Sunday, May 19, 2013

Cloud Computing

Today many companies are providing cloud computing related services. Cloud computing has many different types and different features altogether.

What is Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) which are available in a remote location and accessible over a network (typically the Internet). Users are able to buy these computing resources (including storage and computing power) as a utility, on demand. The name comes from the common use of a cloud-shaped symbol as an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it contains in system diagrams. Cloud computing entrusts remote services with a user's data, software and computation. [ Source: Wikipedia - Cloud Computing ]


Advantages of Cloud Computing
  • Low initial Cost-No need to spend so much on setting up hardware and software. Also you can get world-class service in less cost.
  • Accessibility-Applications would be available on internet and can access from anywhere and any time.
  • Utilization-Charges are based on utilization of hardware, software and time.
  • Focus On Demand-Customer can focus on the business, instead of managing hardware and software
  • Quick Revenue-Customer can scale up or down their services based on business demand. Plus the deployment stuff should be simplified
  • Risk Reduction of Data Center-Currently many players are having global data centers for cloud computing. Customer can manage the data and application well on disaster events
  • Best Practices & Advanced Technologies-Users can leverage vendors' advanced technologies and best practices on security, authentication etc.

Also refer Wiki Answers & Cloud Weeks

Limitations of Cloud Computing
  • Less control on data-How the organization's data is managed and secured? It would be maintained by cloud vendors.
  • Long run-Charges are made based on the time and usage. How much a company has to spend, If an enterprise application is hosted for 15-20 years and serving for millions of users.


Top 10 cloud computing companies
  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • IBM
  • Google
  • Salesforce
  • CSC
  • Rackspace
  • BlueLock
  • Joyent
  • Verizon

[ Source: Cloudcomputing-companies.org ]