Łukasz Kwaśniewicz
Don’t you get the feeling that these days, when it comes to technology, the word cloud appears in almost every utterance? Keeping data in the cloud has become fashionable. But is the cloud just a matter of fashion? We write about what the cloud is and how you can use it in the article below.
Think the concept of cloud computing doesn’t apply to you? As it turns out, almost all of us “rock the cloud,” or rather, use the cloud. If you use the Internet, you are most likely in contact with cloud computing. Among other things, it allows you to: store data (e.g., Google Drive) and backups, host applications and websites (e.g., Onet), stream audio and video (e.g., Netflix), deliver software on demand (e.g., Windows).
The definition of “Cloud computing,” which Amazon (one of the largest providers) provides on its website, is a service that provides computing power, space for databases, applications and other IT resources through a platform accessible on the Internet. These services are paid for what is actually consumed (Pay As You Go).
Why are companies choosing to abandon their own servers in favor of moving services to the cloud? There can be many reasons, the main ones being:
Quick start and scalability – the cloud enables a huge amount of resources to be made available virtually instantly (minutes). It also allows you to set an automatic increase in capability depending on, for example, site traffic.
Billing for resources used – you pay only for what you use. If you need the cloud for a test environment that is only used from 8 to 16 then you will only pay for what is actually used. The cloud also avoids costs associated with the purchase of software hardware. In addition, using existing infrastructure saves money by not having to purchase equipment and maintenance costs.
Reliability – makes it easy to create snapshots of the environment and, with the ability to use different server locations, increases availability up to 99.9999999%.
Cloud computing provides services in one of several models. These are IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service).
IaaS – the most basic of the models. It means renting infrastructure, i.e. servers, networks and operating systems, from a cloud provider and paying for them according to their actual consumption.
PasS – is a service that provides an on-demand environment. It can be used, for example, to develop or test applications. It allows development work without configuring servers, databases, networks, etc.
SaaS – allows the delivery of applications on demand. Most often this occurs in a subscription model. Internet users mostly connect to it via a browser, without worrying about configurations, updates or security patches.
The cloud is not just about third-party providers. There are companies that create the cloud within their organization as well. There are also those that use a mixed model. Cloud types include:
Private cloud – is a cloud created and used by only one enterprise. The servers may be located in the server room of the company in question, but may also be hosted by third-party providers.
Public cloud – is a cloud that can be used by everyone and its resources are provided by third-party providers via the Internet. The most popular clouds areAmazon Web Services , Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
Hybrid cloud – is an intermediate solution between the private cloud and the public cloud. This means that a company/institution maintains its applications/environments in both private and public clouds.
Reading this article, you may get the impression that the cloud has no drawbacks. Not really. Although it has many advantages, it is not for everyone, as not everyone needs it. If you run a small blog with a steady, not very high number of visitors, you probably don’t need the cloud yet. It will be the right solution for you when you notice an increase in users, or when you expect increased traffic. Moreover, although cloud providers do their best to make the user interface simple and intuitive, without specialized training and advanced technical knowledge, it is impossible to use their full capabilities. In such a case, the best solution is to to hire a company , which has the right skills and properly trained, certified employees. Everyone is guided by something different in their choice, and different things are important. In addition to professionalism (which all suppliers should demonstrate)Qlos relies on the strong commitment of its employees and contact with the customer.
To what extent can you benefit from assistance ? Third-party providers can help you with:
More and more companies using the cloud are becoming its ambassadors. There is no doubt that this is the future. If you are wondering whether you should move your business to the cloud, the answer is most likely “yes.” However, I think a better question than “is it worth it” is “how do we do it and when can we start”?
