What is cloud?
Cloud or cloud computing moves data and programs from desktop PCs or servers in a company to remote cloud servers. Cloud storage therefore consists of a standard server network in a cloud data center or distributed across several cloud server locations.
What cloud concepts are there?
The concept of the cloud can be divided into different categories:
- Type of provision: This includes private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud and community cloud. Each of these cloud types offers different security, data protection and cost benefits.
- By service: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) and SaaS (Software as a Service). While IaaS offers basic infrastructure services, PaaS offers additional tools and functions for application development, and SaaS offers complete applications via the Internet.
- By storage location: on-premises, off-premises and multi-cloud. Some companies like to keep their cloud resources in-house (on-premises), others prefer to host them with a third-party provider (off-premises), and still others distribute their resources across several cloud providers (multi-cloud).
What is the difference between cloud, cloud computing, software as a service & co?
Whether you call it cloud computing or on-demand computing, software as a service (SaaS) or the Internet as a platform, the common element of every cloud is a shift in the geography of data processing.
What are cloud services?
In addition, pre-configured or versatile configurable cloud services can be used in a cloud so that applications can be easily put into operation.
How do cloud services work?
If you have ever used the Google Docs cloud service for spreadsheets, important components of the software are not located on your local PC but are executed on a remote computer whose location is unknown to you as the user.
What is a distributed cloud service?
Such cloud services often only function on the basis of a large number of distributed cloud services. The computers on which such a distributed service is executed can either be located in a local computer network or can even be scattered across continents.
What is cloud infrastructure?
A cloud infrastructure combines hardware and software to enable cloud computing. Cloud infrastructures can be viewed as a physical layer as well as a virtually defined abstraction layer. The physical cloud layer consists of the hardware resources required to support the cloud services provided. Such cloud hardware is no different from regular hardware in traditional data centers and includes server, storage and network components. The cloud abstraction layer consists of the cloud software that is used on the physical layer to realize the essential cloud properties. Conceptually, the abstraction layer lies above the physical layer.
Defined cloud types
There are different types of cloud that need to be distinguished from one another.
Cloud types – Rock the Prototype: Private Cloud – Hybrid Cloud – Community Cloud – Public Cloud and Multi Cloud.
Private cloud
In a private cloud, the cloud infrastructure is provided for the exclusive use of a single organization comprising several cloud users. A private cloud can be owned by the organization itself or by a third party, or a combination of both. Whether the operation and management of a private cloud takes place inside or outside the premises of the respective organization is of secondary importance. The decisive factor is rather how the authorization model of such a private cloud regulates and logs access, as these central aspects of a cloud architecture are directly related to the integrity of data and are therefore highly relevant for data protection requirements.
Community Cloud
In the community cloud, the cloud infrastructure is provided for the exclusive use of a specific community of consumers who share common concerns (e.g. mission, security requirements, policies and compliance considerations). The community cloud may be owned by one or more organizations, owned by a third party, and managed and operated by a single organization or a community, and such a community cloud may exist inside or outside buildings.
Public Cloud
In a public cloud, the cloud infrastructure is provided for open use by the general public. The public cloud can be owned by a company, an academic or government organization or be jointly owned. The cloud infrastructure is physically located on the premises of the cloud provider.
Hybrid Cloud
In a hybrid cloud, the cloud infrastructure is a combination of two or more different cloud infrastructures (private, shared or public) that remain independent entities but are connected to each other using standardized or proprietary technologies to enable the portability of data and applications.
Software architecture in the cloud
In summary, cloud computing has revolutionized the way software is developed, deployed and scaled. It provides developers with the flexibility and tools they need to create high-quality applications faster and more cost-effectively.
Software architecture in the cloud
Cloud computing has a significant impact on software architecture:
- Decoupling: The cloud makes it possible to decouple different components of an application and scale them independently of each other. This promotes the use of microservices architectures.
- Scalability: Traditional monolithic applications can be redesigned in the cloud to take advantage of horizontal scaling, allowing them to keep pace with user growth.
- Built-in services: Cloud providers offer a variety of services, from databases to AI to IoT, reducing the need to build your own solutions from scratch.
Cloud and smart devices
We are in the middle of the cloud age!
The current IT phase can be described as the cloud era. We are currently seeing the shift from locally installed programs to the cloud really take off.
The cloud era has revolutionized and fundamentally changed our IT landscape by replacing on-premises applications and hardware with flexible, scalable and remotely accessible services. The speed at which cloud technologies are evolving is creating a new era for businesses and developers alike. Data processing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing continue to drive this transformation.
