IT ISCAP Mariana Malta

Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing - Definition

Cloud computing (CC) is the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualised resources as a service over the Internet on a utility basis

Users need not have knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure in the "cloud" that supports them.

Cloud Computing - Terms

Scalability is a desirable property of a system, a network, or a process, which indicates its ability to either handle growing amounts of work in a graceful manner or to be readily enlarged

Virtualization is a term that refers to the abstraction of computer resources (ex: Virtual
machine (VM), a software implementation of a machine (computer) that executes programs like a real machine)
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Cloud Computing - Definition

Cloud

computing

services

often

provide

common business applications online that are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on the servers.

Clouds have five essential characteristics: ondemand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service.
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CC - Key characteristics
Agility

improves

with

users

able The

to cost

rapidly of

and overall the

inexpensively infrastructure computing is

re-provision resources. unchanged,

technological and

however,

providers will merely absorb up-front costs and spread costs over a longer period

CC - Key characteristics
Cost

is claimed to be greatly reduced and capital expenditure is converted to operational expenditure. This ostensibly lowers barriers to entry, as infrastructure is typically provided by a third-party and does not need to be purchased for one-time or infrequent intensive computing tasks.

CC - Key characteristics
Device and location independency

enable users to access systems using a web browser regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile). As infrastructure is off-site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from anywhere

CC - Key characteristics
Multi-tenancy

Enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users thus allowing for:

Centralization of infrastructure in locations with lower costs (such as real estate, electricity, etc.)

Peak-load

capacity increases

(users need not

engineer for highest possible load-levels)

Utilization and efficiency improvements for systems that are often only 1020% utilized.
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CC - Key characteristics
Device and location independency

enable users to access systems using a web browser regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile). As infrastructure is off-site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from anywhere

CC - Key characteristics
Reliability

Improves through the use of multiple redundant sites, which makes cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster recovery. Nonetheless, many major cloud computing services have suffered outages, and IT and business managers can at times do little when they are affected.

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CC - Key characteristics
Scability (seen slide 2) Security

Typically improves due to centralization of data, increased security-focused resources, etc., but concerns can persist about loss of control over certain sensitive data. Security is often as good as or better than under traditional systems, in part because providers are able to devote resources to solving security issues that many customers cannot afford.
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CC - Key characteristics
Sustainability

comes about through improved resource utilization, more efficient systems, and carbon neutrality. Nonetheless, computers and associated infrastructure are major consumers of energy.

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Computer

crenl

-.- --I I I

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CC Applications (examples)

There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing

If you have an e-mail account with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've had some experience with cloud computing

Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a Web e-mail account remotely

The software and storage for your account doesn't exist on your computer -- it's on the service's computer cloud.
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CC - Pros

Clients

would

be

able

to

access

their

applications and data from anywhere at any time.

It could bring hardware costs down. Corporations that rely on computers have to make sure they have the right software in place to achieve goals.
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CC - Pros

Servers and digital storage devices take up space.

Corporations might save money on IT support. If the cloud computing system's back end is a grid computing system, then the client could take advantage of the entire network's processing power.
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CC - Cons

Security (cloud computing services live and die by their

reputations ...)

Privacy (Cloud computing companies will need to find

ways to protect client privacy)

Who ones the data? (philosophical discussion!) Impact over the business of computer

maintenance and repair

Globalization! Is it good?
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CC - Bibliography

Wikipedia http://communication.howstuffworks.com/cloudcomputing.htm

http://www.sun.com/cloud_computing

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