Understanding Cloud Computing Basics
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0101001001000100Understanding Cloud Computing Basics
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0101001001000100Cloud computing
Module 1.2
Content
1. What is cloud computing?
2. Examples of cloud computing
3. Software as a Service
4. How cloud computing affects hardware
needs
5. Cloud computing and virtualisation
6. Risks and benefits of cloud computing
7. Activity
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing refers to
the use of resources that are offered as services
over the Internet
and that are shared.
Cloud computing typically involves
paying a subscription fee to
access computing resources
remotely, using the Internet
For end users, ‘in the cloud’ means that data is
processed or stored somewhere ‘on the Internet’
* Physical location of data and processing resource
irrelevant
* Always accessible if you have Internet connection
* Size of storage and power of processing resource not
fixed, but scalable
* Need a fast and reliable Internet connection
* Have to pay a fee or be given access to use these
resources
Examples of cloud computing
Online storage – file syncing
OneDrive
Dropbox
iCloud
SugarSync
CX
Google Drive
Online storage – file syncing
Used to store those files that you want to:
access from multiple devices
share with others
keep copies off-site, to act as
kind of backup
Online storage – file syncing
No longer have to
• e-mail work to yourself in order to work at home
• copy files to and from flash drives
Online storage – file syncing
Web interface and custom app integrates with
operating system – manages syncing automatically
‘Free’ version has
Works best when you download and
limited storage, but
install a local app – set it up to sync
you can buy more
a specific folder automatically
space
Online storage – backup
* Automates a proper backup schedule
* Offers incremental backups and access to a history
of file versions
* Access to files even if deleted from computer
* Meant to be used only for when disaster strikes
* Differs from syncing services (which does not offer
features of a proper online backup service)
Media repositories
* Safe online storage location
* Don’t need to download media purchases and carry them
around
* Connect to the ‘cloud’ and play media on any suitable
device
* Works better for lower-bandwidth items (music) than for
higher-bandwidth items (movies)
Annual fee may be applicable
to access all your media from the cloud
Cloud applications
* Software where most of the processing is done ‘in the
cloud’
* Application may have an installable front-end or
‘interface’, stored and run locally on the device
OR
May run entirely as a page in a web browser (even the
app interface created and managed in the cloud)
Cloud applications
No matter what operating system your device uses – you
just need a browser and an Internet connection to use the
software
• Google Docs is free These are consumer cloud
• iWork is free when you applications
create an Apple ID Most cloud computing
• Pay an annual fee to use applications are business-
Office 365 or service- oriented
Cloud applications
Use higher processing power of online servers to do
things that cannot be done on your local device
* 123D Catch lets you take photos of an object and have
it automatically converted into a 3D object
* Photosynth lets you upload photos of a location and
have them stitched together to create a pan-able,
zoom-able panorama of the scene
Both services are free
Cloud applications
General Business Apps
. . . custom written to suit specific needs
Accounting
Customer software
Relationship
Management Human
Relations
Software as a Service
SaaS is where you ‘rent’ software instead of
buying a license to use it forever
Software as a Service
SaaS . .
.
* Is a business model – more about how you pay for the
software than with the software itself
* Means you can use the latest version of a program for as
long as you pay a monthly subscription fee
Software as a Service
Cloud-based apps
• Software runs on remote servers
• Monthly or yearly fee to access and use
• No need to install any software on local computer
• Must be connected to the Internet
• Stop paying rent – no access to app
Software as a Service
Downloadable,
locally installed apps
• Downloaded and runs on local computer
• Install the software, download and install updates
• Do not need Internet connection to use the software
• Data can be stored locally
• Cheaper than buying software
• Stop paying ‘rent’ – software stops working
Software as a Service
Integrated products
• Combine cloud-based software and locally installed software
• If you subscribe to Office 365 you can
• install the Office applications on up to 5 computers
• install mobile Office applications on up to 5 tablets
• use cloud versions of Office on any computer with a browser
• access cloud-based storage to save your documents
SaaS in Gaming
Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing
Games
* MMORPGs show that games too can use the SaaS
model
* Software is downloaded and runs on your local
computer, but you play online
How cloud computing affects
hardware needs
How cloud computing affects
hardware needs
* Local hardware needs less storage and processing power
– functions transferred to resources on the Internet
* Fast, stable, reliable broadband connection is more
important
* THEREFORE pay less for hardware, but higher
running costs (for broadband connection and cloud
services)
Cloud computing and
virtualisation
Anything virtual exists only as a perception
and is not real. The user sees the effect
rather than the virtualisation itself.
Cloud computing and virtualisation
Cloud computing relies on virtualisation technologies
Companies that provide cloud services . . .
EITHE OR
Rresources of
SPLIT the COMBINE the resources of many
powerful machines between machines to create a super
multiple users powerful service that can appear to
be a single machine
Often they do both – depending on customer needs
Risks and benefits of cloud
computing
Remember . . .
With cloud computing you ‘rent’ computer
services rather than own them
Risks and benefits of cloud
computing
Risks . . .
You are relying on the service provider to
* stay in business / at least give fair warning if there’s a
problem
* follow good security and data integrity practices
* follow good backup policies – in case disaster strikes
* not ‘oversell’ their products (have more customers than
their resources can handle)
Risks and benefits of cloud
computing
Risks . . .
Cloud computing resources are only available if:
* You have a good Internet connection
* The providing company exists
* You keep paying the ‘rent’
An SLA (Service Level Agreement) is a must when one party
provides a service to another party
Risks and benefits of cloud
computing
Benefits . . .
• Ability to increase or decrease in size and
power automatically
Scalability
• Usage is monitored – may pay more for
higher usage patterns
• Resources and services are ‘everywhere’ –
Ubiquity
not limited by time or location
Collaboration • Multiple people can access it at once
Risks and benefits of cloud
computing
Benefits . . .
• Less worry to buy, maintain and
Outsource upgrade computers
hardware • Less cost for hardware and support
staff
• Installations and upgrades take place
Outsource
on the server – managed by service
software
provider
Activity