Cloud Computing 101

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services over the Internet, such as storage, servers, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence. It allows users to access and use these services on demand without having to buy or maintain physical hardware or software. Cloud computing offers many benefits, including scalability, flexibility, cost-efficiency, reliability, security, and innovation.

In general, there are several different ways that cloud computing is provided.  All these options are subscription-based based depending on the needs to the service.

Option 1: IaaS – Infrastructure as a Service
Summary: IaaS environments are typically set up and managed by IT professionals. The professionals update, patch, and maintain the servers and software. They are simply renting the hardware.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a type of cloud computing that provides users with virtualized computing resources, such as servers, storage, network, and operating systems. Users can rent these resources from a cloud provider to run their applications and workloads. Users have more control and flexibility over the configuration and management of the infrastructure but also more responsibility. IaaS suits users who need high-performance computing, scalability, and customization. Examples of IaaS providers include AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform provided by Amazon, offering over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally. AWS enables businesses of all sizes to scale and grow by providing computing power, storage options, and other functionalities such as machine learning, analytics, and AI. Users can choose from a variety of services, including Amazon EC2 for virtual servers, Amazon S3 for scalable storage, and Amazon RDS for managed databases, among many others. AWS's robust infrastructure, coupled with its extensive range of services, empowers organizations to innovate faster, reduce IT costs, and deploy applications globally in a matter of minutes. EC2 Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a web service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that offers resizable compute capacity in the cloud. It is designed to make web-scale cloud computing easier for developers by providing scalable, virtual servers?referred to as instances?that can be quickly launched and terminated as needed. EC2 enables users to deploy and manage applications without having to invest in hardware upfront, offering flexibility and cost-effectiveness. Key features and benefits of EC2 include: Scalability: Users can scale their compute capacity up or down based on demand. This elasticity ensures that applications run smoothly even under variable workloads. Variety of Instance Types: EC2 offers a wide range of instance types optimized for different use cases, including compute-optimized, memory-optimized, storage-optimized, and GPU instances, allowing users to select the best configuration for their needs. Cost-Savings: EC2 offers various pricing models, such as On-Demand Instances, Reserved Instances, and Spot Instances, enabling users to manage their costs effectively by choosing the appropriate pricing strategy based on their usage patterns. Security: EC2 integrates with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control access to instances, and supports data encryption for added security. Users can also define security groups to manage the allowed traffic to and from their instances. Flexibility: Users can choose their preferred operating system, application stack, and software packages. EC2 supports a range of operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS. Reliability: Built on a highly resilient infrastructure, EC2 provides high availability and fault tolerance, ensuring that applications remain operational even in the event of hardware failures. By leveraging EC2, businesses and developers can innovate and scale their applications efficiently, focusing on building and deploying their solutions rather than managing underlying hardware infrastructure. , Azure Virtual Machines, and Google Compute Engine.

Option 2: PaaS – Platform as a Service
Summary: PaaS environments are typically set up by developers, and the PaaS provider provides server updates/maintenance. The provider rents the hardware and the core piece of software.

Platform as a service (PaaS) is a type of cloud computing that provides users with a platform to develop, deploy, and run applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. Users can access the platform services, such as programming languages, frameworks, tools, and libraries, from a cloud provider and use them to create and run their applications. Users have more control and flexibility over the application development and deployment but less responsibility for the infrastructure maintenance. PaaS suits users who need rapid and agile application development, scalability, and compatibility. Examples of PaaS providers include AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform provided by Amazon, offering over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally. AWS enables businesses of all sizes to scale and grow by providing computing power, storage options, and other functionalities such as machine learning, analytics, and AI. Users can choose from a variety of services, including Amazon EC2 for virtual servers, Amazon S3 for scalable storage, and Amazon RDS for managed databases, among many others. AWS's robust infrastructure, coupled with its extensive range of services, empowers organizations to innovate faster, reduce IT costs, and deploy applications globally in a matter of minutes. Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service, and Google App Engine.

Option 3: SaaS – Software as a Service
Summary: SaaS environments are typically set up by end-users or managers.  The SaaS provider maintains all hardware and software.

Software as a service (SaaS) is a type of cloud computing that provides users access to software applications hosted and managed by a cloud provider. Users can use the applications over the Internet, without installing or maintaining them on their own devices. Users pay for the subscription or usage of the applications and benefit from the cloud's convenience, scalability, and security. SaaS suits users who need ready-to-use and standardized applications, such as email, office productivity, customer relationship management, or enterprise resource planning. Examples of SaaS providers include Gmail, Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce, and Quickbooks Online.

What are the four types of cloud computing?

