Cloud computing: a win for all
Cloud computing is a form of computing in which all applications, information, and resources are managed in a virtual environment. The term cloud computing, specifically the use of the word “cloud”, was meant to represent the nature and structure of cloud computing. Cloud computing involves virtual hosted environments that allow users to connect to hosted services over the Internet.
Google Apps is a great example of cloud computing, as businesses no longer require the need for installed word processing software, internal email servers, multiple IT staff, and many more cost-saving advantages. Google Apps allows businesses to access all services, including email, website hosting, calendaring, document editing/creation, and much more, directly through a web browser. The benefit of using Google Apps is increased productivity, security, lower IT costs, and data backup. Microsoft has also entered the realm of cloud computing by integrating its existing software, such as Word and Outlook, with online storage and easy accessibility.
Many hosting companies and even some internet retailers are starting to offer cloud hosting services. Rackspace, an Internet hosting company, has begun offering cloud hosting for customers who want to have personal cloud applications in an environment that they control. Amazon.com also offers cloud hosting services due to its large infrastructure and Internet bandwidth capabilities. Most cloud hosting companies offer easy setup and creation of private cloud hosting with easy user interfaces. Most cloud hosting companies have per-use pricing rather than flat-rate pricing. Users simply pay for the amount of processing, bandwidth, and storage they use. This pricing method benefits both cloud hosting companies and end users.
There are three main variations of cloud computing:
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): The need for expensive equipment is outsourced. Instead of companies buying expensive equipment, including servers, hard drives, and network equipment, it will be used in the cloud and hosted by a cloud computing company. The business entity would use the virtual equipment based on the cost of use.
- PaaS (Platform as a Service): Applications run on virtually hosted cloud servers. A small business selling cloud apps to enterprises will use PaaS to “host” the cloud apps being sold and have them run on cloud servers instead of running on internal servers. The company that sells the applications pays for the services based on processor/bandwidth.
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Cloud applications are pay-per-use and not sold in bulk licenses. This allows small businesses to purchase licenses on demand for applications that they may use infrequently. Instead of buying 15 licenses, a company can only pay when the software is used and remove limits on the number of machines the software can be installed on.
IaaS, Infrastructure as a Service, is currently the most widely used cloud service. IaaS allows small, medium and even large companies to reduce costs considerably. Businesses can completely eliminate the need for expensive network equipment, costly bandwidth to support their network, costly network storage equipment, and much more. A business only pays for what it uses of the cloud infrastructure, thus eliminating capital lost due to lack of use of internal network equipment, bandwidth, etc. As IaaS gains more popularity and more cloud hosting companies emerge, costs can potentially drop further due to oversupply and increased cloud hosting competition.
PaaS, Platform as a Service, is second only to IaaS in terms of popularity and consumer adoption. A small business that sells cloud applications and/or cloud services does not have to host the applications, but can host them elsewhere. Platform-as-a-Service saves the business from selling applications/services as expensive network equipment, bandwidth, and the need for additional IT staff are outsourced to a cloud hosting company. This allows cloud application companies and even small developers the ability to enter the cloud application market without the need for significant startup capital. PaaS has the potential to surpass IaaS in terms of consumer adoption and general usage.
SaaS, Software as a Service, is the least used cloud hosting service. It is beneficial for both consumers and software companies. Consumers save money as high priced software licenses are no longer necessary due to the fact that consumers only pay when the software is used. The need to buy software in bulk is eliminated and the software needs of each consumer are tailored based on usage. This is also a win for cloud software companies as it will attract more consumers due to the custom pricing model. Consumers who could not afford the high cost of bulk software licenses will now be able to purchase them based on their software usage needs. SaaS has the potential to completely revolutionize the software industry and may even curb software piracy.
The personalized nature of cloud computing is what makes it such a popular and newly adopted Internet technology. It will revolutionize the way networks and everyday computing run. It’s a great win-win situation for both cloud companies and consumers.
Potential Disadvantages
There are also downsides to cloud computing, specifically online storage and client applications. A business that uses cloud computing to host its email, document editing, calendars, and other applications may go out of business if a cloud hosting company experiences downtime. This specific disadvantage was the case on February 24, 2009, when Google Apps and Gmail were inactive for several hours. Downtime also reiterated that if Google can go down, so can other hosting companies. Confidence in cloud computing may have taken a hit after this specific downtime, though Google has ensured it won’t happen again. Google Apps serves more than 1 million businesses worldwide and is the leader in cloud computing applications.
Security is also a potential downside to cloud computing. Companies that are willing to embrace the ability to host their services in the cloud may be reluctant to do so until the security of cloud computing has been thoroughly proven and tested. Large companies may find that the additional costs of in-house network hosting outweigh the potential security risks associated with hosting in the cloud. A security breach involving a company’s cloud storage has the potential to become a disaster. However, hacking and security breaches are rampant for internal IT hosting, such as the theft of millions of credit card numbers as well as detailed customer information. If cloud computing can prove that its security is much better than any in-house hosting, it can help it grow and surpass the percentage of companies that have in-house IT infrastructures.
Cloud computing is still in its infancy and is expected to grow and revolutionize everyday computing. Many theorize that cloud computing will one day completely take over today’s desktop computing. Until cloud-intensive applications are developed for use in the cloud, desktop computing will remain the staple of everyday computing. Innovation in cloud computing is rapid, and as new cloud technologies emerge, more people will begin to adopt the cloud.
Today’s browsing technologies are not keeping up with cloud computing capabilities, especially in the world of mobile computing. Cloud applications require various browsing technologies, including Adobe Flash, JavaScript, Adobe Flex, and many more. Until navigation technology evolves to accommodate cloud computing capabilities, cloud computing will remain a relatively simple computing method.
general benefits
The advantages of the cloud far outweigh the disadvantages. As better cloud computing technologies are developed and redundancy is tightened, the disadvantages will slowly become obsolete. As mentioned, cloud computing is in its infancy and new cloud technologies are growing exponentially. One day we will all use the cloud. In-house IT hosting, as well as desktop computing, may become a thing of the past.