Unit 1

CLUSTER :

A cluster is a group of inter-connected computers or hosts that work together to support

applications and middleware (e.g. databases). In a cluster, each computer is referred to as a
“node”. Unlike grid computers, where each node performs a different task, computer clusters
assign the same task to each node.

What is Cloud?
The term Cloud refers to a Network or Internet. In other words, we can say that Cloud is
something, which is present at remote location. Cloud can provide services over public and
private networks, i.e., WAN, LAN or VPN.
Applications such as e-mail, web conferencing, customer relationship management (CRM)
execute on cloud.

WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING?

Cloud Computing refers to manipulating, configuring, and accessing the hardware and
software resources remotely. It offers online data storage, infrastructure, and application.

Cloud computing offers platform independency, as the software is not required to be

installed locally on the PC. Hence, the Cloud Computing is making our business
applications mobile and collaborative.
Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services such as servers, data storage,
databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the internet (“cloud”) to
offer flexible resources, faster innovation, and economies of scale. In simpler terms,
instead of owning data centers, organizations can rent access to someone else’s
infrastructure like storage, computing servers, and databases from a Cloud
Computing service provider and only pay for resources that they use.

History of Cloud Computing

The concept of Cloud Computing came into existence in the year 1950 with implementation
of mainframe computers, accessible via thin/static clients. Since then, cloud computing has
been evolved from static clients to dynamic ones and from software to services. The
following diagram explains the evolution of cloud computing:
How Does Cloud Computing Work?

To understand how Cloud Computing works, let us divide it into two sections-
Front end and Back end. The front end consists of the client’s computer or
computer network. The front end consists of the client’s computer or computer
network. The back end consists of various computers, servers and data storage
systems that make up the cloud. They are connected to each other through a
network, usually the Internet. The front end is the side of the computer user or
client. The back end is ‘the cloud’ section of the system.
CLOUD COMPUTING EXAMPLES AND USE CASES

If you use an online service to send email, edit documents, watch movies or TV
(like Netflix), listen to music, play games, or store pictures and other files, it is
likely that you are part of cloud eco-system, as Cloud Computing is making it all
possible behind the scenes. There are many use cases of Cloud Computing, few
are mentioned below:

1. Test and Development

IT Companies uses cloud services for software development environment.

DevOps teams can quickly spin up development, testing and production
environments. This includes an automated provisioning of physical and virtual
machines.

2. Big Data Analytics

There is massive amount of data collected each day from cloud applications, IoT
devices and the users who interact with them. Cloud Computing allows
organization to leverage the computing power of Cloud Computing.

3. Cloud Storage

Cloud data storage enables files to be automatically saved to the cloud, and then
they can be accessed, stored, and retrieved from any device with an internet
connection. Instead of maintaining data centers for storage, organizations can
only pay for cloud storage they are use and do so without the worries of
overseeing the daily maintenance of the storage infrastructure.

BASIC CONCEPTS
There are certain services and models working behind the scene making the cloud computing
feasible and accessible to end users. Following are the working models for cloud computing:
 Deployment Models
 Service Models
Deployment Models
Deployment models define the type of access to the cloud, i.e., how the cloud is located?
Cloud can have any of the four types of access: Public, Private, Hybrid, and Community.
 1. Public Cloud
The public cloud allows systems and services to be easily accessible to the general public.
Public cloud may be less secure because of its openness.
2. Private Cloud
The private cloud allows systems and services to be accessible within an organization. It is
more secured because of its private nature.
3. Community Cloud
The community cloud allows systems and services to be accessible by a group of
organizations.
4. Hybrid Cloud
The hybrid cloud is a mixture of public and private cloud, in which the critical activities are
performed using private cloud while the non-critical activities are performed using public
cloud.
Cloud Computing Deployment Models

The deployment models specify different types of clouds. Every organization has
different needs, they need to determine which cloud deployment model will
work for them. There are mainly three cloud deployment models:

1. Public Cloud

The public cloud is a set of hardware, networking, storage, services,

applications, and interfaces owned and operated by a third party for use by other
companies or individuals. You access these services and manage your account
using a web browser. These commercial providers create a highly scalable data
center that hides the details of the underlying infrastructure from the consumer.

