The Cloud Computing architecture offers scalability in computing enormous data and in a tenant organization. Resource pooling, measure service, self-service, and broad network access are the special characteristics that can elevate a cloud architecture. The blog below describes everything regarding Cloud Computing concepts, technology & architecture.
Table of Content
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud Computing refers to the various services that are accessible through the Internet. These crucial resources include servers, databases, storage, analytics, software, and other cloud computing applications. As long as users’ devices are accessible through the web, all software programs and data can run on the cloud.
Cloud Providers in Cloud Computing
A few big companies have set up a strong network infrastructure across the globe. This infrastructure includes multiA few big companies have set up a strong network infrastructure across the globe. This infrastructure includes multiple data centers, private networks, load balancers, routers, switches, firewalls, content delivery networks (CDNs), satellite control, and various compliance/regulatory certifications, making them capable of providing cloud services over the Internet. These companies are known as cloud providers.
Some of the companies that provide cloud computing services include:
- Microsoft Azure
- Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
- IBM Cloud
- Oracle Cloud
- Alibaba Cloud
- Salesforce
- VMware Cloud
- DigitalOcean
- Rackspace Technology
- SAP Cloud
- Adobe Cloud
- Huawei Cloud
- Linode
- Tencent Cloud
- Red Hat OpenShift
- Alibaba Cloud
- Zoho Cloud
- Mendix (a Siemens company)
- Cloudflare
Cloud Architecture in Cloud Computing
Cloud Computing architecture is a combination of several components and subcomponents that form together. Cloud Computing security architecture is categorized into frontend and backend, along with an amalgamation of the event-driven architecture and the service-oriented architecture in Cloud Computing.
Frontend is a user/client-facing architecture. It comprises client-side interfaces and applications necessary to access Cloud Computing platforms. The front end communicates with the backend via a network, i.e., through the Internet. The front end also sends queries to the backend through the middleware.
Examples: Web servers, mobile devices, tablets, thin and fat clients, etc.
Backend, on the other hand, refers to the cloud itself. It is a compilation of Cloud Computing resources used by service providers (generally termed as hosts) to manage and execute cloud services. It renders security to cloud users’ data. The backend also provides middleware to help connect devices and communicate with each other.
The backend architecture secures the data that comes from the front end and also responds to the queries accordingly. It also engages in traffic management.
Examples: Big data storage, traffic control mechanisms, virtual machines, etc.
The Cloud Computing architecture diagram below will give you a brief about the cloud:
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Components of the Cloud Architecture
Cloud Computing comprises several components that are loosely coupled. It conducts operations with the help of these components and subcomponents that make up the cloud architecture design. If you are curious about AWS then you can hop on to our blog on AWS Architecture. Let’s have a look at the various components that fall under the front end and the back end of Cloud Computing architecture.
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Frontend of Cloud Computing Architecture
The front end of Cloud Computing architecture depicts everything a user interacts with. It is a combination of various subcomponents that combine to create a user interface. The major frontend components are as follows:
User Interface
A user interface represents all the tasks that an end-user performs to access a platform. Some of the popular user interfaces are Google Sheets, Gmail, and so on. The cloud possesses the benefit of taking the entire load upon it without annoying customers w.r.t. space and similar constraints.
Client Infrastructure
It is a frontend component of Cloud Computing that enables a graphical user interface (GUI) to help users interact with the cloud.
Software
It represents the cloud software architecture that runs on the user end. It primarily lays its focus on client-side applications and browsers.
Network
Client devices act as a key component in connecting cloud services over the network. Here, the Internet acts as a medium of networks in executing communications between both the frontend and the backend. It is hardware that acts on the side of end-users. The network can also be provided as a utility, thereby enabling customers to customize the network route and the protocol.
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Backend of Cloud Computing Architecture
The backend empowers the functioning of the front-end architecture. It encompasses hardware and storage within it. A cloud service provider takes up the whole responsibility of executing the backend of Cloud Computing.
