Modern society is being transformed by cloud computing as it has revolutionized how we store and use data.
But what exactly is cloud computing? How does it benefit and how does it harm? How can it be classified?
Let's learn with the help of - https://qwikskills.com/
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Cloud for beginners
The world has become more skill-driven than ever before. Today, companies prefer to
have individuals who have actually worked in the markets instead of those who only
have their degrees in the name of experience.
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way we stored and utilized data and it is
bringing about significant changes in the modern world. In earlier times, when home
computers were used, the data used to be stored in cassettes, then as time passed, we
started using CDs and DVDs to store data. But today, because of the rise of the
internet, we have terabytes of storage that can be used without any worries.
Technology has revolutionized the way we used to interact with the world. One such
technology is cloud computing.
Cloud computing is the distribution of a lot of different services, such as data storage,
servers, databases, networking, and software, over the Internet. Cloud storage allows
you to save files to a remote database and retrieve them whenever you need them.
Almost all the online services like Gmail, streaming platforms, sharing platforms are
leveraging the power of cloud computing to create irresistible market offerings.
In Layman’s language, cloud computing refers to accessing digital resources or services
which are not available on the local computer memory.
Benefits of cloud computing
Cloud computing has some great benefits that lay the foundation of modern applications
like Netflix, Google Drive, Spotify, and many more. Some of these benefits are
exceptional.
Cloud provides you with data security as your data is safe even when your computer is
crashed and you lose the local memory. Moreover, you can access your data from
anywhere in the world as well as share them with your team.
Apart from this, the cost of cloud data story is significantly lower than the other available
storage options in the market. Also, you can easily update the software and pay for the
storage which you require.
With companies like QwikSkills, students can now learn and practice cloud computing at
an affordable price.
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History
In 1955, a computer scientist, McCarthy came up with the idea of cloud computing
where companies who couldn’t afford the technology can come together could rent
time-shared computing resources.
In 1969, JCR Licklider introduced ARPANET using McCarthy's initial concept to
interconnect everyone on the globe and access data and programs from anywhere.
As time passed and internet usage boomed, the Compaq Computer engineers were the
first to use the term “cloud computing”. Salesforce.com became one of the first
companies to adopt cloud computing to share sales information, collaboration, storage,
and reporting through a web portal which paved the way for more corporates to do the
same.
In 2006, Amazon Web Services (AWS) began offering IT infrastructure services to
businesses in the form of web services – this gave the biggest pull to cloud technology.
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As time passed there Google too introduced various cloud-based applications. Apple
also announced its storage solution named iCloud which was followed by the launch of
Google drive in 2012.
Today, cloud computing continues to evolve more rapidly than ever before and the
global pandemic has given a new boost to this process.
Considerable facts about cloud computing
According to estimates, public cloud spending would reach approximately $500 billion
by 2023, with 80 percent of businesses employing cloud services by the end of 2021.
An IT service is given over the cloud every 0.5 seconds, and some organizations have
reported that their earnings have increased by 28% as a result of using cloud services.
In the year 2019, a total of $25 billion was spent on Amazon web services whereas 52%
of all enterprises spend more than $1.2 million per annum on cloud services
respectively.
Some other statistics predict that the use of cloud technologies other than traditional
services has added more efficiency to the process by reducing the cost by 65%.
Types of Cloud services
There are various types of cloud services that are available in the market today and
each of them has a different purpose. Companies also use a combination of these
services to create a more efficient system. Some of these are as follows:
● HAAS
Hardware as a Service (HAAS) allows the companies to rent all of its hardware
from the provider including laptops, printers, phones, tablets etc. It is somewhat
different from the other cloud services.
● IDAAS
IDAAS is an acronym for "Idea as a Service." It's a cloud-based identity and user
management tool that helps safeguard access to both virtual and physical
resources using many layers of security. Consider software that reads
thumbprints.
● IAAS
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The term "Infrastructure as a Service" (IAAS) refers to the cloud's servers and
networking. A company's core network, in whole or in part, can be hosted on the
cloud, with varying resources available to different users.
● PAAS
The term "Platform as a Service" (PAAS) refers to a hybrid of hardware and
software development. Developers can use this service to code and test their
applications on a variety of hardware and operating system models.
● SAAS
Software as a Service (SAAS) covers some of the most popular applications in
the market today. Gmail, YouTube, Netflix, and Spotify are some examples of
SAAS. Individuals only need to pay for the services that they are using.
● STAAS
Storage as a Service, STAAS, refers to buying cloud-based storage. There is a
booming demand in this particular field since the cloud world has expanded.
Some of the biggest players in this industry are Google Drive, AWS, and
Dropbox.
● Others
There are various other forms of cloud computing such as GAAs. DAAS, CAAS,
and DBASS are also being utilized among various sectors today.
Problems with Cloud Computing
Though, cloud computing offers huge advantages to the companies and
individuals, but it also comes up with certain challenges as well. Some of these
challenges include:
1. Automatic upgrades
Apart from being beneficial to users, automatic updates can create some
negative outcomes as well. Amazon EC2’s planned upgrade in 2011 went
wrong and the storage went offline where some customers lost their data
as well.
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2. Mounting costs
However, initial charges for using cloud computing are pocket-friendly, but
as the company grows, the cost of cloud storage also goes up.
Companies like PUBG, Zynga, and many others pay huge amounts every
year to keep their data online.
3. Not Always Online
There are times when you do not have an internet connection, at this time,
cloud-based storage cannot help you. If you do not have a good internet
connection, the benefits that cloud storage offers become meaningless to
you.
4. Hacking
Despite cloud computing being safe, we have come across multiple cases
where the data has been hacked. Because of such threats, companies like
Google and Apple still invest billions of dollars in security every year.
5. Dependency
By opting for cloud based services, you are somewhere relying on a third
party to keep your data secure. Despite of being cost effective and
reliable, it’s not always the best solution. Having technical staff on the
ground is always superior to phoning about any issues or requests.
6. Contact issues
If you wish to take a cloud-based service for yourself or your company,
you have to agree to the terms and conditions of the cloud service
provider. Even though things are getting better, but users are still at the
mercy of the provider’s terms and conditions.
Conclusion
Cloud computing has completely turned the picture by pushing us way ahead in
the future because of the advanced utilities that it offers to individuals. It is widely
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being used in the field of entertainment, technology, communication, and the
software industries and is having a wide scope today.
It offers various advantages like flexibility, automatic updates, disaster recovery,
reduced costs, collaboration, security, global access, and competitiveness to
businesses and individuals which makes them inclined towards the same.
Despite several challenges that individuals are facing today, cloud computing
seems to have a bright future as new and advanced upgradations are being done
in this field.
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