Table: Milestones in cloud technology
| year | Cloud technology | Significance | Characterized by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Introduction of AWS (Amazon Web Services) | Enabled companies to access scalable infrastructure as a service. | Amazon |
| 2008 | Google App Engine | Introduction of Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), which offered developers flexible hosting options. | |
| 2010 | OpenStack | Promoting open standards for private and public clouds. | NASA & Rackspace |
| 2014 | Kubernetes | Orchestration of containers that simplified microservices and scalable cloud architectures. | |
| 2018 | Serverless computing (e.g. AWS Lambda) | Enabled developers to run code without server management. | Amazon |
| 2020 | Multi-cloud strategies | Integration of multiple providers to increase flexibility and minimize risk. | Different companies worldwide |
This list is only a small selection of cloud technologies and already provides a grounded overview of the most important advances and their impact on the modern IT landscape.
Cloud – From the data center to the cloud
Traditional software and local PCs and servers in companies will continue to exist in the future, but the majority of applications and the focus of innovation is currently actually taking place in Amazon’s clouds – the AWS Cloud – and the Google Cloud.
While traditional software and local server solutions still have their place, there is a paradigm shift towards cloud-based solutions. These offer greater flexibility, scalability and cost-efficient innovation. Companies are increasingly relying on leading providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform to develop modern applications that are globally accessible. The cloud is therefore not only becoming the preferred infrastructure, but also the driving force behind new technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and IoT.
Relocation and the cloud
A very significant proportion of IT is now shifting from the desktop and the company’s server room to these cloud providers. This change is having an impact on all levels of the IT world and affects every user group, from occasional users to software developers and IT managers through to software manufacturers or hardware producers who offer cloud-based services for their products.
Reasons for moving to the cloud:
- Cost efficiency
Companies save by dispensing with their own expensive hardware and reducing operating costs. - Scalability
Cloud services allow resources to be expanded or reduced flexibly and in line with demand. - Global availability
Applications can be provided worldwide with low latency. - Flexibility
Developers benefit from a wide range of tools and services for different requirements. - Security updates
Providers regularly take care of security and performance updates. - Location-independent collaboration in agile teams
Cloud-based tools promote agile teamwork and enable real-time access to projects worldwide.
Cloud age – phases of cloud computing
Phase 2 of cloud computing
In a way, what we are experiencing now is the second phase of cloud computing. Around 50 years ago, a similar transformation took place with the establishment of service bureaus and time-sharing systems that provided access to computers for users who didn’t have a mainframe like the IBM 705 in a glass room down the hall. A typical time-sharing service had a hub-and-spoke configuration. The individual users at the terminals communicated via telephone lines with a central location where all the data processing took place.
Countless examples of cloud-based hardware
In addition to the Amazon Echo, every IoT light bulb such as a Philips Hue is now a cloud-based product, i.e. many IoT devices connect to services in a cloud from your local Wi-Fi network.
Cloud-based hardware in various industries
Cloud-based hardware goes far beyond IoT devices such as Amazon Echo or Philips Hue. Smart thermostats such as Nest, networked fitness devices such as Peloton and autonomous vehicles use cloud services for data processing, updates and real-time control. There are also examples in industry: Manufacturing robots that send production data to the cloud to perform efficiency analyses, or medical devices that transmit patient data in real time. These devices show how deeply cloud technologies are integrated into our everyday lives and into specialized industries.
Cloud and IoT – the importance of the cloud for smart devices and the Internet of Things
Cloud relevance for software development
- Rapid prototyping: Developers can quickly create prototypes in the cloud without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure.
- Collaborative working: Tools such as GitHub enable developers to work collaboratively and in real time, and the integration of CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery) pipelines accelerates the software release process.
- Cost savings: Developers do not have to invest in expensive hardware; instead, they can use and scale resources in the cloud as required.
- Global reach: Cloud providers have data centers around the world, allowing developers to deploy their applications close to their end users, reducing latency.
Programming in the cloud
If you use Git Hub to program with others in the team and deploy to a remote repository, then you are already programming in the cloud.
Cloud Programming – Programming in the cloud
Cloud security and data protection
Security in the cloud is a crucial aspect for companies and developers. Cloud providers implement comprehensive security protocols such as data encryption, firewalls and identity and access management (IAM). Nevertheless, the protection of sensitive data remains a shared responsibility between providers and users.
Edge computing as an extension of the cloud
Edge computing brings computing power closer to the end user. This complements cloud services by reducing latency and enabling data to be processed directly at the point of origin – ideal for IoT devices and real-time applications.
The future of the cloud: multi-cloud and serverless
More and more companies are adopting multi-cloud strategies to minimize risk and maximize flexibility. Serverless computing allows developers to create and deploy applications without managing the underlying servers, saving time and resources. These additions provide additional relevance and depth to the entry and highlight current trends in cloud computing.
Rock the Prototype Podcast
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