1.

1 Overview of Cloud Computing

Understanding Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet, such as storage, processing
power, databases, networking, software, and analytics. Instead of relying on local servers or personal
devices, these services are hosted on remote servers (the "cloud") and accessed on-demand.

Evolution of Cloud Computing

1. Mainframe Era (1960s):

o Centralized computing with shared terminals connected to a mainframe.
o Limited flexibility and scalability.

2. Client-Server Model (1980s-1990s):

o Applications hosted on dedicated servers, accessed by individual users.
o Emergence of networking and distributed systems.

3. Virtualization (1990s):
o Introduction of virtualization technology (e.g., VMware).
o Enabled the creation of multiple virtual machines on a single physical server.

4. Cloud Era (2000s - Present):

o Amazon launched AWS in 2006, popularizing cloud computing.
o Shift to scalable, flexible, and cost-effective cloud-based services.

Significance of Cloud Computing

1. For Businesses:
o Cost Savings: Reduces capital expenses by avoiding hardware and maintenance costs.
o Scalability: Businesses can scale up or down based on demand.
o Global Reach: Cloud platforms enable businesses to deploy services worldwide.
o Innovation: Accelerates innovation with access to advanced tools like AI/ML and big data analytics.

2. For Individuals:
o Ease of Access: Cloud services enable users to store, access, and share data from anywhere.
o Collaboration: Tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams enhance remote teamwork.
o Cost Efficiency: Eliminates the need for expensive hardware and software licenses.

Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is defined by five essential characteristics as per the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST):

1. On-Demand Self-Service:
o Users can provision resources like computing power or storage automatically without requiring
human intervention from the service provider.

2. Broad Network Access:

o Services are accessible over the network via standard devices (e.g., laptops, smartphones, tablets).

3. Resource Pooling:
o Resources are pooled to serve multiple users, with the cloud provider dynamically allocating
resources as per demand.
o Example: Multi-tenancy in public clouds.

4. Rapid Elasticity:
o Resources can be scaled up or down quickly to handle varying workloads, often appearing unlimited
to users.

5. Measured Service:
o Resource usage is monitored, controlled, and reported to ensure transparency and efficiency.
o Users pay only for what they consume (pay-as-you-go model).

Impact of Cloud Computing

1. Business Transformation:
o Efficiency: Automation reduces manual intervention.
o Globalization: Businesses can deploy applications and services globally with minimal effort.
o New Business Models: Enables subscription-based services and "as-a-service" economies.

2. Individual Impact:
o Increased Productivity: Tools like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Office 365 allow for seamless
productivity.
o Remote Work: Cloud computing has been pivotal in enabling work-from-home setups during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
o Access to Innovation: Individuals can use AI, ML, and other advanced technologies via the cloud.

3. Societal Impact:
o Education: Facilitates e-learning platforms and virtual classrooms.
o Healthcare: Cloud platforms are used for telemedicine, patient records, and healthcare analytics.
o Sustainability: Cloud providers invest in green energy and efficient data centers.

Cloud deployment models define how cloud services are delivered, managed, and hosted. Here are the key
cloud deployment models:

1. Public Cloud

 Definition: Cloud resources (e.g., servers, storage) are owned and operated by third-party cloud
service providers and delivered over the internet.
 Examples:
o Amazon Web Services (AWS)
o Microsoft Azure
o Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
 Key Features:
o Shared infrastructure with multiple tenants (users).
o Scalable and cost-effective.
o Suitable for small to medium businesses and startups.
2. Private Cloud

 Definition: Cloud resources are used exclusively by a single organization, either hosted on-site or by
a third-party service provider.
 Examples:
o VMware vSphere
o OpenStack
o Microsoft Azure Stack (private deployment).
 Key Features:
o Dedicated infrastructure for one organization.
o Higher control, privacy, and security.
o Ideal for industries with strict compliance needs (e.g., healthcare, finance).

