Cloud computing

Editor's Notes

• #2: Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, like the electricity grid.
• #3: 1. Infrastructure as a Service - Traditionally in the business environment a user’s day-to-day computing resources are held in one server at one location. The infrastructure is fixed. With cloud computing, the infrastructure is provided to the user in an ‘on-demand manner’, hence the term ‘Infrastructure as a Service’ (IaaS). 2. Platform as a Service - This component really builds on the previous one but with an additional layer of capability that allows organizations to develop, build, and deploy their own applications to support their own specific business needs. 3. Software as a Service – Software as a Service (SaaS) is where a user no longer owns the software that is utilized but instead uses it when required via cloud computing. The software remains the property of the service provider and the user pays for access either by annual subscription or on a pay-per-usage basis. In this way business applications are no longer a capital expenditure item but instead are an operational expenditure cost.
• #4: 1. Infrastructure as a Service - Traditionally in the business environment a user’s day-to-day computing resources are held in one server at one location. The infrastructure is fixed. With cloud computing, the infrastructure is provided to the user in an ‘on-demand manner’, hence the term ‘Infrastructure as a Service’ (IaaS). 2. Platform as a Service - This component really builds on the previous one but with an additional layer of capability that allows organizations to develop, build, and deploy their own applications to support their own specific business needs. 3. Software as a Service – Software as a Service (SaaS) is where a user no longer owns the software that is utilized but instead uses it when required via cloud computing. The software remains the property of the service provider and the user pays for access either by annual subscription or on a pay-per-usage basis. In this way business applications are no longer a capital expenditure item but instead are an operational expenditure cost.
• #5: How do we use cloud computing? Well, cloud computing can be used in many different ways. Whether it is purposely or not; the obvious example would be for personal use, for example, most social networking websites. We upload our photos onto facebook in order to share them with friends and family. Then, without realising it you are cloud computing! Another way people use cloud computing is for business use. We send out e-mails with documents attached; without realising we are cloud computing. The email and photos etc are all stored across the world in giant servers that can store hundreds and thousands different types of data.
• #6: There are many different examples of cloud computing, which are all used for similar reasons, but are done in dfferent ways.
• #7: Facebook is a way of people communicating and uploading information, such as photographs and videos to share with friends on there own personal page. It works in a way of storing your information and being able to get to your photos and videos via the web and facebook whenever you wish.
• #8: O2 bluebook, is a way for o2 customers to save and store there text messages, photos and contacts straight from there phone to an online account. Its a way o2 customers can back up all their infomation.
• #9: Email is a way of saving and storing infomation from one computer to another without having to actually manually store it with a device such as a memory stick.
• #11: Originally, Cloud Computing was a vague term for a very vague and distant future in which computing would occur in a few remote locations without the need for very much human intervention. The underlying concept of cloud computing dates back to the 1960s, when John McCarthy opined that "computation may someday be organized as a public utility". Cloud computing has evolved through a number of phases which include grid and utility computing, application service provision (ASP), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Infinite computing resources would be available for any need at costs approaching zero. Certainly, users wouldnot need to know or care about how the computers, their software, or the network functioned.
• #12: 5 key Events in the History of Cloud Computing. Launch Of Amazon Web Services in July 2002 The initial version of AWS in 2002 was focused more on making information available from Amazon to partners through a web services model with programmatic and developer support and was very focused on Amazon as a retailer. While this set the stage for the next steps the launch of S3 was the true step towards building a cloud platform. S3 Launches in March 2006 The real breakthrough was the pricing model for S3 which defined the model of 'pay-per-use' which has now become the defacto standard for cloud pricing. Also the launch of S3 really defined the shift of Amazon from being just a retailer to a strong player in the technology space.
• #13: EC2 Launches in August 2006 3. EC2 had a much quieter launch in August 2006 but i would think had the bigger impact by making core computing infrastructure available. This completed the loop on enabling a more complete cloud infrastructure being available. In fact at that time analysts had some difficulty in understanding what the big deal is, and thought it looks similar to other hosting services available online only with a different pricing model. Launch of Google App Engine in April 2008 4. The launch of Google App Engine in 2008 was the entry of the first pure play technology company into the Cloud Computing market. Google a dominant Internet company entering into this market was clearly a major step towards wide spread adoption of cloud computing. As with all their other products they introduced radical pricing models with a free entry level plan and extremely low cost computing and storage services which are currently among the lowest in the market. Windows Azure launches Beta in November 2009 5. The entry of Microsoft into Cloud Computing is a clear indication of the growth of the space. Microsoft for long has not accepted the Internet and the web as a significant market and has continued to focus on the desktop market for all these years. I think this is a realization that a clear shift is taking place. The launch of Azure is a key event in the history of cloud computing with the largest software company making a small but significant shift to the web
• #14: In the majority of cases cloud computing is incredibly beneficial, however as with all new developments, it also brings up a lot of issues. These include: legal issues with location, responsibility and rights of data, security issues regarding hacking, and environmental issues with server farms
• #15: When considering cloud computing there are many legal complications. Questions such as “where is the data physically stored?” / “who is governing my data?”, “what happens if the data center is hacked?” / “who is responsible?” and “should their be third party access?” /”what are my rights?” Amit Agarwal “the legal issues around cloud computing” www.labnol.org
• #16: David Binnings online article “Top Five Cloud Computing Security Issues” discusses the concerns on how safe and secure cloud computing really is. He talks about how all security systems at some point are thought to be reliable, yet there are always cases of people getting around even the tightest of security measures. An example of this is when google mails security structure was hacked and the whole system went down.
• #17: Microsofts data center in Qunicey, Washington is a good example of the environmental impact of cloud computing. It consumes 48 megawatts of power which is enough to power about 40,000 homes. That means it uses up 30% more energy than all of the people in the county put together.