CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud Computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand
network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources
(e.g networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly
provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

The term is very symbolic, as it is actually a metaphor for the 
internet and how such a complex infrastructure can be mapped out. Placing all 
of the services you might use over the internet to operate a single entity is best
done over a Cloud Diagram due to how the services and technologies interact 
with one another to form a synergistic machine. 



Cloud Computing has five essential characteristics. These characteristics are on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured service. 
On-Demand Self-Service: The ability to change, provision, and set computing capabilities and services such as a server time or the available storage space without the aid of a human on the other end.
Broad Network Access: The features and services in question are easily accessible by standard devices that promote simple use. Laptops, PDAs, mobile phones and smart phone browsers and apps are a part of this category.
Resource Pooling: The resources of the providers' services are all pooled together over remote networks, separate server farms, data centers, and other services. The Consumer does not have exact control over these qualities, nor do they usually have any idea as to the physical location of the technology. (In other words, the technology is 'in the cloud'.)
Rapid Elasticity: Services and capabilities can be easily and elastically scaled up or down on demand as needed. Often services are provided on unlimited levels, but are often shown in sizable packages.
Measured Service: Services and resources are controlled by the provider by providing a meter as to what resources can be used and what capabilities can be accessed based on the level of payment or access granted by privilege.
Cloud Computing is a very broad term with a lot of definitions. Over the internet it carries many meanings to many different people, businesses and groups, but what it almost universally means to everyone is varied services offered over the internet to you, the customer, to run your business without an in house IT department. Cool Life Systems can offer Cloud Computing through their Software as a Service Solutions, becoming your out of house IT department needed to run your company in today's digital age.
     Wikipedia on Cloud Computing

Examples of Cloud Computing are :

Email on the go



Email communication now plays a central role in most of our busy lives. That’s fine if you don’t go out much but if you travel a lot, this may cause problems. Unless you carry a mobile WiFi-enabled laptop with you everywhere you go or use push email on your cellphone, having an email client sitting on your computer at home means that while out and about you risk spending time outside of the communication loop. This is one area where the cloud  finds its most frequent and useful application.
Online email has been offered by all the big names (such as Microsoft, Yahoo and of course Google) for a number of years and I have tried a lot of different services. Wherever in the world I have found myself, my emails have (almost) always been made available to me. The easiest and most convenient for me is GoogleMail, although each has its pros and cons.
Of course, using webmail makes you a slave to an internet connection. The first thing you do when you find yourself in a new or unfamiliar location is to try and locate an internet café or public library to launch your secure portable browser and check your emails. Privacy concerns are never far from the surface either, especially when stories of passwords to private accounts being leaked online hit the headlines. How much of your life have you given away during email exchanges?
And then there’s the issue of possible data loss, which nicely leads onto the next incarnation of cloud computing.


No need for local data storage   


Data stored on your home or business computer suffers from many of the same restrictions as email and, as with email, the cloud offers a solution. Storing your MP3′s, video, photos and documents online instead of at home gives you the freedom to access them wherever you can find the means to get online.
True, you will undoubtedly be putting your life ‘out there’ and with that comes all the security and privacy baggage that also plague webmail. Most, if not all, online storage facilities have safeguards in place to ensure that you, and only you, can get to your files – but even so. We all risk losing important files, memories and such like if we suffer from hard drive failure and storing such things away from a temperamental computer system no doubt seems like an ideal solution but where do we turn if the unthinkable happens and our chosen cloud filing cabinet suffers data loss or suddenly closes down?
Examples of online storage services include Humyo, Zumo Drive, Microsoft’s Sky Drive, S3 from Amazon, amongst others. Many offer both free and paid for storage and backup solutions.
ead. Accessibility, potential for collaboration and perhaps even online storage are just some of the benefits of satisfying your office suite needs by working online.
Examples of online suite’s on offer include Ajax13, T

Working in a virtual office


Yet again Google’s online suite of office applications is probably the best known but by no means the only solution on offer. Rather than having a system and space hogging suite of applications like a word processor, a spreadsheet creator and a presentation or publishing platform sitting on your computer, you could opt to work online instead. Accessibility, potential for collaboration and perhaps even online storage are just some of the benefits of satisfying your office suite needs by working online.
Examples of online suite’s on offer include Ajax13, Think Free and Microsoft’sOffice Live.

Labels

Categories