2. Private Cloud

A private cloud is a set of hardware, networking, storage, services, applications,

and interfaces owned and operated by an organization for the use of its
employees, partners, or customers. A private cloud can be created and managed
by a third party for the exclusive use of one enterprise. The private cloud is a
highly controlled environment not open for public consumption. It is essentially
just another way of running an on-premises data center.

3. Hybrid Cloud

A hybrid cloud is a combination of a private cloud combined with the use

of public cloud services where the two cloud environments work together to solve
business problems. By allowing data and applications to move between private
and public clouds, a hybrid cloud gives your business greater flexibility, more
deployment options and helps optimize your existing infrastructure, security, and
compliance.

The goal is to create a hybrid cloud environment that can combine services and
data from a variety of cloud models to create a unified, automated, and well-
managed computing environment.
SERVICE MODELS

Cloud computing is based on service models. These are categorized into three basic service
models which are -
 Infrastructure-as–a-Service (IaaS)
 Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
 Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

The Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is the most basic level of service. Each of the
service models inherit the security and management mechanism from the underlying model,
as shown in the following diagram:

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
IaaS provides access to fundamental resources such as physical machines, virtual machines,
virtual storage, etc.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
PaaS provides the runtime environment for applications, development and deployment tools,
etc.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
SaaS model allows to use software applications as a service to end-users.
Types of Cloud Services

Cloud Computing services are divided into three classes, according to the
abstraction level of the capability provided and the service model of providers:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS in Cloud Computing)

The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage,

networks, and other fundamental computing resources. The consumer does not
manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over
operating systems, storage, and deployed applications; and possibly limited
control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS in Cloud Computing)

The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the Cloud

infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications using programming
languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider. The consumer
does not manage or control the underlying Cloud infrastructure including
network, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the
deployed applications and possibly configuration settings for the application-
hosting environment.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS in Cloud Computing)

The capability provided to the consumer is their applications running on a Cloud

infrastructure. The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's
applications running on a Cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible
from various client devices through either a thin client interface, such as a web
browser (e.g., web-based e-mail), or a program interface.

The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure
including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual
application capabilities, apart from limited user-specific application
configuration settings.
Benefits
Cloud Computing has numerous advantages. Some of them are listed below -
 One can access applications as utilities, over the Internet.
 One can manipulate and configure the applications online at any time.
 It does not require to install a software to access or manipulate cloud application.
 Cloud Computing offers online development and deployment tools, programming
runtime environment through PaaS model.
 Cloud resources are available over the network in a manner that provide platform
independent access to any type of clients.
 Cloud Computing offers on-demand self-service. The resources can be used without
interaction with cloud service provider.
 Cloud Computing is highly cost effective because it operates at high efficiency with
optimum utilization. It just requires an Internet connection
 Cloud Computing offers load balancing that makes it more reliable.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CLOUD COMPUTING
There are four key characteristics of cloud computing. They are shown in the following
diagram:

On Demand Self Service

Cloud Computing allows the users to use web services and resources on demand. One can
logon to a website at any time and use them.
Broad Network Access
Since cloud computing is completely web based, it can be accessed from anywhere and at any
time.

Resource Pooling
Cloud computing allows multiple tenants to share a pool of resources. One can share single
physical instance of hardware, database and basic infrastructure.
Rapid Elasticity
It is very easy to scale the resources vertically or horizontally at any time. Scaling of
resources means the ability of resources to deal with increasing or decreasing demand.
The resources being used by customers at any given point of time are automatically
monitored.
Measured Service
In this service cloud provider controls and monitors all the aspects of cloud service. Resource
optimization, billing, and capacity planning etc. depend on it.

BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING

There are several benefits of using Cloud Computing over traditional way. Few
benefits are mentioned below:

1. Cost Saving

You pay only for the services you use; this eliminates capital expenses of buying
hardware, software, setting up datacenters and operating cost for the same.

2. Rapid Elasticity

Cloud providers pool large number of resources from their data centers and make
them easily accessible. A service provider can easily expand its services to large
scale to handle rapid increase in service demands.