3. Hybrid Cloud

 Definition: Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to move between
them as needed.
 Examples:
o Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud
o IBM Hybrid Cloud
o AWS Outposts
 Key Features:
o Offers flexibility by balancing scalability (public cloud) with control (private cloud).
o Best for workloads requiring both sensitive data management and scalability.

4. Community Cloud

 Definition: A cloud shared by several organizations with common concerns (e.g., compliance,
security, or shared goals).
 Examples:
o Government organizations pooling resources.
o Healthcare institutions collaborating for shared data processing.
 Key Features:
o Shared infrastructure for specific groups.
o Cost-effective while maintaining privacy.

5. Multi-Cloud

 Definition: Use of multiple public cloud services from different providers to avoid vendor lock-in or
optimize specific services.
 Examples:
o Using AWS for compute services and Google Cloud for machine learning.
o Combining services from AWS, Azure, and GCP.
 Key Features:
o Reduces dependency on a single provider.
o Optimizes services based on workload requirements.
Each deployment model is suited for different business needs, offering trade-offs between cost, security,
control, and scalability.
Cloud Service Models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS

Cloud computing is delivered through three primary service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS),
Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). These models cater to different user
needs, ranging from raw computing infrastructure to fully functional applications.

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Definition:

IaaS provides basic computing infrastructure, such as virtualized servers, storage, and networking, over the
internet. It is the foundation layer for cloud services.

Key Features:

 Virtualized hardware resources.

 Scalability for computing and storage requirements.
 Pay-as-you-go pricing model.
 High degree of flexibility and control for users.

Examples:

 Amazon Web Services (AWS): EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), S3 (Simple Storage Service).
 Microsoft Azure: Virtual Machines (VMs), Blob Storage.
 Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Compute Engine.
 DigitalOcean: Virtual servers and object storage.

Use Cases:

 Hosting websites and applications.

 Data storage and backup.
 Running high-performance computing (HPC) applications.
 Disaster recovery.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Definition:

PaaS provides a platform and environment to develop, test, and deploy applications without managing the
underlying infrastructure. It abstracts infrastructure complexities.

Key Features:

 Includes tools for application development, testing, and deployment.

 Provides middleware, development frameworks, and database management systems.
 Simplifies the application lifecycle.
 Automatic scaling and resource management.
Examples:

 Google App Engine: Build and host scalable web apps.

 Microsoft Azure App Services: Develop web and mobile apps.
 Heroku: Simplifies deploying and scaling web applications.
 AWS Elastic Beanstalk: Automates deployment and scaling for web apps.

Use Cases:

 Building and testing applications.

 Developing APIs and microservices.
 Accelerating software development.
 Hosting serverless applications.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

Definition:

SaaS delivers fully functional, ready-to-use software applications over the internet. It requires no
installation, maintenance, or updates by the user.

Key Features:

 Accessible via web browsers on various devices.

 Managed entirely by the service provider.
 Subscription-based pricing.
 Regular updates and feature enhancements.

Examples:

 Google Workspace (G Suite): Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets.

 Microsoft Office 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
 Dropbox: Cloud storage and file sharing.
 Salesforce: Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform.

Use Cases:

 Email and productivity tools.

 CRM and ERP systems.
 Collaboration tools like Slack or Zoom.
 E-commerce platforms like Shopify.

Comparison of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS

Aspect IaaS PaaS SaaS

Full control over

User Control Control over applications. Limited control (just user settings).
infrastructure.

Managed By Networking, storage, Everything (infrastructure, platform,

Infrastructure + platform.
Provider servers. software).
Aspect IaaS PaaS SaaS

IT administrators, Developers, application

Target Audience End users.
developers. teams.

Flexibility High. Medium. Low (limited customization).

Setup Time Longer setup. Faster setup. Immediate use.

Conclusion

 IaaS: Best for businesses needing flexible infrastructure with control over configurations.
 PaaS: Ideal for developers looking to streamline application development without infrastructure concerns.
 SaaS: Suited for end-users requiring simple access to ready-to-use software.

