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An Introduction to Cloud Computing: Its Types and Benefits

In a simple terms, Cloud computing is defined as the on-demand delivery of computing as a service. It uses remote servers to store, manage and access data online. Cloud services reduce the decreases the use of hardware or software. It is a cost-effective solution that lower the cost of installing, configuring, maintenance, etc. Cloud computing offers scalability, speed, robust security, reliability, Etc. It also increases productivity and work performance at a low cost.



What are the different types of cloud computing services?


There are three types of cloud computing services, and those are:

  • Software as a Service

  • Platform as a Service

  • Infrastructure as a Service

Software as a Service: Software as a Service is also called SaaS in short. SaaS platform offers solutions to manage cloud-based services, including services like Dropbox, Google Drive, Office 365, Etc. The SaaS software is provided on a subscription basis, either monthly or yearly. SaaS software is centrally hosted and known as on-demand software or Web-hosted software. You can use it via the Internet without installing any software.


Platform as a Service: A cloud platform to offer developers a complete deployment or the development environment. PaaS provides a platform to build services and applications on the cloud. It offers an on-demand platform for developing, testing, deploying, hosting, and managing software. One of the great features of the PaaS is that it is constantly updated, and new features are always added. PaaS allows developers to create applications quickly and easily.


Infrastructure as a Service: An on-demand service that offers computing infrastructure such as networking components, virtual servers, data centers, IP addresses, Etc. IaaS is popular among corporate clients to rent servers for storage on the cloud. Users can run any application on these rented servers. There is no operating or maintenance cost to run on these rented servers. It reduces the need to manage servers in physical data centers.


How is Cloud Computing Services Benefit Consumers?


There are various benefits for consumers who regularly use cloud services. Below are a few benefits of the cloud.


Free Spaces: When you use the cloud, you can free up and save much space on your device. The cloud allows for storing and managing an unlimited amount of data. Cloud offers a large storage area that never runs out of space. You can use the cloud service from any device and do not have to worry about space.


Accessibility: A great benefit of the cloud is to access its services from anywhere. You can log in to your cloud account from any device; you need a web browser in your system. You can pick up your work where you left it on the other device. Everything is done on the cloud, no matter which device.


Security: The data you save on the cloud is safer than the data you store on the system. Cloud services are many provided by large companies, and it is evident that they provide robust security to their customer. There is also a chance you get hacked by phishing emails and become the victim of a malware attack.


Self-Update: Every cloud service updates itself and provides its best features to the customer. There is no headache in regularly updating the software as the cloud does it automatically. Whenever a new feature comes, it will get visible, and you can use that feature with ease. Cloud always tries to improve its service quality and give the best experience to its customer.


What are the Popular Cloud Services?


You can find cloud services in almost every sector, such as Healthcare, Education, backing, Government, Etc. There are many examples of cloud as a service, such as Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Office 365, Slack, Salesforce, Dropbox, Etc. Some of the cloud services are used by us in our daily life. Here, you can find the details of some of the popular cloud services.


Dropbox: A cloud-based tool to upload documents, photos, and files. You can even share stored data with others over the cloud with this. Dropbox lets you save data online, back up it, and sync them to other devices. An effective cloud storage service provides better data sharing and collaboration of projects. It offers unique features like a digital signature that you do not get in other cloud storage tools.


Google Drive: A free cloud storage service that lets you store and access files on the cloud. The service sync stored files, documents, photos, Etc. You can use the stored data from anywhere and from any device. Google Drive’s free storage plan makes it popular among people as a storage tool. It also has decent space to store and back up data free of cost. To increase the storage space, you can take the paid plan.


Apple iCloud: You can find iCloud on every Apple device to store your files, videos, photos, and many more. You can search and share your data from any Apple device. With this, you get features like facial recognition, object detection, Etc. All the photos you take automatically get saved on iCloud without affecting their resolution. Apple iCloud provides the easiest way to store and share data with others. With this, you can even sync your emails, contacts, calendar, Etc.


Office 365: A subscription-based service used by large companies. Office 365 offers a number of applications over the cloud, such as PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Word, Excel, Etc. It offers a wide range of services or tools to manage your data online. It even offers a great collaboration with others with robust security features. You can even customize the privacy according to your requirement.


Disadvantages of Cloud


Less control: Cloud services allow you to manage and store your data on the cloud, but being a customer, you have limited control over it. You cannot perform the administrative task as the cloud service provider only performs it. Cloud services are entirely owned and managed by the service provider.


Downtime: As the cloud service depends on the Internet, you may face downtime because of Internet issues. If you use cloud computing services, your internet connection must be strong. If you are connected to WiFi, losing power also creates an internet issue. Hence, because of this, you may face temporary downtime of cloud computing services.


Security: As the cloud offers more security features, there is still a chance of data theft. Cloud services may also face data breaches. So, it is essential to set privacy while storing or managing data online. You must set features like multi-factor authentication to your cloud accounts. It would be best if you also kept your login ID and password secure from the third party.


Final Verdict


Cloud computing is a present-day technology, and it is helpful today. Whether corporate work or personal, cloud computing services offer great features, cloud services have more benefits than drawbacks and hence make it perfect to use cloud services. It is always helpful to use these cloud services and make your life easier.





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