Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

Introduction

Cloud computing is a term used in the Information Technology industry, which refers to providing services to clients rather than selling hardware or software to them. There is no single definition of cloud computing, and there is a vast difference in the opinions among many organizations and IT professionals in the definition of cloud computing. It is relatively a new concept, and a fast growing service. The most common example of cloud computing, which almost all of us encounter in our daily lives is the use of internet email service, provided by different companies such as Google, hotmail, yahoo and many others. These companies, instead of selling their email software to their clients, provide email services over the cloud (internet). These companies can be called as hosts, providing services; on the other hand, clients of these companies can be called as users, who use the email services. Let us see how all of this is done, hosts who provide these services have a centralized server located at a centralized position, which stores all the data of the users. Cloud computing is an Internet-centric development approach, which provides a comprehensive services provider of software and hardware in the form of an abstract service. Memory, processing time, or more complex services can be requested via defined interfaces, and it does not matter what hardware they are eventually executed. Users on the other hand access their email accounts to send and receive mails through the internet on any computer, whether it is a private home desktop computer, laptop or a public computer. The server and the email management software are all on the internet (cloud) and are being managed by the host, providing the cloud computing services. Users in order to need to use these email services, do not need to install the email software on every computer they use, they can enjoy the benefits of the hardware and email management software using a web browser over the internet (cloud). The likeness is, 'If you need an egg, would you buy a hen?' The users need not to purchase a separate hardware to setup server and software to use the email service. The users can enjoy the benefits of email service through cloud computing services being offered (egg), which can be accessed by a large number of users, without the need to set up their own hardware and software (hen).

It is relatively a new concept. Many IT professionals around the world have differing opinions on what cloud computing actually is. This can also be evidenced through a study conducted by VersionOne. According to their study almost ninety one percent of the IT professionals around the world do not know what actually cloud computing is, and almost two third of the senior finance professionals have an idea and are clear by the concept of cloud computing. This show how new technology is and highlights its young nature. Cloud computing brings along a lot of benefit to many ...