Cloud computing is a form of internet-based computing that provides on-demand hosted services and resources. It is categorized into several service types, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS). This technology empowers businesses to leverage resources such as computing power, network capabilities, storage, applications, hybrid integration (including backups, site recovery, site replication, etc.), as well as management and security services.
Three distinct cloud models can be deployed:
- Private Cloud: In the Private cloud model, resources are delivered from a company’s data center to the users. This model offers flexibility and accessibility, while maintaining management, control, and security within the local data centers.
- Public Cloud: In the public cloud service model, a third-party provider delivers services over the internet. Public cloud services are available on demand, typically billed by the minute or hour. Customers pay for compute, network, storage, and application usage. The three leading public cloud providers are Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Compute Engine.
- Hybrid Cloud: The Hybrid cloud model is a combination of public cloud and on-premises private cloud, allowing configuration and automation between the two. Companies can run sensitive and mission-critical applications on the private cloud while utilizing the public cloud for bursting workloads that need to scale on demand. The goal of the hybrid cloud is to create a unified, automated, and scalable environment that leverages the advantages of a public cloud infrastructure while maintaining control over mission-critical data.