3. Global Scale

With the cloud, you can expand your business to new geographic locations and
deploy applications globally within minutes. Many cloud providers give services
in lot of countries, deploying applications closer proximity to end users reduces
latency and hence improves customer experience.

4. Reliability

Cloud services provides high availability with their robust infrastructure. You
can easily make data backup, disaster recovery, which makes business continuity
easier and less expensive as data can be mirrored at different geographic
locations on the cloud provider’s network.

5. Speed
Cloud Computing services are mostly self service and on demand. You can
easily provision any number of resources within minutes, that gives a lot of
flexibility to businesses to scale their application at right time and at right
location.

DISADVANTAGES OF CLOUD COMPUTING

Although there are many benefits of Cloud Computing, there are few
disadvantages as well which you need to be aware of, such as:

1. Security and Privacy

Although cloud service providers implement the best security standards and
industry certifications, storing data and important files on external service
providers always opens risks. Any discussion involving data must address
security and privacy, especially when it comes to managing sensitive data. You
must understand the shared responsibility model of your cloud provider. You
will still be liable for what occurs within your network and in your product.

2. Vulnerability to Attack

In Cloud Computing, every component is online, which exposes potential

vulnerabilities. Even the best teams suffer severe attacks and security breaches
from time to time.

3. Limited Control

Cloud services run on remote servers that are owned and managed by cloud
service provides, which makes it hard for the companies to have the level of
control over cloud infrastructure.

CLOUD COMPUTING ARCHITECTURE

Architecture is how different components combine to create a cloud system,

which every employee of an organization can use for data-related operations.
Talking of cloud computing architecture, virtualization technology pools
different resources and software components in one place, calling it a cloud.
There are various components in cloud architecture:

 A front-end device from which the user accesses the network.

 The backend platform is like the servers that store the information for the user to
access.
 A delivery model that decides how the network will work and how the user will be
able to access data.
 A trusted network on which the storage and sharing of information will happen.

Putting all these components together forms a cloud platform, which an organization and
its employees can use. This system helps the users in plenty of ways. First, it reduces the
risk of data theft as online servers are much more secure than physical ones. Secondly, it
makes remote working possible for everyone as there will be no issue with data sharing.
Different Architectures

Although no two cloud models are similar, the basics of a few models are alike.
Therefore, an organization can use the model, which they think would stand tall
on their expectations, make changes, and enjoy all the perks that this virtual data
storage and sharing platform offers.

Cloud Computing vs Traditional IT Infrastructure

Below are the differences between Cloud Computing and Traditional IT

Infrastructure:

Parameters Traditional IT Infrastructure Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing run on outsider

Traditional computing is done on
servers facilitated by third-party
physical server provisioned and
Position hosting organizations such as
managed by organization.
Microsoft AZURE, Amazon AWS,
Companies own these servers
Google GCP

In traditional computing companies Cloud Computing works on pay as

Cost Effective must spend up-front expenses on you go model, you pay only for
hardware number of resources you use

In traditional computing companies In Cloud Computing the Cloud

had to spend lot of efforts securing service providers are specialized
Security their infrastructure, they had to hire in guarding the data and their
security experts to protect their primary responsibility is security
data data

Flexibility In traditional computing you need Cloud Computing is flexible in

to do proper estimations in order to this regard, you can use resource
 buy hardware upfront as per your need

WHAT IS CLOUD MIGRATION

Cloud migration is the process of moving a company’s digital assets, services, databases, IT
resources, and applications either partially, or wholly, into the cloud. Cloud migration is also
about moving from one cloud to another.

Benefits of migrating to the cloud include:

 Increased agility and flexibility
 Ability to innovate faster
 Easing of increasing resource demands
 Better managing of increased customer expectations
 Reduction in costs
 Deliver immediate business results
 Simplify IT
 Shift to everything as-a-service
 Better consumption management
 Cloud scalability
 Improved performance
SEVEN STEPS OF MIGRATION INTO THE CLOUD

Migrating an application to the cloud is not an easy task. It is important to strictly adhere to
the seven step model to ensure that the process is robust and error free. The seven quick
stages of migration into the cloud are outlined below.

