What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the
Internet. Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way
to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new
personnel, or licensing new software.

Cloud Computing Architecture

Cloud Computing system is divided into two sections:

1. Front end system

2. Back end system

The front end and the back end systems are connected to each other through a network, usually the
Internet.

Front End Systems:

The front end includes the client's computer (or computer network) and the application required to
access the cloud computing system.

Back End Systems:

On the back end of the system are the various computers, servers and data storage systems that
create the "cloud" of computing services.

Important Concepts in Cloud Computing

1. SaaS
This type of cloud computing delivers a single application through the browser to
thousands of customers using a multitenant architecture. On the customer side, it means
no upfront investment in servers or software licensing; on the provider side, with just one
app to maintain, costs are low compared to conventional hosting.

2. PaaS
Another SaaS variation, this form of cloud computing delivers development environments
as a service. You build your own applications that run on the provider's infrastructure and
are delivered to your users via the Internet from the provider's servers.

3. IaaS
IaaS clouds make it very easy and affordable to provision resources such as servers,
connections, storage, and related tools necessary to build an application environment
from scratch on-demand. IaaS clouds are the underlying infrastructure of PaaS and SaaS
clouds.

Pros of Cloud Computing

1. Lower costs  Companies have lower technology-based capital expenditures, which enable
companies to focus their money on delivering the goods and services that they specialize in.
 2. Device and location independence  enabling users to access systems no matter where they
are located or what kind of device they are using.

3. Minimize costs: It could bring hardware costs down. Cloud computing systems would reduce
the need for advanced hardware on the client side

4. Improved resource utilization

Cons:

1. Security and privacy.

PaaS Benefits for Enterprise Organizations

1. Homogenized, zero footprint infrastructure

2. Lower cost and improved profitability

3. Rapid time-to-value

4. Greater Business-IT alignment

5. Reduced vendor maintenance

6. Reusable data and platform

7. Improved visibility and compliance

8. Better responsiveness for change

9. Single, industry-standard connection to enterprise

PaaS Benefits for Individual Users

1. Saves time and effort

2. Design/Adapt their own solutions

3. Improves collaboration

4. Analyze from disparate sources

5. Create actionable processes

6. Manage information lifecycle

7. Personalized for individual users

8. One tool to learn for many uses

9. Break away from spreadsheets