Each service model caters to different needs, empowering businesses and individuals to leverage cloud
computing effectively.
Cloud Service Providers

Cloud service providers deliver a range of services, including computing power, storage, databases, machine
learning, and more. Here’s an overview of the major cloud providers and their offerings:

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Overview:

 Launched: 2006
 The largest and most widely adopted cloud platform globally.
 Provides a vast suite of services for computing, storage, databases, AI/ML, IoT, and more.

Key Features:

 Compute: Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud), AWS Lambda (serverless computing).
 Storage: Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service), Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store).
 Databases: Amazon RDS, DynamoDB.
 AI/ML: Amazon SageMaker, Rekognition.
 Global Reach: Data centers across multiple regions worldwide.

Strengths:

 High scalability.
 Broadest range of services.
 Strong global presence.

Common Use Cases:

 Web application hosting.

 Big data processing.
 Machine learning projects.

2. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Overview:

 Launched: 2008
 Known for its strong integration with AI, machine learning, and data analytics tools.
 Offers a reliable and scalable platform for modern businesses.

Key Features:

 Compute: Google Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine.

 Storage: Google Cloud Storage.
 Databases: Cloud SQL, BigQuery (analytics database).
 AI/ML: Vertex AI, TensorFlow integration.
 Networking: Global load balancing and CDN.
Strengths:

 Exceptional data analytics and AI tools.

 High-performance global networking infrastructure.
 Seamless integration with Google Workspace.

Common Use Cases:

 Data analytics and AI workloads.

 Application development and deployment.
 Cloud-native solutions.

3. Microsoft Azure

Overview:

 Launched: 2010
 A close competitor to AWS, Azure offers a wide range of enterprise-friendly cloud services.
 Strong integration with Microsoft products like Office 365 and Windows.

Key Features:

 Compute: Virtual Machines (VMs), Azure Functions (serverless computing).

 Storage: Azure Blob Storage.
 Databases: Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB.
 AI/ML: Azure Machine Learning, Cognitive Services.
 Hybrid Solutions: Azure Stack for private cloud.

Strengths:

 Excellent support for hybrid cloud environments.

 Tight integration with Microsoft enterprise tools.
 Broad regional availability.

Common Use Cases:

 Hybrid cloud solutions.

 Enterprise application migration.
 AI and IoT projects.

4. OpenNebula

Overview:

 Open-source cloud management platform launched in 2008.

 Lightweight and customizable, targeting small to medium-sized enterprises.

Key Features:

 Compute: Supports virtualization with VMware, KVM, and LXD.

 Hybrid Cloud Support: Integration with AWS and Azure.
 Storage: Flexible storage backends like Ceph, GlusterFS.
 Networking: Virtual networking capabilities.
 Ease of Use: Simplified management with graphical and CLI tools.

Strengths:

 Fully open-source.
 Great for private cloud deployments.
 Cost-effective for small organizations.

Common Use Cases:

 Private cloud setups.

 Academic and research projects.
 Lightweight, customized deployments.

5. Eucalyptus

Overview:

 Stands for Elastic Utility Computing Architecture for Linking Your Programs to Useful Systems.
 Open-source platform that focuses on building AWS-compatible private clouds.

Key Features:

 Compute: Compatible with EC2 instances.

 Storage: S3-compatible storage for object storage.
 Networking: Scalable networking features.
 Hybrid Cloud: Seamless integration with AWS public cloud.

Strengths:

 AWS compatibility for private clouds.

 Open-source and cost-effective.
 Focused on enterprise private cloud environments.

Common Use Cases:

 Private cloud with AWS compatibility.

 Cost-effective enterprise cloud computing.

6. OpenStack

Overview:

 Open-source cloud platform launched in 2010.

 Supported by a large community and major technology companies like Red Hat, IBM, and Canonical.

Key Features:

 Compute: Nova (compute resource management).