There are four main types of cloud computing based on the deployment model and the level of control and customization. They are:

• Public cloud: A public cloud is a cloud service that is owned and operated by a third-party provider, such as Amazon Web Services ( AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform provided by Amazon, offering over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally. AWS enables businesses of all sizes to scale and grow by providing computing power, storage options, and other functionalities such as machine learning, analytics, and AI. Users can choose from a variety of services, including Amazon EC2 for virtual servers, Amazon S3 for scalable storage, and Amazon RDS for managed databases, among many others. AWS's robust infrastructure, coupled with its extensive range of services, empowers organizations to innovate faster, reduce IT costs, and deploy applications globally in a matter of minutes. ), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform ( GCP Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a suite of cloud computing services provided by Google that operates on the same infrastructure that Google uses internally for its end-user products, such as Google Search, Gmail, file storage, and YouTube. Launched in 2008, GCP offers a range of services and tools for computing, data storage, data analytics, machine learning, networking, and more. It provides businesses with the flexibility to scale and manage their applications efficiently while maintaining high availability and security. Key features and benefits of Google Cloud Platform include: Compute Services: GCP offers various compute services including virtual machines (Compute Engine), managed Kubernetes (Google Kubernetes Engine), and serverless computing (Cloud Functions and Cloud Run), enabling businesses to choose the appropriate compute resource based on their needs. Storage and Databases: GCP provides a variety of storage options such as Google Cloud Storage for object storage, Cloud SQL and Cloud Spanner for relational databases, and Bigtable for NoSQL database needs. These services ensure scalable, durable, and highly accessible storage solutions. Data Analytics and Big Data: With services like BigQuery, Dataflow, and Dataproc, GCP enables businesses to analyze large datasets, process data in real-time, and run big data workflows efficiently. These tools help organizations derive valuable insights from their data. Machine Learning and AI: GCP offers robust machine learning and AI capabilities through services like AI Platform, AutoML, and pre-trained models for speech, vision, and natural language processing. These tools allow businesses to integrate advanced AI capabilities into their applications without requiring deep expertise in machine learning. Networking: GCP provides a global network infrastructure with services like Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Cloud Load Balancing, and Cloud CDN. These services ensure high performance, reliability, and security for applications and services hosted on GCP. Security and Identity Management: GCP includes built-in security features such as encryption by default, VPC Service Controls, Identity and Access Management (IAM), and Cloud Security Scanner. These tools help organizations secure their data and applications effectively. Management Tools: GCP offers comprehensive management tools like Stackdriver for monitoring and logging, Deployment Manager for infrastructure as code, and Cloud Console for easy web-based management of services. These tools enable efficient management and monitoring of cloud resources. Integration with Other Google Services: GCP integrates seamlessly with other Google services such as Google Ads, Google Analytics, and Firebase, providing a cohesive ecosystem for businesses to manage their digital presence and applications. Google Cloud Platform is designed to support a wide range of workloads and industries, from startups to global enterprises. By leveraging GCP's comprehensive suite of services, businesses can innovate faster, scale efficiently, and reduce IT costs, driving better business outcomes in the digital age. ). Users can access public cloud services over the Internet and pay only for the resources they use. Public clouds offer the most scalability, availability, affordability, and security and the least privacy. 
• Private cloud: A private cloud is a cloud service dedicated to a single organization or customer and is usually hosted on-premises or in a private data center. Users can access private cloud services over a private network and have more control and customization over the resources and security. Private clouds offer the most protection, privacy, cost, and complexity. 
• Hybrid cloud: A hybrid cloud is a cloud service that combines public and private clouds and allows data and applications to move between them. Users can leverage the best of both worlds and optimize their workloads' performance, cost, and security. Hybrid clouds offer the most flexibility, agility, management and integration challenges.
• Multi-cloud: A multi-cloud is a cloud service that uses multiple public cloud providers and distributes the workloads across them. Users can avoid vendor lock-in and choose the best cloud service for each task based on features, performance, cost, and availability. Multi-clouds offer the most diversity and redundancy but also the most complexity and compatibility issues.

How do you choose the right type of cloud computing?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for cloud computing, and the choice depends on each user's specific needs and goals. Some of the factors to consider are:

• The type and size of the data and applications
• The level of security and compliance required
• The budget and operational costs involved
• The scalability and availability needed
• The level of expertise and support available

To make an informed decision, users should compare the pros and cons of each type of cloud computing and consult with cloud experts and providers. Cloud computing is a dynamic and evolving field, and users should always be ready to adapt and innovate as their needs and the market change.

How Can Intrada Help?

At Intrada Technologies, we understand the critical role that cloud solutions play in today's fast-paced business environment. Our team of experts provides customized cloud services that enhance your operational efficiency and scalability. Whether you're looking to migrate to the cloud, optimize your current infrastructure, or need ongoing support, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to meet your unique needs. Contact James Haywood at jhaywood@intradatech.com to learn more about how we can elevate your cloud strategy.