Key Technologies Supporting Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing

King and Rachael (2008, p.83), define Cloud Computing is the use of hardware and software to deliver a service over a network (typically the Internet). With cloud computing, users can access files and use applications from any device that can access the Internet. Clouds may be limited to a single organization (enterprise clouds, or be available to many organizations (public cloud). Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies of scale.

1. Cloud platform services optimizing the management technology

Service optimizing the management is a key issue to improve the service quality of cloud platform and platform performance, Butler, and Brandon (2017, pp.138) . The key technologies include the following aspects. Cloud service resource management, the research on demand management and partition isolation mechanism of physical machines, virtual machines and virtual clusters. Cloud task management, the research on classification, university scheduling, load balancing, power management and fault tolerance of cloud computing tasks.

2. Cloud computing applications building and integration technology

Butler, and Brandon (2017, pp.138), notes that cloud computing applications building and integration technology is the key issue to provide services for the industry. Key technologies include application services, application virtualization and application service integration technologies. Apps relying on software as a service, the research on the theoretical model of applications demand services, application service creation, deployment, placement scheduling and execution, the backup, transfer, scheduling strategies and optimization method of application data.

3. Cloud computing applications continuous operation technology

In order to support the critical business of the enterprise, the continuous run of cloud computing platform applications systems is a basic requirement, therefore, we need to study the continuous operation technology of cloud computing applications systems. The main research includes the following aspects, Butler, and Brandon (2017, pp.138). The dynamically monitoring technology of physical resources and virtual resources in cloud computing platform, monitoring technology of cloud computing platform services, monitoring technology of cloud computing applications and user activity, monitoring-based failure prediction, exception handling, fault tolerance and recovery mechanisms, seamless migration technology of software services.

4. Cloud computing multi-mode client technology

According to Butler, and Brandon (2017, pp.138), in the era of the network, computing has three major centres, namely, data, users and services, cloud coexistence and interaction is the future trend of cloud computing architectures. Cloud Client includes the traditional PC, notebook, mobile phones, PDA, mobile terminals and home appliances, automotive terminals and other smart mobile terminal equipment. Therefore, there is a need to study the multi-mode client cloud computing technology. The main research includes various forms of cloud client access technologies, multi-mode client cloud service environments, Butler, and Brandon (2017, pp.138). To meet the cloud computing needs of typical industrial applications, we should develop lightweight cloud client access technology to provide users with cloud computing services.

Examples of Cloud Computing

Adams (201, P 47), highlights various examples of cloud computing;

1) Dropbox, Facebook, Gmail

Cloud can be used for the storage of files. The advantage is an easy backup. They automatically synchronize the files from the desktop. Dropbox allows users to access files and storage up to 1 terabyte of free storage. Social Networking platform requires powerful hosting to manage and store data in real-time, Adams (201, P 47). Cloud-based communication provides click-to-call capabilities from social networking sites, access to the Instant messaging system.

2) Banking, Financial Services

Consumers store financial information to cloud computing serviced providers. They store tax records as online backup services.

3) Health Care

Using cloud computing, Medical professionals host information, analytics and do diagnostics remotely. As healthcare also comes in the list of examples of cloud computing it allows other doctors around the world to immediately access this medical information for faster prescriptions and updates, Adams (201, P 47). Application of cloud computing in health care includes telemedicine, public and personal health care, E-health services and bioinformatics.

4) Education

This is useful in institutions of higher learning provide benefits to universities and colleges so henceforth Education comes in the examples of cloud computing, Adams (201, P 47). Google and Microsoft provide various services free of charge to staff and students in different learning institutions. Several Educational institutions in the united states use them to improve efficiency, cut on costs. Example- Google App Education (GAE). They allow the user to use their personal workspace, teaching becomes more interactive.

5) Government

They deliver e-Governance services to citizens using cloud-based IT services. They have the technology to handle large transactions, citizens can see fewer congestion bottlenecks.

6) Big data Analytics

Big data analytics is another example of Cloud computing, As cloud computing enables data scientists in analyzing their data patterns, insights, correlations, predictions and help in good decision making, Adams (201, P 47),. There are many open sources of big tools like Hadoop, Cassandra.

7) Communication

Cloud allows network-based access to communication tools like emails and calendars. Wats app is also a cloud-based infrastructure as it comes in communication it is also one of the examples of cloud computing. All the messages and information are stored in service providers hardware.

