, etc. over the internet. There are various companies that provide Cloud services and charge the user based on usage.
Most Cloud computing services offer a browser based dashboard. This enables IT professionals, and developers to order resources and manage their accounts easily. Some providers offer their users the option to work with REST APIs and Command-Line-Interface (CLI).
There are three types of Cloud services. A brief understanding of each one will enable you to select the one that is best suited for your application.
1. IaaS
Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) is a basic type of Cloud computing service. It entails renting IT infrastructure, servers, Virtual Machines, storage, networks, operating systems, etc. from a Cloud provider. The payment is usually pay-as-you-go basis.
2. PaaS
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS) makes it easy for developers to create mobile or web apps. It eliminates the hassles of setting up or managing the infrastructure of servers, storage, network and databases needed for development. The service provider provides an on-demand environment. It is applied in development, testing, delivering and managing software applications.
3. SaaS
Software-as-a-service (SaaS) provides software applications over the internet on demand. These services can be availed on a subscription basis. Through SaaS cloud providers host and manage software applications. They also manage underlying infrastructure and maintain upgrades of software and security patching. It enables connecting over the Internet with a web browser on a mobile, Tablet or PC.
Cloud Services can be deployed in different ways. They are:
Public Cloud:
All the hardware, software and other supporting IT infrastructure is owned by a Cloud Services provider. The users can access the computing resources and manage their accounts through a web browser.
Private Cloud:
In this case, the Cloud services are owned exclusively by a business or an organization. Private Cloud is located in the company’s data center. The services and infrastructure are maintained on a private network.
Hybrid Cloud:
It is a blend of public and private Cloud services offering greater flexibility and more deployment options. This is because the technology that binds public and private Cloud services enables sharing of applications between them.
Cloud Services offer their users numerous benefits:
- They are cost-effective as they eliminate a lot of expenses related to buying hardware/software, setting up data centers, etc.
- They enhance the speed of operations.
- They improve productivity
- They provide economies of scale
- They are reliable.
Conclusion:
We see that Cloud Services provide us simple, scalable access to applications, resources, and services. The service provider provides the necessary hardware and software for the services enabling easy its easy usage.
