In short, cloud computing is the provision of computing services (including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence) - providing rapid innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale over the Internet. For cloud services, you generally only need to spend as much as you need to consume resources, which can help you reduce operating costs, make the infrastructure run more efficiently, and adjust the use of services according to changes in business needs.
Advantages of cloud computing
cost advantage
Centralized management of resources in a virtual resource pool optimizes physical resources to a certain extent. Users no longer need expensive hosts with large storage space, but can choose relatively cheap PCS to form the cloud. On the one hand, the cost is reduced, and on the other hand, the computing performance is not inferior to that of large hosts. Cloud computing eliminates the need to invest in hardware and software, build and run on-site data centers, including server racks, uninterruptible power and cooling, and information technology specialists to manage the infrastructure. It also increases speed.
Speed advantage
Most cloud computing services are self-service on demand, so large amounts of computing resources can often be deployed in minutes with just a few mouse clicks, giving enterprises great flexibility and reducing the stress of capacity planning.
extended advantage
Users can use the rapid deployment conditions of application software to expand existing services and new services more easily and quickly. Cloud computing has efficient computing power. Adding cloud computing functions on the basis of the original server can rapidly improve the computing speed, and finally realize the dynamic expansion of the virtualization level to achieve the purpose of expanding applications.
Efficiency advantage
The cloud computing platform can be quickly equipped with computing power and resources according to the needs of users. The compatibility of cloud computing is very strong, not only can be compatible with low-configuration machines, hardware products from different manufacturers, but also peripheral to obtain higher performance computing.
Performance advantage
The virtualization technology of cloud computing includes application virtualization and resource virtualization, which breaks through the boundaries of time and space. The benefits of a secure data center in the cloud over a single enterprise data center include reduced network latency for applications and improved economies of scale.
Reliability benefits
Because data can be mirrored across multiple redundant sites in a cloud provider's network, cloud computing simplifies data backup, disaster recovery, and low-cost business continuity. When a single point server fails, the application distributed on different physical servers can be recovered through virtualization technology or a new server can be deployed for calculation using the dynamic scaling function. If the server fails, it does not affect the normal operation of computing and applications.
Security benefits
Many cloud vendors offer a wide range of policies, technologies, and controls to improve overall security and help protect data, applications, and infrastructure from potential threats.
Classification of cloud computing: By service category
1. Software as a Service (SaaS)
Cloud-based applications (software as a service) run on remote computers in the "cloud" that are owned and operated by other participants and connected to the user's computer via the Internet, generally through a Web browser.
Benefits of SaaS
You can sign up and get started quickly with innovative business applications
Applications and data can be accessed on any connected computer
If your computer fails, the data will not be lost because it is in the cloud
This service can be dynamically scaled as needed
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Platform-as-a-service provides a cloud-based environment with everything you need to support the full lifecycle of building and delivering Web (cloud) applications, eliminating the cost and complexity of purchasing and managing the underlying hardware, software, configuration, and hosting.
Advantages of PaaS
Develop apps to get to market faster
Deploy a new Web application to the cloud in just a few minutes
Reduce complexity using middleware as a service
3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Infrastructure-as-a-service provides enterprises with a variety of computing resources, including servers, networks, and data center space, on a pay-per-use basis.
Benefits of IaaS
No need to invest in your own hardware.
Scale your infrastructure as needed to support changing workloads
Flexible, innovative and on-demand services
Cloud computing Category B: By deployment location
1, the public cloud is owned and operated by enterprises, through the public network to quickly access affordable computing resources. With public cloud services, users don't have to buy hardware, software, or supporting infrastructure because it's all owned and managed by the vendor.
2. A private cloud is an infrastructure operated separately by an enterprise, which can be managed internally or by a third party, and can be hosted internally or externally. Private clouds can take full advantage of the high efficiency of cloud computing while providing stronger control resources and avoiding multi-tenancy.
3. Hybrid cloud uses private cloud as a foundation and integrates and uses public cloud services at a strategic level. The reality is that a private cloud cannot be isolated from the rest of an enterprise's IT resources and the public cloud. Most enterprises with private clouds will evolve to manage workloads in data centers, private clouds, and public clouds - hence the hybrid cloud.
Main features of hybrid cloud
Enable enterprises to store critical applications and sensitive data in traditional data center environments or in private clouds
You can take full advantage of public cloud resources, such as SaaS for the latest applications and IaaS for elastic virtual resources
Increase portability of data, applications, and services and provide more deployment patterns