The backend of the cloud infrastructure must be ideally robust as it holds everything together. The prime components of the backend architecture include the following:
Application
It is a backend component of Cloud Computing that represents any software or platform that a client is willing to access. Here, user specifications are coordinated with the resources.
Runtime Cloud
The runtime cloud lays out the execution and runtime environment for the functioning of virtual machines. It is a cloud operating system, where services run as per the virtualization technology that aids in multiple runtimes on the same server.
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Storage
Numerous enterprises are willing to conduct their business operations through the cloud, primarily due to its significant storage capacity. Storage is an important component of the backend infrastructure when it comes to providing adaptable storage capacity for storing and managing a huge amount of data.
All the data that is ready to operate on the cloud resides in storage. Cloud Computing is also reliable due to its multiple replicas of storage, i.e., if one storage doesn’t function, information automatically gets restored from the other one.
Storage services are quick to access and retrieve information from the remote cloud storage servers. However, storage capacity varies according to the cloud service provider.
Examples: Hard disk, DC persistent storage, solid-state drives, etc.
Infrastructure
The cloud infrastructure is a combination of hardware, software components, storage resources, etc. that are essential in carrying a Cloud Computing model. This majorly depends on the client’s workload. Infrastructure is known to enable services at the host level, the application level, and the network level as it is an amalgamation of CPU, GPU, and accelerator cards.
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Management Software
This software is used to manage and establish coordination among the backend components, along with enabling infrastructure configuration. It acts as a middleware in seamlessly partitioning the resources between the front end and back end. It also enhances the performance of the code by implementing several plans and strategies.
Examples: Storage, runtime cloud, security issues, infrastructure, compliance auditing, etc.
Security
It is a built-in backend component that implements a security mechanism to ease debugging in case there are any issues. Its notable feature is security with a firewall to omit data loss and redundancy.
All the backend applications are secured because of this particular mechanism.
Cloud Deployment
It deploys and integrates applications in the Cloud Computing architecture. Deployment initiates the working of SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS services to be used by consumers. All the necessary installations and configurations of the cloud are implemented from the backend.
Server
The server runs virtually along with the premises of Cloud Computing. It is delivered through a platform via the web. Also, the server evaluates resource sharing, resource allocation, de-allocation, and resource monitoring.
Hypervisor
It is a firmware that acts as a Virtual Machine Manager. It provides users with a virtual operating platform to manage operating systems. It also enables the sharing of a single instance of cloud resources among several tenants.
The hypervisor also plays an important role in creating microservices without dropping the load on the operating systems.
Example: OpenStack, Docker, Kubernetes, and Oracle VirtualBox
Another essential point to note is that Cloud Computing services can be availed on both public and private networks or as a combination of both.
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Types of Cloud Computing
The deployment model of a cloud computing environment refers to how the cloud infrastructure is set up and made available to users.
- Cloud Service Model
- Cloud Deployment Model
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Cloud Service Model in Cloud Computing
Cloud-based delivery is something that is offered to an end-user from the cloud through platform-like software. The major types of cloud architecture are mentioned below:
Software as a Service (SaaS):
It is a cloud application service that runs directly through a web browser. Here, cloud providers provide software through the Internet, and administrators can upload applications individually. SaaS manages everything from installation to management. It allows users to access the application without the need to download the software. It does so via a licensed subscription.
Examples: Google Apps, Slack, Cisco Webex, HubSpot, and Salesforce
Similar to SaaS, PaaS is a cloud platform service for software creation where the development and testing of applications occur. PaaS streamlines the process of app development and functions similar to middleware services. In PaaS, the host avails hardware/software services without asking users to install it on their premises. It is a platform that lets end-users run, develop, and execute applications within the cloud.
