We can see that the term cloud computing is
used to mean hosting of hardware in external data centre, utility computing, platform
services, and application hosting. It is the delivery of computing as a service
rather than a product. It represents a new business model in which the service
is delivered using different internet protocols. According to “computer world”
magazine, “Cloud computing describes a system where users can connect to a vast
network of computing resources, data and servers that reside somewhere
"out there," usually on the Internet, rather than on a local machine
or a LAN or in a data center. Cloud computing can give on- demand access to
supercomputer-level power, even from a thin client or mobile device such as a
smart phone or laptop”. The cloud
service providers deliver service through internet, which are accessed using a
web browser client while the actual business software and server are at a
remote place. One classification of cloud is based on
the different layers at which we can share the services; this is possible once
the computers are connected using internet protocols. The different layers are
- Client
- Application
- Platform
- Infrastructure
- Server
Now we will see where the services provided by the
companies fit in the above set of layers. The cloud client represents software
or hardware or a combination of both which facilitates the cloud operation. The
cloud client doesn’t have an independent use if cloud doesn’t exist. Example
can be a web browser
Application layer represents software as a service
(SaaS). SaaS is software that is developed and hosted by the SaaS vendor and
which the end user accesses over the Internet. Unlike traditional applications
that users install on their computers or servers, SaaS software is owned by the
vendor and runs on computers in the vendor’s data centre. Broadly speaking, all
customers of a SaaS vendor use the same software: these are one-size-fits-all
solutions. Well known examples are Salesforce.com, Google’s Gmail and Apps,
instant messaging from AOL, Yahoo and Google, and Voice-over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) from Vonage and Skype.
Next layer is platform layer. Cloud services in this
layer is known as platform as a service (PaaS), which delivers a computing
platform or solution stack as service. PaaS provides virtualized servers on
which users can run applications, or develop new ones, without having to worry
about maintaining the operating systems, server hardware, load balancing or
computing capacity. Well known examples include Microsoft’s Azure and
Salesforce’s Force.com. It facilitates deployment of applications without the
cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware and software
layers.
In infrastructure layer cloud services are known as
infrastructure as a service (IaaS). IaaS means cpu, grids or clusters,
virtualized servers, memory, networks, storage and systems software are
delivered as a service. It delivers
computer infrastructure – typically a platform virtualization environment – as
a service, along with raw (block) storage and networking. The best known
example is Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Simple Storage Service
(S3), but traditional IT vendors such as IBM, and telecoms providers such as
AT&T and Verizon are also offering solutions.
The server layer represents the hardware and software
solutions to provide the cloud services.
In order to satisfy the requirements of the business,
the cloud should have some properties. Clouds should be uniquely identifiable
so that the clouds can be used with other applications and with other clouds. Dynamic
configuration of clouds is also an important requirement. A cloud must be secure and system management
technologies for cloud should integrate the constraints on business and the
constraints on the infrastructure to make them manageable in aggregate.
Public cloud is one deployment type of cloud in which
the resources and services are shared to general public on self service based
in internet. Community cloud is a type of deployment in which cloud shares
infrastructure between several organisations from a specific community with
common concerns (security, compliance, jurisdiction, etc.), whether managed
internally or by a third-party and hosted internally or externally. Private
cloud is another form in which cloud is operated for an organization and the
infrastructure required will be provided in the organization itself. A hybrid
form of above described deployments is also possible based on the requirement
of the business.
There are so many things in favour and against cloud
computing. The great advantage of cloud computing is “elasticity”: the ability
to add capacity or applications almost at a moment’s notice. It is now a viable
business option for corporations and industry, the reasons for which are many:
decreased costs, usage-based pricing, increased functionality, improved
collaboration and communication, resource pooling, and 'anywhere access' to
applications and data. A small initial cost and pay as you go approach may
appeal to small scale industries, but the total cost of ownership for a long
run will be more in the case of cloud. Larger companies may find it is easier
to have collaborations in cloud since it won’t ask for any access to company’s
local network from the other company.
Even though we talked a lot of god things about cloud computing,
there are downsides also for the cloud. We may not have a control over our data
in cloud as we have in our own system. The system management tools for cloud
may not address all of the system management issues pertaining to one
particular company. The cloud users risk
their data in cloud systems because the cloud systems use proprietary
encryption standards and this may not be recoverable on a system failure or if
the company wants to work with another cloud provider. So the major
disadvantage is that different service providers use different technology and
standards in cloud. Clud increase the technology dependency of the business.
The migration to cloud may drive so many business
opportunities. The content and technology providers will give more importance
to content protection, access control, secrecy, end user licensing etc. Designs
and trademarks will become more important, increasing the need to ensure the
protection they provide for traditional goods and services also available in
the online environment. Business depends on the receiving payment from someone
so the copyright protection will be too much important in cloud world. Unlike
the packaged software model - where you're selling the software itself - in
most cloud models, you are only selling access to remotely-executed software.
This opens up new payment models - for instance, on-demand, subscription and
metered services - as well as entirely new business models - for instance,
ad-supported software. Cloud will encourage more business to go online and provide
service through internet.
According to one report in Economic times on June 27,
2011, what the shift to cloud computing means to India “As this shift ushers in
an evolution in IP law, courts, legislature, technology companies and consumers
will face a growing number of complex legal, commercial and policy issues.
Given its vibrant software sector and highly-educated technical workforce,
India is likely to be the source of significant innovation in cloud computing.
This, combined with significant growth in intellectual property assets that has
averaged 11% annually over the past three years - according to a report, IP
landscape in India, by Zinnov Management Consulting - means that India is among
a handful of countries with the opportunity and expertise to be at the
forefront of the technical, business and legal developments relating to cloud
computing.”
