Understanding the Concept of Cloud Computing

BCS Past Papers are at csmlessons.wordpress.com.

Introduction to Cloud Computing

Arrangement of Cloud Computing Facility

The jargon term “Cloud Computing” is used to introduce any way of delivering hosted services
over a real time communication network, typically the Internet. But keep in mind that it differs
from traditional hosting. The historical background for the arisen of the concept “Cloud
Computing” runs down to 1950’s, at the time people used “Mainframe Computers” which were
accessed by “Dumb Terminals”. Dumb Terminals had no a much processing power or internal
storage but they were able to communicate with mainframes which had a comparatively high
processing capability.The “Goal of Cloud Computing” is providing easy and scalable access to
computing resources and IT services.
“Moving to cloud” refers to an organization moving away from a traditional Capital Expenditure
Model (CAPEX – purchasing the dedicated hardware and depreciate them over a period of time)
to the Operating Expense Model (OPEX – using a shared cloud infrastructure and paying for the
amount of your usage of it).

Cloud Computing Vs Traditional Hosting

The difference between Traditional Hosting and Cloud Computing

In the past, web servers ran on a single computer or a group of privately owned computers. In
this circumstance, if a website hosted in the computer is suddenly more popular, the number of
requests to the server is increasing. Perhaps the server will fail to serve to all the requests as it
did earlier due to the web traffic to the site. It’s called “Overloading”. In another words, it will
cause to increase the response time for the requests. On the other hand, in times of low load,
there may be a much unused capacity.

If the website is hosted in a cloud, anyhow an additional computing and processing power can be
granted from the cloud service provider. If the website suddenly becomes more popular, the
cloud can automatically direct more individual computers to work to serve pages for the site, and
more money is paid for the extra usage.

If it becomes unpopular, however, the amount of money due will be less. Cloud computing is
popular for its “Pay-as-you-go Pricing Model”.

Cloud Computing Vs Client- Server

In a client- server environment, the client machines must run client versions of the software
capable to work with a server/ network. This type of software must be purchased and they are
allowed to be installed in a certain number of computers. These client soft-wares utilize the client
system’s memory and CPU power.

In a cloud environment, no need to install so-called client versions of software which consumes
client machine’s memory and CPU power. The software is run on the cloud servers which
provide the environment to run them. The only thing is to be done by the end user is managing
and execution of those software with the use of an interface which connects the end user to the
cloud.

Major Categories of Cloud Services

1. IaaS – Infrastructure As A Service

2. PaaS – Platform As A Service
3. SaaS – Software As A Service

Additionally “NaaS – Network As A Service” also is available. Let’s see each category in detail.
IaaS

IaaS clouds often offer additional resources such as a “virtual-machine disk image library” and
file-based storage, firewalls, load balancers, IP addresses, virtual local area networks (VLANs),
and software bundles. For Example – Amazon Web Services (It provides virtual server instance
API to start, stop, access and configure their virtual servers and storage).

PaaS

PaaS is defined as a set of software and product development tools hosted on the provider’s
infrastructure. Developers create applications on the provider’s platform over the Internet. PaaS
providers may use APIs, website portals or gateway software installed on the customer’s
computer. Force.com, (an outgrowth of Salesforce.com) and Google Apps are examples of PaaS.
Developers need to know that currently, there are not standards for interoperability or data
portability in the cloud. Some providers will not allow software created by their customers to be
moved off the provider’s platform. With some PaaS offers, the underlying computer and storage
resources scale automatically to match application demand so that the cloud user does not have
to allocate resources manually.

SaaS

SaaS – the vendor provides the hardware infrastructure, the software in order to interact with the
user via a front-end portal. Services can be anything from Web-based email to inventory control
systems and database processing. The end user is allowed to access both the application and
related data from anywhere in the world since the service provider hosts them together.

NaaS

NaaS – here the cloud facility user is allowed to use connectivity of networks for transmission of
data either from one cloud to another or from a certain traditional network to another network.

Legal Issues with Cloud Computing

1. Trademark infringement – Read More about this issue
2. Security concerns/ Security Issues – What will happen to data when the provider-
customer relationship ends? Can the service provider transfer data without consent of the
one who uploaded them?
3. Sharing of proprietary data resources – Who is the owner of the data that is shared in the
cloud?

The answers for the above questions are still on the fence.

Security Issues in Cloud Computing:-

Categories of Security Issues in Cloud Computing:-
  sensitive data accessing problem, password cracking and launching attacks
 data segregation issues
 privacy related issues
 bug exploitation
 recovery issues
 accountability issues
 malicious insiders
 management console security
 account controlling issues
 Multi-tenancy issues

Solutions for Security Issues in Cloud Computing:-

 cryptography
 public key infrastructure (PKI)
 use of multiple cloud providers
 standardisation of APIs
 improving virtual machine support and legal support

Other Issues in Cloud Computing:-

1. Vendor lock-in
1. Platform lock-in
2. Data lock-in
3. Tools lock-in
2. Open standards
3. Performance interference and noisy neighbors
4. Monopolies and privatization of cyberspace
5. Sustainability – Not too much green!

We will consider about these issues and their solutions more deeper in an upcoming lesson.

Cloud Computing News

 Cloud Computing Professional Exams
 BCS Winners
 A Managerial View on Cloud Computing in UK