1. ASSESSMENT

Migration starts with an assessment of the issues relating to migration, at the application,
code, design, and architecture levels. Moreover, assessments are also required for tools being
used, functionality, test cases, and configuration of the application. The proof of concepts for
migration and the corresponding pricing details will help to assess these issues properly.

2. ISOLATE

The second step is the isolation of all the environmental and systemic dependencies of the
enterprise application within the captive data center. These include library, application, and
architectural dependencies. This step results in a better understanding of the complexity of
the migration.

3. MAP

A mapping construct is generated to separate the components that should reside in the captive
data center from the ones that will go into the cloud.

4. RE-ARCHITECT

It is likely that a substantial part of the application has to be re-architected and implemented
in the cloud. This can affect the functionalities of the application and some of these might be
lost. It is possible to approximate lost functionality using cloud runtime support API.

5. AUGMENT

The features of cloud computing service are used to augment the application.

6. TEST

Once the augmentation is done, the application needs to be validated and tested. This is to be
done using a test suite for the applications on the cloud. New test cases due to augmentation
and proof-of-concepts are also tested at this stage.

7. OPTIMISE

The test results from the last step can be mixed and so require iteration and optimization. It
may take several optimizing iterations for the migration to be successful. It is best to iterate
through this seven step model as this will ensure the migration to be robust and
comprehensive.

Cloud Deployment Models

In cloud computing, we have access to a shared pool of computer resources (servers,

storage, programs, and so on) in the cloud. You simply need to request additional resources
when you require them. Getting resources up and running quickly is a breeze thanks to the
clouds. It is possible to release resources that are no longer necessary. This method allows
you to just pay for what you use. Your cloud provider is in charge of all upkeep. It
functions as a virtual computing environment with a deployment architecture that varies
depending on the amount of data you want to store and who has access to the
infrastructure.
Deployment Models
The cloud deployment model identifies the specific type of cloud environment based on
ownership, scale, and access, as well as the cloud’s nature and purpose. The location of the
servers you’re utilizing and who controls them are defined by a cloud deployment model. It
specifies how your cloud infrastructure will look, what you can change, and whether you
will be given services or will have to create everything yourself. Relationships between the
infrastructure and your users are also defined by cloud deployment types.
Different types of cloud computing deployment models are:
1. Public cloud
2. Private cloud
3. Hybrid cloud
4. Community cloud
5. Multi-cloud

Public Cloud

The public cloud makes it possible for anybody to access systems and services. The public
cloud may be less secure as it is open to everyone. The public cloud is one in which cloud
infrastructure services are provided over the internet to the general people or major industry
groups. The infrastructure in this cloud model is owned by the entity that delivers the cloud
services, not by the consumer. It is a type of cloud hosting that allows customers and users
to easily access systems and services. This form of cloud computing is an excellent
example of cloud hosting, in which service providers supply services to a variety of
customers. In this arrangement, storage backup and retrieval services are given for free, as a
subscription, or on a per-user basis. Example: Google App Engine etc.

Advantages of Public Cloud Model:

 Minimal Investment: Because it is a pay-per-use service, there is no substantial

upfront fee, making it excellent for enterprises that require immediate access to
resources.
 No setup cost: The entire infrastructure is fully subsidized by the cloud service
providers, thus there is no need to set up any hardware.
 Infrastructure Management is not required: Using the public cloud does not
necessitate infrastructure management.
 No maintenance: The maintenance work is done by the service provider (Not users).
 Dynamic Scalability: To fulfill your company’s needs, on-demand resources are
accessible.
 Less secure: Public cloud is less secure as resources are public so there is no guarantee
of high-level security.
 Low customization: It is accessed by many public so it can’t be customized according
to personal requirements.
Private Cloud

The private cloud deployment model is the exact opposite of the public cloud deployment
model. It’s a one-on-one environment for a single user (customer). There is no need to
share your hardware with anyone else. The distinction between private and public clouds is
in how you handle all of the hardware. It is also called the “internal cloud” & it refers to the
ability to access systems and services within a given border or organization. The cloud
platform is implemented in a cloud-based secure environment that is protected by powerful
firewalls and under the supervision of an organization’s IT department. The private cloud
gives greater flexibility of control over cloud resources.

