If you have been following technology in the past few months, you have likely heard of Cloud Computing. You might be asking yourself, “What exactly is cloud computing?” Cloud Computing is defined by Wikipedia as “Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like the electricity grid.” Simply put, your resources, software, and information is completely online based, 24/7.
The most basic and distinguished form of cloud computing is a Virtual Private Server, or VPS. VPS’ have full functionality, and many times, its indistinguishable from a physical device (like a server at your house with comparable specifications). Since VPS’ use real memory, hard drive space, and Internet, they can’t just be thrown onto some old computer you have laying around. There are typically several VPS’ running on one server, therefore requiring more CPU power and memory. This why there’s now a demand for higher CPU speeds and more memory, and unfathomable hard drive capacities.
Now that Cloud Computing is such a popular concept, there are many strings attached. Without proper security measures, the data on that ‘cloud’ is vulnerable. If you’re working on a project for your business, and your ‘cloud’ comes crashing down, you’re out of luck as it’s in the cloud’s providers hands. Next, the seemingly obvious flaw. What if your internet goes down for an extended period of time? Your data might be nice and cozy, or it might be gone. Who knows? You’re not connected to the internet and you have no idea what’s going on. However, there are many benefits to having cloud services.
Though your data is in a remote location, it is always on, and generally accessable by everyone you allow. If your internet connection at your house, or worse, the data center goes out, the VPS is still online serving up that crucial content for your business. Since it isn’t on your local connection, it also won’t be slowing down that bandwidth, so faster internet (but not guaranteed). By having this always online connection, this makes project collaboration easier. Though you may be at home enjoying a peaceful evening with your family, one of your co-workers in another timezone can be working on that next world-domination program. Then, when he decides to head home (assuming they’re far enough away), you will be arriving at work, and can begin where your co-worker just left off. This can improve the quality of the product, as 2 minds are better than 1. It also can correct errors, simple mistakes, and complete the project before that deadline.
With both the pro’s and con’s being measured, it all depends on your needs and requirements are for success. If you need an always on data connection, cloud computing is the way to go. If you need to set up an Active Directory and Domain Controller for your business or network, physical hardware may be best for your situation. If you do choose to go the cloud computing route, I personally recommend looking at a service like EchoServers. FrigidTech has only had 1 outage with EchoServers in the 5+ months we have been with them. Check ‘em out, I think that you will find a good solution with them. They’ve also got customizable plans to suit your budget and needs!
One Response to “Cloud Computing: The Basics”
A ‘cloud’ is the abstraction that removes the dependancyof software from the serving hardware. To say it means “resources, software, and information is completely online based, 24/7″ is sort of true, it just doesn’t fully capture what the “cloud” is. Mainframes from the 1960s – 80s (and to some degree, even up to today) would also fall under that definition, but mainfram environments aren’t really a cloud. Why? Because there is no abstraction between the hardware and software…the resources are tied to the hosting hardware.
What makes a “cloud” different is that the resources are not tied to a specific server. Resources are potentially served by any of a number of servers that may, or may not, even be in the same geographical location. As a consumer of said resources, you don’t really know what or where your services are being served from, nor do you really need to care…as long as it is there…on demand.
What’s the benefit? Higher fault tolerance and availability, and increased scalability. The downside? Potentially less security and confidentiality because you are not neccessarily stewards of your own data.
I also disagree with saying a VPS is an example of a “cloud”. What a VPS is, is a server virtually sharing the resources of a single physical machine. Should that physical machine fail, or it’s net connection drops, so does the VPS…and it stays down until the physical machine is repaired, connection is restored, or the virtual server is moved to another physical machine / connection. To me, that’s not “cloud”.
Anyways, enough rambling… Cheerz!