Cloud computing is
typically classified in two ways:
- Location of the cloud computing
- Type of services offered
Most time a Cloud can
be described as a Stack, a broad range of services that are build on top of
another. This article tells us the types of services a cloud offer,
Cloud Providers
have build the cloud infrastructure on a well designed services with clearly
defined interfaces. These services allow the Cloud to Scale. One the other
hand, applications too going to Cloud are built as services.
Here are the
services provided by Cloud,
Anything-as-a-Service
(XaaS) is yet another service
model, which
includes
Network-as-a-Service, Business-as-a-Service, Identity-as-a-
Service,
Database-as-a-Service or Strategy-as-a-Service.
Software as Service(SaaS)
Software that is
deployed over internet. Applications that are deployed to the Cloud and
provides services to the users who access them over the internet. Cloud
provides the infrastructure and platforms that run the applications. This is
also referred as "On-demand Software". Uses gains access to the
software using the login Credentials
Cloud users do not have
control over the cloud infrastructure and platform where the application runs.
This eliminates the need to install and run the application on the cloud user's
own computers, which simplifies maintenance and support.
Example - Microsoft
Office 365
Characteristics of
SAAS
Some of the
characteristics of Saas are,
1) Web access to
commercial software deployed in Cloid
2) Application is
developed as on-to-many model
3) No Software
upgrades and patches
4) Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) allow for integration between different pieces of
software
Where can Saas be
used,
SAAS
implementations are seen every where these days. One of the most important
example is the E-Mail System. SAAS is used
1) When
applications where there is significant interplay between the organization and
the outside world like E-mail etc
2) Application with
multiple access base like web and mobile.
3) Application that
is used for a shorter term.
4) Software where
demand spikes significantly
More over SAAS may
not be use-full where
1) Applications
where extremely fast processing of real time data is required
2) Applications where legislation or other regulation does not permit data being hosted externally
2) Applications where legislation or other regulation does not permit data being hosted externally
Platform as a
Service (PaaS)
This type of cloud service offers development environment that IT organizations
can use to create cloud based applications. This includes services that
developers build applications on the top of the infrastructure. This might
include developer tools that are offered as a service to build services, or
even data access and database services, or even billing services.
A cloud provider provides the computing platform, typically Operating
system, Programming language execution environment, database and web server.
Application developers can develop and run their software solutions on a cloud
platform without the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying
hardware and software layers
Example - Google App Engine, Microsoft Azura
Characteristics of PAAS
1) Integration with web services and databases via common standards
2) Support for development team collaboration – some PaaS solutions
include project planning and communication tools
Where can Paas be used,
PaaS is especially useful in any situation where multiple developers will
be working on a development project or where other external parties need to
interact with the development process and finally PaaS is useful where
developers wish to automate testing and deployment services
Infrastructure as a
Service (IaaS)
This service layer offers storage and compute resources that developers
and IT organizations use to deliver their custom applications. Its a way of
delivering Cloud Computing infrastructure – servers, storage, network and
operating systems – as an on-demand service. Rather than purchasing servers,
software, datacenter space or network equipment, clients instead buy those
resources as a fully outsourced service on demand
Examples - Amazon Web Services, Rack Space
Characteristics of
IaaS
1) Resources are distributed as a service
2) Allows for dynamic scaling
3) Generally includes multiple users on a single piece of hardware
2) Allows for dynamic scaling
3) Generally includes multiple users on a single piece of hardware
Where IaaS Makes
Sense
1) For new organizations without the capital to invest in hardware
2) Where the organization is growing rapidly and scaling hardware would
be problematic
3) Where demand is very volatile – any time there are significant spikes
and troughs in terms of demand on the infrastructure
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