Understanding the Different Types of Cloud Computing

Let’s take a walk back in time when video conferencing was reserved for people involved in high-profile businesses. Enterprises would have to invest in the most sophisticated technology to make sure that the video connectivity was seamless, and the conference would take place without any technical glitches. During the course of the lockdown, we were introduced to ‘Zoom’. An application that made the world one global village. An application that connected people to their loved ones even if they were living at a distance, and above all, an application that kept organizational running virtually, even when the world went into the state of lockdown. Such is the power of cloud computing. Now let’s check out what does the accurate definition of cloud computing entails? The cloud corresponds to the Internet, and cloud computing would involve an array of services being delivered via the internet. This would include anything from data storage, networking, databases, software and servers.

Types of Cloud computing

Cloud computing is a very broad topic. In fact cloud computing is further divided into four types which include,

• Private Clouds
• Public Clouds
• Hybrid Clouds
• Multi Clouds

Also there are three main types of cloud computing services. What is a cloud computing service? Well, the cloud computing service is a ‘service’ that is delivered to an individual or an organization using the cloud. ‘Cloud services’ are designed to make life simple and accessible. All this varies from negligible to affordable rates. The three types of Cloud Computing services are,

• IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service
• PaaS – Platform as a Service
  and last but not least we have SaaS (not the mother-in-law) but in computing terms, it is better known as
• SaaS – Software as a Service

We must bear in mind that choosing the cloud or the cloud service is an independent decision. However, one must note that no two clouds are the same, nor any of the cloud services can be used to resolve the same technical glitch.

Cloud Computing Services

There are three main types of cloud computing services. What is a cloud computing service? Well, the cloud computing service is a ‘service’ that is delivered to an individual or an organization using the cloud. ‘Cloud services’ are designed to make life simple and accessible. All this varies from negligible to affordable rates. The three types of Cloud Computing services are:

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – Using an internet connection, the IaaS cloud service provider actually manages the entire infrastructure inclusive of data storage, visualizations, network, servers, and more. This is why if you think the term API is familiar, this is often used by the user to rent the infrastructure. Things like apps, middleware, and operating systems are managed by the end-users, while the infrastructure provider takes care of the data storage, hard-drive, repairs and other issues.

• PaaS (Platform as a service) – Here the hardware and the application software are managed by an external cloud service provider, but it is the end-user that feeds the data that is used to run the application. PaaS provides for a shared cloud platform for application development and management (Which is a crucial DevOps component). A framework is devised for the programmers and developers comprising of maintenance and infrastructure.
• SaaS (Software as a Service) – Microsoft Office, is one of the biggest examples of SaaS. To break it down in a more simple fashion, any cloud-based application that is used on the internet by the user is a SaaS application. The applications can be paid for, or rented, and can be accessed using the internet browser. Unlike PaaS, SaaS is maintenance-free.

Types of Cloud Computing Services

1) Private Cloud – As the name suggests it is used by a single individual or a private group of individuals. All the different types of cloud eventually become private, when accessed by an individual user. During the course of the lockdown, people decided to operate from different locations, hence the location and ownership rule have run its course, which is why under the Private cloud, we have two sub-types. These subtypes include the:

A. Manages Private Cloud – As the name suggests this cloud is created by a customer but is managed by a third party. This option works perfectly well for a start-up at the inception of the business, where the teams are usually devoid of experienced IT professionals or are typically understaffed.

B. Dedicated could – The best example explaining a dedicated could involve, an enterprise buying out some cloud space, and allocating the same to various departments within the organization. For instance, you have a separate cloud for the marketing division, another separate one for the accounting, so on and so forth.

2) Hybrid cloud – This is about some major orchestration that goes on between the pirate and the public cloud. This explains the complexity of the cloud variant. This means a hybrid cloud could include one or more public clouds, one or more private clouds, or even one public cloud and one private cloud. But if we think about it, individuals are constantly traversing between applications, every cloud eventually lands up becoming a hybrid cloud. These environments are multiple yet separate and connected. Each of these environments needs to be orchestrated singly.

3) Multi-cloud – As the name suggests the approach involves a plural and involves the use of more than one cloud. Hybrid clouds are also known as multi-clouds, but multi-clouds, are orchestrated separately. Multi cloud has its own set of advantages. Multi-cloud environments are always more secure, and it is always easier to retrieve data, in case of a data breach. Multi-clouds are very common across emergent enterprises and organizations.

Conclusion

In the new age, the cloud has emerged as a critical part of our existence. This is why it has become quintessential for users to understand the cloud and its entire framework. Register now for AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Course, today.

FAQs related to the Types of Cloud Computing

Which Cloud is safest?

Public clouds present a diverse array of security risks stemming from their multi-tenancy nature and extensive access points. The delineation of security responsibilities further adds complexity, with providers typically accountable for infrastructural security, while tenants bear the responsibility for safeguarding their workloads.

Private clouds are considered more secure due to the inherent protection provided by running workloads behind the user’s firewall. Nevertheless, the actual security effectiveness heavily relies on the robustness of the user’s own implemented security measures. Success in ensuring private cloud security lies in the adeptness and strength of the user’s security practices.

Hybrid cloud security amalgamates the finest attributes from diverse environments, enabling users and administrators to optimize data protection by seamlessly transferring workloads and data across different settings, considering factors like compliance, audit, policy or security demands. This strategic approach empowers users to leverage the most suitable features of each environment, ensuring heightened data security and adherence to various requirements.

Which Cloud would cost more?

Ans: In public clouds, payment is typically based on usage, although certain exceptions, such as the Massachusetts Open Cloud, offer free tenant access. In contrast, for private clouds, the responsibility of acquiring or leasing additional hardware and resources to scale up falls on the setup’s administrators. Hybrid clouds, on the other hand, provide the flexibility to combine on-premises, off-premises, or provider-based cloud services to create a tailor-made environment that aligns with specific cost considerations.

Which Cloud had best resource?

Ans: The choice between capital expenses (CapEx) and operating expenses (OpEx) determines how you prefer to allocate your financial resources. It’s a fundamental decision between scale-up and scale-out approaches.

Public cloud users often enjoy seemingly unlimited resource access, but this comes with operational expenses for usage. In contrast, expanding private cloud resources involves investing in additional hardware, constituting capital expenses.

Hybrid clouds offer the flexibility of scaling out with operating expenses or scaling up with capital expenses, providing users with adaptable options to meet their specific needs.