Introduction To Cloud Computing Platforms

Cloud computing refers to the use of multiple server-based computational resources. These resources can be accessed through various digital networks such as WAN, Internet, etc. The resources of the server can be accessed by Smartphones, tablet PCs, Notebooks or other such type of devices having network connectivity.

In cloud computing, all the data and applications are managed by the cloud server. Such servers are usually provided by third parties. For example, Microsoft provides "Azure" as a platform for cloud computing. The cloud provides server-based applications and all the data services to the users with the output which is displayed on the client device. Cloud services works on various platforms such as Linux, MAC and Windows. As the cloud servers are remotely hosted and they could be accessed through the internet, it requires a high speed and very reliable internet connection.

The two important characteristics of the cloud computing are:

• Front end
• Back end

The front end is what a cloud computing user can see and the back end is the cloud servers hosting the various computers, services etc. Cloud computing platforms have many advantages. Few of them are listed below:

1. Reduced Cost: Organizations save money as they do not have to spend money for creating the required infrastructure. In fact, they only have to hire it.
2. Increased Storage: Organizations can store more data to the cloud servers than on private computers.
3. Highly Automated: The task of cloud computing providers is to keep their software up to date, thereby keeping the pace with the current technology.
4. Flexibility: Cloud computing offers much more flexibility than past computing methods.
5. More Mobility: As the services are available anywhere from the world provided there is good network connectivity, users can work from anywhere.
6. Allows IT to Shift Focus: There is no worry about constant server updates and other computing issues. Organizations can concentrate more on their work rather than thinking of maintaining the hardware or software.
7. Security: Clouds tend to be more secure than the traditional business models. Clouds offer real-time backup which results in less data loss. In case of outage, customers can use the backup servers that sync with the main ones as soon as they are up.

Let’s now discuss different types of Cloud Services:

• SaaS (Software as a Service): A service provider builds software while the end users configure it to suit their needs. The clients (end users) however, do not get the flexibility to change or modify the software.
• PaaS (Platform as a Service): provides a platform to clients to carry out several different tasks. For example, the platform provided by the Windows gives an opportunity to developers to build, test, and host applications that can be accessed by the end users.
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Provides infrastructure on demand. The infrastructure can be anything from storage servers to applications to operating systems.

In short, we can say that with the advent of Cloud computing, a dynamic change has been reported in the software industry as many software development companies look to gain on this opportunity. As the name suggest, Cloud platforms provide a potential platform for developers to write application as well as to use services provided by the cloud.