Advantages of Private Cloud Model:

 Better Control: You are the sole owner of the property. You gain complete command
over service integration, IT operations, policies, and user behavior.
 Data Security and Privacy: It’s suitable for storing corporate information to which
only authorized staff have access. By segmenting resources within the same
infrastructure, improved access and security can be achieved.
 Supports Legacy Systems: This approach is designed to work with legacy systems that
are unable to access the public cloud.
 Customization: Unlike a public cloud deployment, a private cloud allows a company to
tailor its solution to meet its specific needs.

Hybrid Cloud
By bridging the public and private worlds with a layer of proprietary software, hybrid cloud
computing gives the best of both worlds. With a hybrid solution, you may host the app in a
safe environment while taking advantage of the public cloud’s cost savings. Organizations
can move data and applications between different clouds using a combination of two or
more cloud deployment methods, depending on their needs.
Advantages of Hybrid Cloud Model:

 Flexibility and control: Businesses with more flexibility can design personalized
solutions that meet their particular needs.
 Cost: Because public clouds provide scalability, you’ll only be responsible for paying
for the extra capacity if you require it.
 Security: Because data is properly separated, the chances of data theft by attackers are
considerably reduced.

Disadvantages of Hybrid Cloud Model:

 Difficult to manage: Hybrid clouds are difficult to manage as it is a combination of

both public and private cloud. So, it is complex.
 Slow data transmission: Data transmission in the hybrid cloud takes place through the
public cloud so latency occurs.
Community Cloud
It allows systems and services to be accessible by a group of organizations. It is a
distributed system that is created by integrating the services of different clouds to address
the specific needs of a community, industry, or business. The infrastructure of the
community could be shared between the organization which has shared concerns or tasks. It
is generally managed by a third party or by the combination of one or more organizations in
the community.
Advantages of Community Cloud Model:

 Cost Effective: It is cost-effective because the cloud is shared by multiple

organizations or communities.
 Security: Community cloud provides better security.
 Shared resources: It allows you to share resources, infrastructure, etc. with multiple
organizations.
 Collaboration and data sharing: It is suitable for both collaboration and data sharing.

Disadvantages of Community Cloud Model:

 Limited Scalability: Community cloud is relatively less scalable as many organizations
share the same resources according to their collaborative interests.
 Rigid in customization: As the data and resources are shared among different
organizations according to their mutual interests if an organization wants some changes
according to their needs they cannot do so because it will have an impact on other
organizations.

Multi-cloud
We’re talking about employing multiple cloud providers at the same time under this
paradigm, as the name implies. It’s similar to the hybrid cloud deployment approach, which
combines public and private cloud resources. Instead of merging private and public clouds,
multi-cloud uses many public clouds. Although public cloud providers provide numerous
tools to improve the reliability of their services, mishaps still occur. It’s quite rare that two
distinct clouds would have an incident at the same moment. As a result, multi-cloud
deployment improves the high availability of your services even more.

Advantages of a Multi-Cloud Model:

 You can mix and match the best features of each cloud provider’s
services to suit the demands of your apps, workloads, and business by
choosing different cloud providers.
 Reduced Latency: To reduce latency and improve user experience, you
can choose cloud regions and zones that are close to your clients.
 High availability of service: It’s quite rare that two distinct clouds would
have an incident at the same moment. So, the multi-cloud deployment
improves the high availability of your services.

Disadvantages of Multi-Cloud Model:

 Complex: The combination of many clouds makes the system complex
and bottlenecks may occur.
 Security issue: Due to the complex structure, there may be loopholes to
which a hacker can take advantage hence, makes the data insecure.

Architecture of Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing , which is one of the demanding technology of the current time and
which is giving a new shape to every organization by providing on demand virtualized
services/resources. Starting from small to medium and medium to large, every organization
use cloud computing services for storing information and accessing it from anywhere and
any time only with the help of internet. In this article, we will know more about the internal
architecture of cloud computing.
Transparency, scalability, security and intelligent monitoring are some of the most
important constraints which every cloud infrastructure should experience. Current research
on other important constraints is helping cloud computing system to come up with new
features and strategies with a great capability of providing more advanced cloud solutions.

