Cloud Computing Explained
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Would you like to be able to use computer hardware or software without having to purchase it? With cloud computing you can. What's more, cloud computing is scalable, allowing you to shrink or enlarge your system as your requirements change.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a set of pooled computing resources and services delivered over the web. When mapped, the relationship between the elements resembles a cloud - or a cluster of elements, instead of a linear flow between fewer elements.
It involves the interaction of many virtualized resources. Cloud servers connect and share information based on the level of website traffic across the entire network.
Businesses can obtain infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS), delivered over the internet.
Cloud computing is entirely different to the superficially similar and steadily declining external hosting, which merely moves the machine from your data center to someone else's. With external hosting, you pay to manage a physical machine and are subject to that machine's vulnerabilities: hardware breakdowns, resource limitations, and inflexible hosting.
By contrast, cloud computing, which is founded on virtualization, turns the machine into a virtual image that resides on a physical server in the cloud's hosting environment. However, that virtual image can be moved around, breaking the hardware dependency associated with external hosting, and your system is protected from hardware breakdowns. The cloud provider can simply move your system image to another piece of hardware while it repairs the original hardware.
Cloud Computing Has Many Other Benefits
If your system begins to exceed the resources assigned to it, more can be easily added. It also requires no long term investment in hardware or software.
"You can rent cloud computing for a week or even an hour if that is what you need," says Edray Mashiri, Infrastructure Administrator for Cytrus Technology.
Another advantage of cloud computing is that it allows you to access best-of-breed technology through third party suppliers, regardless of your investment.
"One of the greatest advantages of cloud computing is its cost effectiveness," says Mashiri. "Companies have been able to cut costs of web infrastructure by as much as 60% by switching to cloud computing," he says.
"It can also be used to test products for compatibility with different environments," says Mashiri
Dangers Of The Trail
Mashiri warns that, as cloud computing technology is new, there are a limited number of service providers with expertise in implementing it.
"As information is in the form of an image, cloud computing can more easily be transferred to dangerous locations and one needs to be cautious with security," says Mashiri.
Ensure that you use a reputable cloud provider who is open and transparent and sign a good service level agreement. That way you won't be locked into proprietary systems that could end up costing more over time.
Remember, cloud computing is not an all-or-nothing solution; it is something that you should adopt over time with careful consideration and planning.
Edray Mashiri is the Infrastructure Administrator for Cytrus Technology. He currently works with integrating systems and ensuring smooth running of the company's Servers and related hardware. He holds a diploma in Networking and Hardware Engineering as well as a diploma in Information Technology from BCI. Edray has also earned his certificate in Linux Security from the University of Zimbabwe and is currently completing his BCom in Informatics through UNISA. When he's not hard at work, Edray enjoys soccer and reading Christian books. Thank To Charmaine Pringle SEO Cytrus
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