Cloud computing: What is cloud computing and what is it for?

cloud computing is a server or several servers that allows us to connect through the Internet to offer different services or offer services to us. This is widely used today by many companies and people, each time more are adopting it.

There are many pages or websites that use cloud computing, but it may be due to a lack of knowledge on this subject. we don’t even know how to recognize thembut for this and other things, we put together this post.

Today, We will show you a clear and simple concept about the computing cloud, where we will explain what it is, its characteristics and other things that will allow you to clearly understand this world. Here you will find why it would be useful or not to use it, and that criticism will be given by you after reading what we leave below.

What is cloud computing and what are its characteristics?

Computing in the cloud is one of the computer service supplieswhich offers us the opportunity to organize and distribute resources in the most flexible way and with economic scales.

Some of the services it offers us are: good storage, database, networks, softwareand intelligent analysis, all through an Internet network that connects to a server known as the cloud.

It needs several servers with an Internet connection, which is responsible for meeting all the needs that the client or user may have, one of the most common is access to information and its manipulation.

Although it is now used mostly for mobile devices, is a service that we can access from any device, whether mobile or fixed, located anywhere. Although the amount of services offered or not depends on the provider or of the type of user that we have paid or obtained.

But what is cloud computing and how does it work?

Cloud computing itself allows us to store documents and filesand it works through a useful system that allows the sharing and transfer of packages.

It is divided into two parts: Front end and Back end, whose objective is to make the system work correctly by connecting to the Internet:

• the front end, is the one we have on our computer or in some cases on the end user’s computer network, which gives us access to the cloud. This is very common in the case of emails, which works as if it were an internet browsersomething like Google Chrome, although this is not always the case, since it needs an App that serves as a complement for its function, which is to give access.
• the back endis directly dedicated to servers and data storage systems, although Apps generally have their own server, which is responsible for controlling the sending and receiving of packages for everything to work properly.

This server is guided by a series or list of protocols and software known as middleware, allowing computers to communicate with each other.

Being key feature in some cases backup copies, so that when files are lost we can always access a recovery of them.

Types of clouds, how are they classified?

Cloud computing services can be classified into three, each with different functions and characteristics, such we explain below:

• Private: This is the cloud, which offers us computer services through the Internet, but from a private network, widely used by users who limit the public from viewing their content. This is known as a cloud with corporate services, or also an internal cloud.
• Public: This is a service offered through a public network, therefore the server is mostly, provided by external providers through the Internet, and we can find it available worldwide.
• Hybrid: Well, as the name says, it is composed with public and private characteristics, which allows a dynamic between the clouds, all depending on our needs and the costs that arise. In case this is one of the cloud services most used in the worldand all because of its high flexibility in acquiring an external space.

What types of services can be offered in the cloud?

cloud computing You can offer us different types of servicesfor this reason they are so important for many people. Next we will show you:

Software as a Service (SaaS)

It is a hosting service on provider servers, where we as clients we can access them Through any browser, some provider offers support and availability services. This group includes the best known as Google Apps and others.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

It is a type of service offered by a provider, through remote access. One of the most used is the iCloud, where we (users) we can create an account and manage our resources in our own way, all that infrastructure is provided to us by the provider.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

This is a service provider that provides a number of software and Internet App. Whose cycle is subscribe, access through the web or the APIs of the same provider.

What uses can be given to cloud computing?

If we are using the cloud computing service to safeguard our documents, You need to know that even if you don’t program it or do it manually this one does it automatically after acquiring it.

But this is not the only use that can be given to it, there are others like the ones that we will show you below:

Build cloud-native apps

This is the main use that advanced people in the matter they give these services, whose focus is to offer technological, mobile and API Apps. These function as containers for a large number of computer packages where they allow access and download at one point.

Test and build apps

Creating an App takes a long time and in some cases even a great cost, but by developing these through a cloud service, time and cost can be greatly reduced.

Store, back up, and retrieve data

When we talk about data protection, we mean the same thing we mentioned at the beginning of this section, and that when we use a cloud service our data is exposed to a lower risk of loss, so we will always know where we can recover it in the event that a loss occurs.

analyze data

This is one of the great uses. that we can give it to cloud servicesand it is because we can unify our data between different teams, and use the benefits of the cloud such as learning or artificial intelligence, and thus be able to compare the information and make more informed decisions.

Stream audio and video

Streaming is the direct connection between two points, which allows us to connect with our audience at any time and from any device and place. By using cloud services, users can view the content whenever they want, as long as we grant them permission.

incorporate intelligence

intelligence models we can use them to attract more customers and offer more detailed support or information that allows us to strengthen our relationship with them.

Deliver software on demand

This is a use that is mostly given through the use of the SaaS service, which allows us to offer our public the latest versions or software, when they want and need it.

What are the main advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing?

Cloud computing offers a series of services that gives us a variety of advantages, and since nothing is perfect we can also find some disadvantages. These are the following:

Advantage

Next we will show you a list of the most common advantages that we can find when using cloud computing:

• Simple and fast access: We can move our data from any computer no matter where we are, the only thing that is necessary is to maintain an Internet connection, during the process or use.
• Easy use: Normally, cloud services are complete and very easy to use, since their structure is focused on all types of users, even those who are not advanced.
• Complete security: This is such a secure system that many of us prefer to save our documents or back them up with a service of this, so much so that many companies use it.
• Great privacy: By creating a user and uploading our files or documents with that profile, we will know that only we will see and manage the information contained and provided by ourselves, there are more closed systems that have greater security in order to avoid cyber risks.
• Very economical: The services offered by cloud computing providers are quite cheap, not to mention the rent or profile that we have on the platform, but rather we avoid fixed costs such as electricity consumption and others.

Disadvantages

As we already said, Not everything is rosy so we can find different advantages, although the most common are the following:

• Poor security on some servers: We know that we mention security in the advantages, but we cannot ignore the great possibility of a cyber heist, which is very common today.
• Slow connections: If there is a considerable number of people connected to the server, it may affect the speed of data transmission, a situation that many of us are going to hate when it happens to us.
• Services with limits: All providers offer us different plans or profiles that vary in features and limitations, so to access a better service we will have to pay more, so if our plan is medium we will not be able to access the full version.
• Continuous Internet connection: It is extremely necessary that we maintain a constant connection to the Internet because in this way the two points can be linked allowing the sending and receiving of documents and files.