Cloud Computing

Defined as “a model for enabling convenient on-demand network access to a shared pool of
configurable computing resources (e.g. network, servers, storage, applications, and services) that
can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction”

Key features of cloud computing

• Computing power is available as needed

• Utilization of public internet infrastructure

• Computing resources dedicated to multiple customers

• Location independent

• Product-on-demand: Pay as you use

• Scalability at a short notice

Key Benefits of Cloud Computing

• Cost Efficiency

• Scalability & Flexibility

• Accessibility & Remote Work

• Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

• Security & Compliance

• Sustainability & Energy Efficiency

Classification based on Deployment Model

• Private Cloud

• Owned by a specific entity and utilized by that entity or one of its clients

• Pros:

• Control over data

• Greater Customization

• Cons:

• Higher costs

• Low scalability

• Public Cloud

• Owned by a large organization offering cloud services

• Available for use by the general public

 • Pros:

• Cost-effective

• Scalable

• Low Maintenance

• Cons:

• Less control

• Limited Customization

• Hybrid Cloud

• Combination of private and public cloud

• Pros:

• Flexibility

• Scalability

• Cons:

• Complex to manage

• Security challenges

• Community Cloud

• Cloud services shared by two or more organization

• Pros:

• Shared by multiple organizations

• Collaboration b/w organizations with common goals

• Cons:

• Limited Scalability

• Security challenges

Classification based on Service Model

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

a. Provides virtualized computing resources like storage, networking, and virtual
machines.
b. Providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Compute
Engine
c. UseCase: Spotify uses Google Cloud for scalability in streaming millions of songs.
Advantages of IaaS:

• Scalability

• Businesses can scale resources up or down based on demand.

• Cost-Effective

• No need to buy physical servers; pay only for usage

• Disaster Recovery

• Data is stored in multiple locations for backup.

• Customization

• Users have full control over the infrastructure.

Disadvantages of IaaS

• Complexity

• Requires IT expertise to configure and manage.

• Security Concerns

• Data stored in the cloud can be vulnerable to breaches.

• Potential Downtime

• If the provider faces an outage, business operations may be affected.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

a. Offers a cloud-based platform for application development.
b. Providers: Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Services
c. Use-case: Developers use Google App Engine to build and deploy apps without
managing infrastructure.

Advantages of PaaS

• Faster Development

• Pre-configured environments reduce setup time.

• Cost Savings

• No need to maintain servers or software updates.

• Collaboration

• Developers can work on projects from different locations.

• Built-in Security & Compliance

• Providers handle security updates and regulations.

Disadvantages of PaaS

• Limited Control

• Users have less control over underlying infrastructure.

• Vendor Lock-in

• Migration to another provider can be difficult.

• Compatibility Issues

• Some applications may not be fully compatible with PaaS solutions.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Delivers applications over the internet on a subscription basis.

• Providers

• Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Gmail), Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Dropbox

• Use-case

• Businesses use Salesforce for customer relationship management (CRM).

Advantages of SaaS

• Easy to Use

• No installation or maintenance required.

• Accessibility

• Can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

• Automatic Updates

• Service providers handle updates and security patches.

• Cost Efficiency

• No need for expensive hardware or IT staff.

Disadvantages of SaaS

• Limited Customization

• Users rely on standard configurations.

• Data Security Risks

• Data is stored on external servers, posing potential risks.

• Performance Issues

• If internet connectivity is slow, accessing SaaS applications can be challenging.

Security advantages of Cloud computing

• Immediate deployment of software patches

• Reduces the vulnerability period

• Extended human-relations reach

• Deep-pocketed service provider, personalized support

• Hardware and software redundancy

• Provider quickly deploy the resource in emergency

• Timeliness of incident response

• Quick response

• Specialists instead of personnel

• Provision of cloud-based solutions experts

Security disadvantages of Cloud computing

• Country or jurisdiction

• Legal complications

• Multitenant risk

• Likelihood of data exposition to another organization

• Malicious insider

• Suspected employees

• Vendor lock-in

• Challenging to move to another cloud-service provider