Explaining Cloud Computing in Layman Terms

Defining Cloud Computing in Simple Terms

Cloud computing renders businesses increased efficiency, cost-saving, plus a seamless boost in performance and data security.

Before going further, let's start by defining cloud computing in layman terms: cloud computing is using the internet to store, access, and secure applications, data servers, and networking hardware and software. You can rent various cloud services, including applications, storage, and computing power, on a pay-as-you-go basis. As a result, you can save on the costs of owning local storage servers.

All you need is a network connection.

How To Explain Cloud Computing to a Child

To simply explain cloud computing, first note that it's accessible in private and public cloud services. Secondly, understand that it's called cloud computing because the information gets stored and accessed using a virtual space (cloud platform) provided by a third-party company.

You can access your data remotely. The internet serves as the cloud channel, which gives you worldwide access to your work, data, and applications from any internet-connected device.

Some companies supply hosting services like cloud computing, and these can either be private or public cloud services. Personal cloud services are accessible only to a selected number of individuals or companies. In contrast, public cloud services get delivered freely, to all, across the internet.

There is also a hybrid cloud computing service provided as both private and public cloud services.

Types of Cloud Services

Cloud computing is still a new concept. To explain the cloud in simple terms, you must understand how and why it's established widely across large and small businesses, government agencies and nonprofit organizations, and to consumers.

Main service functions provided include:

• App Creation and Testing
• Data Storage, backup, and accessibility
• Email Services
• Big Data Analysis
• Audio and video streaming
• On-Demand Software Delivery

Defining Cloud Computing Deployment Models

As noted before, there are three main types of cloud deployment models, who maintain the hardware and overall infrastructure:

Hybrid clouds enhance business flexibility by supplying a combination of both private and public services. In addition, this cloud computing model helps optimize data center infrastructure and security.

Private clouds get reserved for particular clientele, like a single business. Cloud computing services can get hosted using the business' data center and provided using a private network.

Public clouds supply computing services through storage servers connected using the internet.

Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a revolutionary technology primarily comprising three essential services:

1. Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS): IaaS provides storage, operating systems, and networking servers using on-demand, IP-based connectivity services. You get to save costs of purchasing hardware, software, and servers.

1. Platform-as-a-service (PaaS): Instead of delivering software services using the internet, Paas provides a platform for developing software that gets accessed through the internet.

3. Software-as-a-service (SaaS): This is the provision of software application to consumers on a pay-as-you-go basis, on-demand. An example is Microsoft Office 365.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing software gives you many benefits, including the seamless capacity to access data and software using any remote device with a native browsing app. In addition, you can check your email using any mobile device or computer with the internet. Storing files using Google Drive and Dropbox services also helps maintain file backups and ensure immediate access whenever the need arises.

There is a significant cost-saving potential for businesses. For example, you can substitute pricey data centers and servers by installing faster Internet connections while computing tasks get completed and resources accessed using the cloud.

The structure of the cloud enhances your capacity to save local storage space. In addition, it quickens the software updates using the web, especially with SaaS Cloud Models, where you can easily download the latest versions and fixes to software programs.

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Security remains a top priority whenever cloud computing concerns get discussed, especially regarding the sensitivity of stored information, including personal medical and financial records. Encryption may guard crucial data to an extent, but if the encryption key gets lost, so does the data.

Cloud Computing Has a Contagious Geographical Reach

Networking servers managed by third-party cloud service companies may encounter natural disasters or even internal pitfalls like bugs and power cuts. A power outage in one location can mercilessly paralyze application usage on another site. And a business may even lose its data if the primary networking service provider crashes.

Also, rookie mistakes by individuals accessing and manipulating information in the system may contaminate your entire network's database.

Practical Application of Cloud Computing

As established earlier, there are multiple methods that your business can employ to implement cloud computing. For example, some people may prefer to manage all their data and applications using the cloud. In contrast, others deploy the hybrid model and manage some applications and data between private and public cloud servers.

The Major cloud computing service providers include:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud
• Microsoft Azure
• Alibaba Cloud
• IBM Cloud

It's important to note that Amazon Web Services is an entirely public cloud service supplied on a pay-as-you-go plan. However, you can subscribe to additional apps and services. For example, Microsoft Azure enables you to store some data resources on your local sites. However, Alibaba Cloud is a foot soldier of the Alibaba Group.

Cloud Computing Security

Security in cloud computing refers to the measures of data protection set to safeguard cloud computing platforms from hackers and malware breaches. Cloud security gets provided as firewalls, tokenization, penetration testing, virtual private networks (VPN), and private internet connections.

Cloud security is a counterpart of cybersecurity.

Cloud Computing Security Concerns

The most significant threats to cloud security include data hacking, loss, traffic, and account hijacking. In addition, unstable application program interfaces and shared technology can also compromise data security in the cloud.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks can also present underlying threats to cloud security. They can cause a service outage by simply overwhelming your platform with data, forcing all users to lose access to their accounts, be it a bank or email accounts.

Benefits of Cloud Security

Social engineering and malware bugs can compromise almost any data storage system. However, data stored on cloud platforms may be much more secure than on-premise data servers because cloud service providers set overwhelming security protocols. In addition, their employees are mostly cybersecurity professionals.