Cloud
Cloud computing can be define as a cluster of servers that share storage and power on-demand with users. Its core feature is the provision of IT infrastructure and applications as a service in scalable way.
Essential characteristics of cloud computing are:
- On-demande self service: user can access computer capabilities without human-interaction
- Broad Network Access: capabilities are accessibles on network through standard mechanisms
- Resource pooling: cloud resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers
- Rapide elasticity: capabilities scale, usually automatically
- Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimize resources
Topics
- XaaS – Different types of services, which give certain degree of control and customisastion to the user.
- Edge Computing – When computers are close to a device, like a sensor, to do some operations before sending to the cloud.
- Infrastructure as Code to repeat the writing of multiple servers configuration
- Internet of Things – Connected object that send and receive information, like sensors
Layers
| Layer | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Host, store, process the data in the cloud. Generate reports for analysis and serve it to the user. | Cloud servers, cloud storage, cloud analytics |
| Support | Process the data close to the source, before sending it to the cloud. | Edge servers, gateway servers, local analytics |
| Network | Communication between devices and other network components. | Routers, gateways, access points, communication protocols |
| Device | Data collect and acquisition. | Sensors, embedded systems, smartphones |
Characteristics
Cloud computing allow a lot of benefits compared to a single centralized server:
- Availability – If a server goes down (e.g. due to too much demand), another server is able to handle the requests
- Security – Cloud providers can guarantee data center protection, with monitoring, 24/7 surveillance, etc.
- Costs – Cloud is financially interesting as it allows to adapt resources (and therefore costs) with the demand