The cloud has come a long way since its inception, and there have been numerous developments that you need to be aware of to take advantage of its full potential. This article provides a detailed update on Cloud computing with some ideas as to where it is going next.
Where it started, and the main components
The cloud has developed from a large grouping of servers and software that your business can use over the internet to actually encapsulating the idea of the internet itself. Everything and more is now done in the cloud. You can connect and combine pretty much any online and computer services that you want or that your business needs. Keeping your data in the cloud is the norm for business, gaming, entertainment and personal computing alike.
The main cloud features that have now become the norm
PaaS: Platform as a Service is the provision of the complete infrastructure such as networks, servers and data, and software systems. This will provide the business with full capabilities to develop, test and run their own applications in it without the costs of setting up the infrastructure. It is a modality most commonly used for IT developers who are then able to run and build new applications without having to buy and install any hardware or software. Windows Azure is the most commonly known and easiest example to illustrate how this modality would operate.
SaaS:- Software as a Service, which has likewise been known as cloud application services, is the use of current and industry/sector-specific software applications through an internet-based portal. The SaaS company is then responsible for the infrastructure that supports the application and the application itself. Common examples are Google Workspace or Dropbox. These run through the web browser, and there is no need for any further downloads or installations on the client end. The business IT is thus managed from a central location and hosted on a remote server that is accessible on the internet.
IaaS:- Infrastructure as a Service, In this delivery model, the business will be given as much data storage and computing power as required and then be required to provide their own software platform to run in this space. Amazon web services are an example of one of the biggest players in this sector. These cloud infrastructure services allow the business to purchase services on demand and as they need them. It is arguably the most flexible cloud computing model as costs are based on consumption and the system is quickly and easily scalable. The standard, run of the mill, IaaS service provider will manage the hard drives, networks, virtualization and storage, with other service providers, including databases and message queuing services too.
Where Cloud tech is going
The main development of cloud computing over the recent past has been the integration capabilities. The immense ecosystems that have been created now allow for the connection of many ‘simple’ services and functions to create phenomenal business-specific computing capabilities.
- IoT, the internet of things, is a term used for a grouping of linked items through the internet. This connection of smart devices and the availability of large amounts of data in this connection hub allow these devices to function without any additional manual involvement. The devices area bale to remember patterns and make decisions as to their functionality and performance. This is becoming more common, and with the rise of both cloud tech and smart home and office devices, this will be one of the next growth sectors in the cloud.
- Network Edge and the cloud generally refers to the IoT and gaming but can be used for numerous other applications. The idea is to use the processing power and data sets in connected devices for processing prior to using the cloud capabilities. Thus, the majority of the processing work is done on the network edge rather than completely in the cloud.
- AI and the cloud. The vast amount of data in the cloud allows for this data to be used by modern intelligence technology to perform tasks and processes without any intervention. This allows for automated transactions, identification and allocation, detection of security anomalies and more.
- Multi-cloud linkages are producing huge capabilities. Increasing numbers of businesses, both large and small, have begun to fully utilize multi-cloud computing. This is whereby a number of public, private clouds and on-premises computing capabilities are used and liked for increased capacity. A specific cloud can be used for specific functions, creating a linkage of various clouds to produce super capabilities.
- Big data and analysis, as cloud tech improves, the amount of company data available has grown exponentially. This growth in the amount and types of company data available makes it possible for a detailed analysis of customer and client behavior, company processes and technology usage. This will be one of the defining capabilities of the new and improved cloud tech, without which your competition could leave behind your business.
- Security, privacy and information governance will be embedded from initiation. As tech develops, one of the major aspects that has changed and continues to change is how data security and privacy are improving. These aspects will no longer be an afterthought or add-on, but data and information are now encoded and protected from the outlet. As it computing power improves and increases, so too will the associated risk of cybercrime. This has meant a boom in the safety and security industry, producing a myriad of new ways to protect your data and information. It is a must to be aware of these and implement them in your cloud computing strategy.
There’s no doubt that the cloud has changed computing and the world of business forever, and as it continues to develop and change, these changes will bring increased business opportunities and business risk. All businesses must be aware of the changes and developments in cloud technology, and in this rush to stake a place in the cloud, your business must first understand computing.