Cloud Computing: Conclusion

So, while cloud computing is really really great and you’re probably already using it, either for business of for personal means, here’s what we’ve learned from taking a look at the pros and cons:

• Cloud computing is a really cheap way for companies to have all the resources they need in once place.
• It’s a much better way to spread your resources, and it becomes easier to access things from longer distances.

But…

• Is cloud computing really all that safe? For instance, while cloud computing has backups, if something was to go wrong… do you have your own personal backup?
• Is cloud computing as private as you think it is? Is your data secure or can anyone access it?

So there you have it! Everything you need to know about cloud computing; what it is, how to use it, and some pros and cons!

Cloud Computing: Disadvantages

Now Cloud Computing isn’t all good, there are some flaws and some disadvantages, but nothing really that out-weighs the advantages. If the cloud servers that you are running off of are not maintained at all, you could end of loosing all your information, and even with that said you also need a good internet connection to be connected to these servers all the time. A big problem and controversy of using cloud computing is the security of it, anything on the internet is prone to attack no matter how secure you think it is, there are always exploits somewhere and with all the sensitive information that you might have stored on there it could be stolen or lost. You also have to depend on a third party company to keep all your information secure, in check and make sure the company itself isn’t doing anything with the information that you’re putting on their servers.

Cloud Computing: Advantages

We may not realize that we use cloud computing in our everyday lives, but what is the good and bad about it?

Cloud computing has many different advantages and very little disadvantages, today companies are limited in their resources, so cloud computing is a good way, and a cheap way for companies to have all the resources they need in once place for all their employees without the cost. Along with it being cheaper, it’s an overall better way to spread their resources, it becomes easier to access things from longer distances, say on a international business trip. Today with all the new technology you don’t even have to have a computer to access these types of things, they can be accessed right on your mobile phone or tablet even. The implication of remote desktops(RDP’s), is a great way to access things around the world, companies can put all the things they need onto one or more RDP’s and then people can access as they need to, there’s no more need for papers to be passed out in the meeting or folders full of stuff when everything is just on a computer. Think about it too, if you were to stack 500 gigabytes or more of documents that you needed to have on a computer, compare that to all the documents that you would have had to print out, waste ink on and have the more probable chance to loose, which goes along with the idea that you won’t loose things as much, Cloud computing has backup, and  if something goes wrong, the chances of you having a backup is pretty well, but what if you loose that important paper that you needed? is there a backup on that? Well sometimes, but not ALL the time is the problem.

Cloud Computing: Examples of Use

The three primary levels of cloud computing software applications:

1. Iaas (Infrastructure as a Service) lowest level of software applications. Allow to have access/control over virtual machines, cloud storage, web servers, load-balancing, monitoring, reporting, logging, middleware.

2. Paas (Platform as a Service) is the second level of software applications, where by users are able to customize their own applications. These applications are in most cases provided by the service provider

3. SaaS (Software as a service) highest level of software applications available in the cloud. Users can have access to this application from desktops, laptops, or mobile devices.

The most used cloud computing services:

*Google Drive

*Dropbox

*Web-based email services

*Social network sites like Facebook

*Photo storing services like Picassa

Apple has also jumped on this bandwagon with a recent update called iCloud, which links all of your devices together so you are able to access all of your content from all of your devices. iCloud is basically a wireless up-to-date link between everything from your camera to your computer to your phone. Here’s a simple video explaining how iCloud works and what you can do with it.

Cloud Computing: Introduction

Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than using a local server.

A model for storing information files and software in a database known as the “cloud”. A user can retrieve data via the Internet and depending on the service provider; the user can have access to it from multiple devices. Some cloud computing service providers do not require the need to install the same software again on different devices.

 

Cloud computing is basically a front end and a back end that connect to each other through a network. The front end is the side the computer user/client sees= client’s computer/computer network and application needed to access cloud computing system. The back end is the “cloud” section of the system= cloud (made up of computers + servers + data storage systems). Each application has its own dedicated server.