Cloud Computing Architecture :

The cloud architecture is divided into 2 parts i.e.
1. Frontend
2. Backend
Architecture of cloud computing is the combination of both SOA (Service Oriented
Architecture) and EDA (Event Driven Architecture). Client infrastructure, application,
service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, management and security all these are the
components of cloud computing architecture.

1. Frontend :

Frontend of the cloud architecture refers to the client side of cloud computing system.
Means it contains all the user interfaces and applications which are used by the client to
access the cloud computing services/resources. For example, use of a web browser to
access the cloud platform.
 Client Infrastructure – Client Infrastructure is a part of the frontend component. It
contains the applications and user interfaces which are required to access the cloud
platform.
 In other words, it provides a GUI( Graphical User Interface ) to interact with the cloud.

2. Backend :

Backend refers to the cloud itself which is used by the service provider. It contains the
resources as well as manages the resources and provides security mechanisms. Along with
this, it includes huge storage, virtual applications, virtual machines, traffic control
mechanisms, deployment models, etc.
1. Application –
Application in backend refers to a software or platform to which client accesses. Means
it provides the service in backend as per the client requirement.
2. Service –
Service in backend refers to the major three types of cloud based services like SaaS,
PaaS and IaaS. Also manages which type of service the user accesses.
3. Runtime Cloud-
Runtime cloud in backend provides the execution and Runtime platform/environment to
the Virtual machine.
4. Storage –
Storage in backend provides flexible and scalable storage service and management of
stored data.
5. Infrastructure –
Cloud Infrastructure in backend refers to the hardware and software components of
cloud like it includes servers, storage, network devices, virtualization software etc.
6. Management –
Management in backend refers to management of backend components like application,
service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure, and other security mechanisms etc.
7. Security –
Security in backend refers to implementation of different security mechanisms in the
backend for secure cloud resources, systems, files, and infrastructure to end-users.
8. Internet –
Internet connection acts as the medium or a bridge between frontend and backend and
establishes the interaction and communication between frontend and backend.

Benefits of Cloud Computing Architecture :

 Makes overall cloud computing system simpler.

 Improves data processing requirements.
 Helps in providing high security.
 Makes it more modularized.
 Results in better disaster recovery.
 Gives good user accessibility.
 Reduces IT operating costs.

What Are the Pros of Cloud Computing?

There’s a reason cloud computing has become so common among companies the world over
— it just makes financial sense. The benefits of cloud computing are more varied and
powerful than you might realize, so let’s take a deep dive into what this technology can do for
you. These are the top 10 reasons to move your business to the cloud.

1. REDUCE INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS

In-house data storage costs companies a significant amount of money. There’s the up-front
price tag of purchasing each new server as well as the cost of installing them. Either your IT
team has to take time out of their busy schedules to perform the installation, or you have to
pay the vendor to do it. Then you need to ensure the equipment is maintained properly and
backed up regularly.

Even when you invest in the best equipment, something can always go wrong due to human
error. If your team is the one responsible for installation and maintenance, and they make a
mistake, there’s no one to turn to for support. With cloud computing, the headache associated
with maintaining in-house systems disappears as you have the support of your service
provider. Because the cost of infrastructure is included in your plan and split among all the
service provider’s clients, you save money.

According to the Global Cloud Services Market report, organizations that deploy cloud
computing services save more than 35 percent on operating costs each year.

2. IMPACT TO PERSONNEL

Maintaining an in-house IT team big enough to manage local servers can quickly lead to a
ballooning budget. The time spent recruiting and the money spent training are all with the
hopes that you’re developing a highly effective and dedicated employee — but that’s not
always the case. Some employees will underperform, and others may decide to leave the
organization. Turnover in the IT field costs companies 150 percent of an employee’s salary.

Your in-house team also comes with the added cost of benefits, which cloud service can help
reduce. With your service provider taking care of maintenance and backups, you can refocus
your in-house team or avoid the cost of expanding it in the future.

