Types of Cloud Computing

Let’s admit cloud computing is a disruptive technology. It has an extensive architecture and has something in store for every requirement. Do you know? Cloud computing has multiple types. These forms are suitable for different customer demands. So, a cloud computing professional must know all of them to understand better. 

But, cloud computing is an advanced domain. It is challenging for anyone to understand its various types. Also, most resources explain the classes in a complex way. So, it becomes trickier to get a gist of these variations for beginners. Do you feel the same? Your worries will end soon! 

This article is all about cloud computing types. We will help you understand various cloud types by keeping absolute beginners in mind. Besides, you will learn some more cloud aspects in this post. So, you will closely know how a typical cloud architecture appears. Also, you can refer to the post when you need to clear the basics through a reliable resource, even during a cloud computing bootcamp. 

Cloud computing at a glance

“Making the switch to the cloud.” “Running across the clouds.” “The data is kept in the cloud.” “Accessible via the cloud”: it appears that everything these days takes place “in the cloud.” But, exactly, what is this hazy concept?

The quick answer is that it’s located at the other end of your internet connection, where you may access apps and services and securely store your data. For three reasons, the cloud is significant:

• Maintaining and managing it does not necessitate any effort on your behalf.
• You don’t have to worry about it running out of space because it’s endless.
• All you need is a device or a system with an active internet connection to use cloud-based applications and services anywhere.

Various types of cloud computing

Cloud computing has several types. It has variations to suit specific user requirements. A cloud specialist should remain aware of all these variations to suggest the best one to the customers. So, we can broadly classify cloud computing into the following five categories and subsequent sub-categories. Have a look! 

Infrastructure services

Location and ownership used to be the easiest ways to distinguish between public clouds, private clouds, hybrid clouds, and multi-clouds. But it’s no longer that straightforward. Consequently, you must keep several limitations in mind as we evaluate the differences below.

• Public clouds

Public clouds are cloud environments built by leveraging various IT infrastructures that do not belong to the end-user. Alibaba Cloud, IBM Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are the most popular public cloud providers.

• Private clouds

Private clouds are cloud environments dedicated to and reserved for a single end-user or group. They primarily operate behind user or group firewalls. When the cloud vendors commit the underlying IT infrastructure to a particular client with entirely segregated access, all clouds become private clouds. 

• Managed private clouds

Customers establish and use a private cloud that a third-party vendor deploys, configures, and manages. Managed private clouds are a cloud delivery alternative that assists businesses with understaffed or under-skilled IT teams in delivering superior private cloud infrastructure and services.

• Dedicated clouds

There’s a cloud within a cloud. A dedicated cloud might be on a public cloud (for example, Red Hat OpenShift Dedicated) or a private cloud. An accounting department, for example, could have its specialized cloud within the company’s private cloud.

• Hybrid clouds

A hybrid cloud is nothing but a unified IT system. Generally, it comprises several environments linked through LANs, WANs, VPNs, and APIs.

Hybrid cloud characteristics are complex, and the criteria vary depending on who you ask. A hybrid cloud, for example, might need to include::

• At least one private and public cloud
• at least two private clouds
• at least two public clouds
• At least one public or private cloud should remain connected to a bare-metal or virtual environment.

Cloud services

We frequently divide the cloud into categories based on the services it provides. Cloud services include infrastructure, platforms, and software that third-parties host and offer to consumers over the Internet.

IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS are the three fundamental variations of as-a-Service solutions. Each facilitates data transfer from front-end clients across the Internet to the cloud service provider’s servers and back—but they differ in the services they offer.

• IaaS

For you, a cloud service provider handles your infrastructure through an internet connection—the physical servers, network, virtualization, and data storage. The user can access the infrastructure through an interactive API or dashboard and rent it on-demand.

The user is solely responsible and single-handedly operates the operating system, programs, and middleware. At the same time, the provider caters to the hardware, networking, some parts of security, hard drives, data storage, servers, outages, repairs, and hardware difficulties. It is how most cloud storage companies deploy their services.

• PaaS

PaaS indicates that a third-party cloud service vendor offers and manages the hardware and application software platform. Still, the user is responsible for the programs that run on top of the application and the 

apps’ data.

PaaS offers the users a shared cloud platform for application development and management (a crucial DevOps component). It does not require creating and maintaining the infrastructure typically involved with the procedures.

• SaaS

SaaS is a service that provides customers with access to a software application that cloud service vendors manage. Typically, SaaS applications are web or mobile utilities that users can access using a web browser. The user is in charge of software updates, bug fixes, troubleshooting, and other fundamental software upkeeping. You can access the cloud applications via a dashboard or API.

SaaS also eliminates each user’s computer requirement to have an app installed locally, allowing for more group or team access to the software.

Conclusion

Now, you know everything about cloud computing types. As you have cleared the basics, it’s time to move forward and understand the advanced concepts. Are you ready for the cloud revolution? Cheers if it’s a yes! Learn more and build a brilliant career in the lucrative cloud computing industry. All the best for future endeavors!