8) Business Process

Business email is cloud-based. ERP, document management and CRM are based on a cloud service provider. SAAS has become an important method for the enterprise. Examples include Salesforce, HubSpot, Adams (201, P 47). They make many business processes more reliable because data can be copied at multiple redundant sites on the cloud providers.

Role of cloud computing

a) Provides remote processing power

Wang (2012, pp.72) indicates that the cloud as technology empowers the Internet of Things (IoT) to move beyond regular appliances such as air conditioners, refrigerators etc. This is because the cloud has such a vast storage that it takes away dependencies on on-premise infrastructure. With the rise of miniaturization and the transition of 4G to higher internet speeds, the cloud will allow developers to offload fast computing processes.

b) Provides security and privacy

According to Wang (2012, pp.72), IoT’s role in harnessing mobility is immense. However, its prowess would be incomplete without security. Cloud has made IoT more secure with the preventive, detective and corrective controls. It has enabled users with strong security measures by providing effective authentication and encryption protocols. In addition to this, managing and securing the identity of users has been possible for IoT products with the help of biometrics. All of this is possible because of the cloud’s security.

c) Removes entry barrier for hosting providers

Today, many innovations in the field of IoT are looking at plug-and-play hosting services. This is why the cloud is a perfect fit for IoT. Hosting providers do not have to depend on massive equipment or even any kind of hardware that will not support the agility IoT devices require. With the cloud, most hosting providers can allow their clients a ready-to-roll model, removing entry barriers for them.

d) Facilitates inter-device communication

Cloud acts as a bridge in the form of a mediator or communication facilitator when it comes to IoT. Many powerful APIs like Cloudflare, CloudCache and Dropstr are enabled by cloud communications, allowing easy linking to smartphones. This eases devices to talk to each other and not just us, which essentially is the tenet of IoT cloud.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

He et al (2012 p. 77), discusses various benefits of cloud computing as follows;

1. Flexibility

To effectively execute a digital transformation strategy a company will need to pivot its business process multiple times. Cloud computing saves an organization from the hassle of investing in varying IT resources by providing required computing resources, infrastructure, and platforms on the go, He et al (2012 p. 77). This allows a company to be agile and flexible.

2. Cost-effective

Along with the flexibility to adjust requirements, the cloud offers a scalable service model where an enterprise only pays for the resources used, He et al (2012 p. 77). Hence not only it saves the capital expenditure of buying and managing IT infrastructure but also helps companies to effectively scale their resources based on requirements.

3. Security

If your database is stored in-house then you constantly face the risk of losing critical information due to data breaches, unexpected system shutdown, disasters, brute force attacks etc. In the case of cloud hosting, you can easily create multiple backups of data, He et al (2012 p. 77). This is especially beneficial when dealing with big data as the chances of system failures significantly increase in case of the big data analysis.

4. Rapid Prototyping

For digital transformation to work, an enterprise needs to continuously innovate, test, implement and repeat. Cloud can provide companies with a platform where they can easily build, test and deploy applications without the need to set up complex infrastructure, He et al (2012 p. 77). Hence throughout the transformation phase, a company can experiment with multiple applications on different platforms.

5. Better Collaboration

Digital transformation requires a company to adapt to a culture of innovation and creativity and leave the old hierarchical chain of commands. Cloud computing allows the files to be accessed from any place and at any time, He et al (2012 p. 77). It is also possible to control the level of authority of the user thus ensuring optimal delegation. Overall it helps create an atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork in the company.

References

1. Butler, M. and Brandon H. (2017) What is hybrid cloud computing? The benefits of mixing private and public cloud services. New York: My Publisher
2. He, Sijin; Guo, L.; Guo, Y.; Ghanem, M. (2012) Improving Resource Utilisation in the Cloud Environment Using Multivariate Probabilistic Models. 2012 2012 IEEE 5th International Conference on Cloud Computing (CLOUD).
3. King, L. and Rachael, W. (2008) Cloud Computing: Small Companies Take Flight. London: London Publishing.
4. Adams, R (2013) The emergence of cloud storage and the need for a new digital forensic process model. researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au.
5. Wang, F. (2012) Enterprise cloud service architectures. Information Technology and Management. Hampshire: Ashford Colour Press