What is Cloud computing
- Uses Internet technologies to offer scalable and elastic services. The term “elastic computing” refers to the ability of dynamically acquiring computing resources and supporting a variable workload.
- The resources used for these services can be metered and the users can be charged only for the resources they used.
- The maintenance and security are ensured by service providers.
- The service providers can operate more efficiently due to specialization and centralization.
- Lower costs for the cloud service provider are past to the cloud users.
- Data is stored: ¨closer to the site where it is used. ¨ in a device and in a location-independent manner.
- The data storage strategy can increase reliability, as well as security, and can lower communication costs.
Types of clouds
- Public Cloud - the infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by the organization selling cloud services.
- Private Cloud – the infrastructure is operated solely for an organization.
- Community Cloud - the infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a community that has shared concerns.
- Hybrid Cloud - composition of two or more clouds (public, private, or community) as unique entities but bound by standardized technology that enables data and application portability.