Cloud Computing
Future of Computer Networking
Asif U Islam University of North Texas
LTEC 4550 Assignment 5
Abstract
The paper discusses the ways cloud computing technology use a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer. This paper describes the ways the cloud technology gives businesses the opportunity to reduce the amount of money they spend on hardware, software and associated infrastructure. This paper also discusses how cloud computing has improved accessibility for end user to thousands of business oriented software. Moreover, this technology also benefits
education institutes by allowing faculty members and students to have access to various types of software virtually. Finally, this paper discusses the ways the cloud computing technology is changing the future of computer networking by reducing capital cost and what role this technology plays in order to globalize workforce on the cheap.
Cloud computing is currently being used by large number of organizations. Many consider it a major development in past few decades. The technology “cloud computing” is basically storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer's hard drive. All of us have been using cloud computing services every day but we are not aware of it. Whenever we send an email using Yahoo, Gmail email services, we are using the email software running on the computer infrastructure provide by Yahoo and Google. Those
companies made these services free for us. We don’t have to pay for the hardware and software that they are using to provide these services. Cloud computing is considered when we access our data or our programs over the Internet, or at the very least, have that data synchronized with other information over the Net. In a big business, we may know all there is to know about what's on the other side of the connection; as an individual user, we may never have any idea what kind of massive data-processing is happening on the other end. The end result is the same: with an online connection, cloud computing can be done anywhere, anytime. According to Mike Husby cloud technology is simple and easy to use because it is intended to reduce the complexities of information technology; it takes root in the principle of broad IT infrastructure convergence and sharing of services and costs. As such, cloud users are not required to have extensive
technological knowledge and skills or change their working environment or habits to run their systems (Husby, 2012). By employing cloud computing, large number of businesses is saving
their operating costs. A business now can minimize heavy spending on capital investment while
having varied options for the services your business needs and growth. They do not have to invest in expensive hardware or software but can use the cloud to change or enhance your internal computing resources. Sharing the costs of installation, system management and other
services with other cloud users is a great cost-saving strategy for your IT department (Husby, 2012). By not having in-house hardware and software systems, a business can tremendously save on maintenance and security of those computing systems. A trusted cloud provider can take care of all the hassles. Then a company can invest time and money to increase the chance of its growth. Moreover, with cloud computing for additional product and services, we don’t need to purchase and install in a location. The services are offered for different business needs without the need of additional hardware and software. Finally, by employing cloud services from trusted names such as Google, Yahoo and many others; reliability is not an issue. They have more clients and just few small businesses and above all, they have their name to protect.
Furthermore, today the cloud technology has evolved to be an efficient and strategic storage and management of massive data, especially for growing small and mid-sized businesses. And it is efficient because it helps reduce costs and strategic because it increases the value of businesses (Hubby, 2012). After all this technology gained popularity because it kept its promise main promise to promote businesses' ability to do more with less. Let’s look at their fundamental services model. The cloud technology is first to provide users with access to an integrated set of IT solutions, including the Applications (SaaS), Platform (PaaS), and Infrastructure (IaaS) layers. First, the Application Software as a Service is a software (SaaS) vendor creates application software which runs on the infrastructure on installed by servers maintained by the application vendor which are connected to the internet (Rajaraman, 2013). The application software can be used simultaneously by many customers. And this application is accessed by a customer from using an appropriate access device (Rajaraman, 2013). Secondly, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a provider who maintains computer servers, storage servers, and communication infrastructure, that is, data center services. A data center includes secure buildings where the
hardware is located, uninterrupted power supply, air-conditioning, access control, and
uninterrupted communication facility to access the hardware (Rajaraman, 2013). Basically, SaaS services runs on Infrastructure as a service but also provides other business needs. And Platform as a Service (PaaS) is built over IaaS. In this type of service the provider maintains, besides the hardware infrastructure, software infrastructure such as an operating system, programming languages, and application program development and deployment tools (Rajaraman, 2013).. Basically, the provider caters to customers’ requests of any systems program development environment such as .NET of Microsoft or a UNIX programming environment on the computing infrastructure and provide by Microsoft called Windows Azure, Amazon’s Web Services, IBM’s SmartCloud and AppEngine provided by Google (Rajaraman, 2013).
Moreover, Cloud solutions can also lead to a dramatic decrease in labor; as a result of the hardware being owned by vendors and stored in off-site locations, there is less demand for in-house IT staff (Turco, 2013). Eliminating routine maintenance can free your IT staff to focus on important initiatives and development. In some cases, this could even mean reducing staff size. For companies lacking the resources for an in-house IT staff, the cloud will help eliminate costly third party hardware repair bills (Turco, 2013). In addition to labor savings, cloud
technology can extremely reduce cost for enterprises because of the increase in workforce productivity. It takes much less time to employ a cloud system than conventional installation for hardware and software for the same service. Finally, most cloud storage and software
applications are available anywhere, through an internet connection. This is great news for enterprises that rely on travel or telecommuting policies in place (Turco, 2013).
Furthermore, Cloud technology has become very popular and useful in educational
institutes for delivering education services more securely, reliably and economically. Every
school, college or university has its own specific needs and implementation preferences. And cloud technology offers services for each of those needs. Cloud based unified data center brings together computing, network, and storage resources into an integrated platform for various IT services within data centers. Cloud based intelligent network enhances routing and switching data between teachers, administrators and students more smoothly. Cloud services are more secured since the hardware and software systems are not in-house, which is very beneficial for all schools. Cloud services could be a cheaper option for schools that face funding cuts, yet still have to invest in technology to improve learning standards. According to an article from “Tablets for Schools” website, if a school that currently stores its software and data locally, moving to the cloud will allow them to spread out IT costs through flexible subscriptions. This article
elaborated more about such software as a service (or on-demand software) is a cheaper alternative to the large costs associated with upfront licenses. Google and Microsoft’s cloud applications allow schools to pay for their cloud programs on demand. The three main tablet manufacturers (Microsoft, Apple, and Google) for example, Google applications for Education takes Google’s existing cloud-based productivity apps (such as Calendar) and focuses them around collaborative study (Escalante, 2010). By means of providing infrastructure, platform and software as service there are lot of benefits for the educational institution. Educational institution will be benefited by freeing IT Staff from a maintenance, updates and minimal amount of
software support. Sharing content is as simple as granting someone access, which facilitates collaboration without having to transfer files or worry about software compatibility. The
access to their files and related software any place they have a computer and an Internet
connection (Escalante, 2010). In addition, Cloud Services can work with existing single sign-on programs, and a hardware failure becomes less of a concern. Organizations like Microsoft, Google and Amazon are providing grants and free access for Universities, Colleges, Researcher and students and the educational institutions can use the services with less effort (Furht, 2010).
Therefore, cloud computing is one of the biggest development of the decade in
computing. Every organization including educational institutions should have a cloud strategy on how to make best use of this new option. As we know cloud technology only exists over
broadband communication. There are some risks involved of few programs only if the data is outsourced to cloud provider but large cloud computing providers are much more secured and the data is much secured. Cloud computing has changed the way we compute and because it is so beneficial, this technology will get more secured and user friendly in the near future.
References:
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