Examples: Azure, Magento, and OpenShift
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
It is a cloud infrastructure service responsible for application data management and runtime environment. It is available to users on a pay-per-usage basis and executes scalable and redundant storage through API and cloud applications. IaaS maintains the backend to facilitate computer hardware in the form of a service, along with delivering virtualization technology.
Examples: Cisco Metapod, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Compute Engine (GCE)
These three combine to form a rack, termed as Cloud Computing Stack, with SaaS on the top, PaaS in the middle, and IaaS at the bottom.
Cloud Deployment Models in Cloud Computing
Public Cloud
In a public cloud, your applications would reside on a shared infrastructure within a datacenter. It is advisable not to store any sensitive documents or information on it when using a public cloud. However, cloud providers provide complete isolation from other users who coexist on the same hardware.
Private Cloud
In a private cloud, your infrastructure or server will just have your applications. It will be completely isolated from public cloud servers. These servers are commonly used by companies or banks that have sensitive information to store. A private cloud can either be provided to you by your cloud provider or you can create your own private cloud by buying your own stack.
Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid cloud is a combination of a public cloud and a private cloud. It provides functionalities of both public and private clouds.
So, if a company wants to keep its mission-critical data in a private cloud and run its services and applications on a public cloud, it can make a hybrid integration.
Apart from the three basic cloud deployment models, there are multi-cloud and hybrid multi-cloud.
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Benefits of Cloud Computing Architecture
The Cloud Computing Architecture is designed in such a manner that, it adds several benefits:
- Solving latency issues and improving data processing requirements
- Reducing IT operating costs and providing good accessibility to data as well as digital tools
- Helping to easily scale up and scale down the cloud resources of a business
- Offering flexibility as a feature that works as a competitive advantage for businesses
- Better disaster recovery and high security
- Automatic service updates
- Remote working and improved team collaboration
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Conclusion
The entire cloud technology architecture is aimed at providing higher bandwidth, uninterrupted access, and network security to users. All the above components of the architecture help in resolving the complex resource-sharing problem and work distinctly to execute a single function, i.e., Cloud Computing. Finally, it is in your hands to make a crucial business decision of selecting the right cloud architecture according to what your business demands. If you want to understand Cloud Computing in detail, check out our exclusive Cloud Computing course.
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Cloud Computing – FAQs
Here are some one-line FAQs about cloud computing:
1. What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing provides services like storage, AI/ML, IoT, computing, and many other services over the internet. In this methodology, all the data is managed on the hardware of cloud providers.
2. What are the types of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is categorized into deployment models and service models. The deployment model includes public, private, hybrid, and community deployment models, and service models are categorized as IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, FaaS, and CaaS.
3. What are the advantages of Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing offers scalability, accessibility, high availability and disaster recovery.
4. What is IaaS?
IaaS stands for Infrastructure as a Service. It provides virtualized computing resources like virtual machines, storage, and networking over the internet.
5. What is PaaS?
PaaS stands for Platform as a Service. It provides a ready-to-use platform for running and managing applications without managing the underlying infrastructure.
6. What is SaaS?
SaaS offers ready-to-use software applications that are accessed over the internet, typically on a subscription basis.
7. What is FaaS?
FaaS allows users to run individual functions in response to events without managing servers or infrastructure.
8. What is CaaS?
CaaS enables users to deploy, manage, and scale containerized applications using orchestration platforms like Kubernetes.
9. What is a Hybrid Cloud?
A hybrid cloud is a combination of a public and private deployment model.
10. Is Cloud Computing secure?
Yes, but security depends on the provider and the user’s implementation
11. How do cloud providers charge for services?
Cloud providers charge based on services, region, and for the time being services are used. Different services will cost you differently. You can use Azure Calculator in order to know the cost of each service in advance.
12. What are the disadvantages of Cloud Computing?
Disadvantages are rare, but there is still a chance of downtime, security issues, compliance problems, and limited control over infrastructure.
13. What are the most common cloud platforms?
Popular cloud platforms include AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Oracle Cloud.