 Storage: Swift (object storage), Cinder (block storage).
 Networking: Neutron (software-defined networking).
 Dashboard: Horizon for web-based management.
 Extensibility: Highly modular and customizable.

Strengths:

 Fully open-source and free.

 Extensive community support.
 Flexibility for private and hybrid cloud implementations.

Common Use Cases:

 Large-scale private and hybrid clouds.

 Academic and research environments.
 Telco and network function virtualization (NFV).

Comparison

Provider Type Strengths Common Use Cases

AWS Public Cloud Wide range of services, global reach Web hosting, AI/ML, big data

GCP Public Cloud Strong in AI and data analytics Data analytics, cloud-native apps

Hybrid cloud capabilities, Microsoft

Azure Public Cloud Enterprise solutions, hybrid cloud
integration

Private Academic projects, small-scale private

OpenNebula Lightweight, open-source
Cloud clouds

Private
Eucalyptus AWS compatibility, open-source Private cloud with AWS integration
Cloud

Private
OpenStack Highly extensible, community-driven Large-scale private and hybrid clouds
Cloud

Conclusion

Each provider has unique strengths catering to different needs:

 AWS, GCP, Azure: Best for large-scale, enterprise, and public cloud solutions.
 OpenNebula, Eucalyptus, OpenStack: Ideal for private cloud setups and organizations with customization
requirements.
Architecture of Cloud Computing

Architecture of cloud computing is the combination of both SOA (Service Oriented

Architecture) and EDA (Event Driven Architecture). Client infrastructure, application,
service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, management and security all these are
the components of cloud computing architecture.
The cloud architecture is divided into 2 parts, i.e.
1. Frontend
2. Backend
The Above figure represents an internal architectural view of cloud computing.
1. Frontend
Frontend of the cloud architecture refers to the client side of cloud computing system.
Means it contains all the user interfaces and applications which are used by the client
to access the cloud computing services/resources. For example, use of a web
browser to access the cloud platform.
2. Backend
Backend refers to the cloud itself which is used by the service provider. It contains the
resources as well as manages the resources and provides security mechanisms.
Along with this, it includes huge storage, virtual applications, virtual machines, traffic
control mechanisms, deployment models, etc.
Components of Cloud Computing Architecture
Following are the components of Cloud Computing Architecture
1. Client Infrastructure – Client Infrastructure is a part of the frontend component. It
contains the applications and user interfaces which are required to access the
cloud platform. In other words, it provides a GUI( Graphical User Interface ) to
interact with the cloud.
2. Application : Application is a part of backend component that refers to a software
or platform to which client accesses. Means it provides the service in backend as
per the client requirement.
3. Service: Service in backend refers to the major three types of cloud based
services like SaaS, PaaS and IaaS. Also manages which type of service the user
accesses.
4. Runtime Cloud: Runtime cloud in backend provides the execution and Runtime
platform/environment to the Virtual machine.
5. Storage: Storage in backend provides flexible and scalable storage service and
management of stored data.
6. Infrastructure: Cloud Infrastructure in backend refers to the hardware and
software components of cloud like it includes servers, storage, network devices,
virtualization software etc.
7. Management: Management in backend refers to management of backend
components like application, service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, and
other security mechanisms etc.
8. Security: Security in backend refers to implementation of different security
mechanisms in the backend for secure cloud resources, systems, files, and
infrastructure to end-users.
9. Internet: Internet connection acts as the medium or a bridge between frontend and
backend and establishes the interaction and communication between frontend and
backend.
10. Database: Database in backend refers to provide database for storing
structured data, such as SQL and NOSQL databases. Example of Databases
services include Amazon RDS, Microsoft Azure SQL database and Google CLoud
SQL.
11. Networking: Networking in backend services that provide networking
infrastructure for application in the cloud, such as load balancing, DNS and virtual
private networks.
12. Analytics: Analytics in backend service that provides analytics capabilities for
data in the cloud, such as warehousing, business intelligence and machine
learning.