Cloud computing is a relatively new concept in the world of information technology. It involves the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”
This definition identifies three essential characteristics of cloud computing:
- On-demand self-service. A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.
- Broad network access. Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).
- Resource pooling. The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or data center). Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, and network bandwidth.
- Rapid elasticity. Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale up and rapidly released to quickly scale down. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.
- Measured service. Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
NIST further notes that “Cloud computing is still an evolving paradigm. Its definitions, uses, and underlying technologies continue to change and develop over time.”
Cloud computing has become a popular way for businesses to reduce IT costs while increasing efficiency and agility. The lure of pay-as-you-go pricing, rapid provisioning, and scalability has proven irresistible for many organizations. In addition, the cloud offers the potential for better security and compliance, as well as improved disaster recovery.
Despite the many advantages of cloud computing, there are also some challenges that need to be considered. These include data privacy and security, vendor lock-in, and the potential for outages.
When it comes to data privacy and security, it is important to remember that the cloud is not a panacea. In fact, there have been a number of high-profile security breaches at major cloud providers. As a result, it is important to carefully consider the security implications of any cloud deployment.
In addition, it is important to be aware of the potential for vendor lock-in. Once an organization commits to a particular cloud provider, it can be difficult and costly to switch to another provider. As a result, it is important to carefully evaluate the long-term viability of any given provider before making a commitment.
Finally, it is important to remember that the cloud is not immune to outages. In fact, cloud outages can and do happen. As a result, it is important to have a plan in place for dealing with such an event.
Despite the challenges, cloud computing remains a popular and attractive option for many businesses. When deployed correctly, the cloud can offer significant advantages in terms of cost, efficiency, and agility.