3. CONSOLIDATE YOUR DATA

With cloud storage, data is distributed amongst bi-costal data centers. Syncing technology
makes it possible to link up and update data quickly, but storing data in the cloud makes
syncing unnecessary. When all your data is stored in the cloud, you know exactly where
every piece of information is at any given time.

4. DEFEND AGAINST DISASTER

Data loss can spell disaster for a company of any size. Data breaches cost an average of $3.86
million worldwide, and an average of $7.91 million for companies in the United States.
Cloud-based storage is much more secure than operating an on-site data center. Organizations
that store their data on the premises see 51 percent more security incidents than those that use
cloud storage.

The enterprise-level security built into cloud storage services far outpaces what most small
and medium-sized businesses (SMB) can afford on-site. One of the advantages of storing data
in the cloud is that there isn’t one single point of failure. Your data gets backed up to several
servers, so if one of them fails, your organization’s information remains safe and secure.

A single point of failure is what led to the infamous Equifax and Verizon data breaches, and
many companies have taken steps to avoid this fatal flaw in storage security. Cloud storage is
one way organizations can eliminate this danger.

5. MAXIMIZE UPTIME

The financial impact of unplanned downtime cannot be understated. For every minute of
unplanned downtime due to a data center outage, a company loses $5,600 on average. That’s
$300,000 in just one hour. While employees might enjoy the extra time spent in the break
room, the productivity lost during that time is money you won’t get back. Unplanned
downtime can also heavily damage a company’s reputation if it affects customers.
The leading causes of unplanned downtime are system failure and human error, both of
which can be avoided. According to one survey, 61 percent of SMBs experienced fewer
instances of downtime and decreased length of the downtime that did occur after they moved
to the cloud.

6. ENHANCE COLLABORATION

Businesses today are thriving thanks to the ability to collaborate digitally. The benefits of
remote work for companies are so compelling that 56 percent of startups outsource some of
their work. Employees love it too, with 57 percent of workers in the computers and IT
industry doing some of their work from home. Organizations are also more likely than ever to
have employees working in all corners of the map, making the ability to collaborate crucial.

Cloud computing allows multiple employees to view and make changes to files and
documents in real time, providing a much more efficient way for workers to collaborate on
projects. Accessing documents in the cloud helps ensure everyone is working from the
correct version of a document and that obsolete versions don’t get passed between local
sources.

7. STAY SCALABLE

One of the challenges of growth is remaining scalable, so how can cloud computing benefit
your company when it comes to expansion? This solution allows you to pay only for the
amount of storage your business needs. If you find your organization is growing quickly
enough to create the need for more storage, you have two options.

You can opt to buy and install more equipment as well as hire the people you’ll need to
maintain it. With the planning and training time involved, you can expect to have your
increased capacity up and running within a couple of weeks to a month or more.

Or, you could call up your cloud storage services provider and have them increase your
capacity in a matter of minutes. Increasing cloud also comes with a predictable cost,
eliminating the risk associated with investing in additional storage infrastructure. With a
greater ability to increase or decrease your storage capacity as needed, your organization
becomes more agile and competitive no matter your industry.

8. INCREASE AUTOMATION

A significant portion of maintaining in-house data storage is performing regular backups. The
IT team has to take time to create backups and schedule them around daily operations. Cloud
computing services go a long way toward automating these routine backups so your team can
get back to doing the work that drives your business forward.

9. SAVE ON SPACE

Servers and all their associated equipment take up significant square footage, and expanding
an in-house system often requires careful planning to secure the right amount of space.
Larger ventures may have some excess space to grow into, but small businesses are often
fighting to make the most of every square inch. Cloud computing can free up your office for
more workspace or amenities while eliminating the need to plan for future equipment
expansion. With the cloud, you do not have to worry about the installation of dedicated
breakers, high voltage lines, special HVAC systems or even backup generators.

10. ENHANCE COMPLIANCE

The hundreds of regulations that govern different types of data are complex to understand,
time-consuming to apply and laborious to maintain. Why not let a cloud storage service
provider do the heavy lifting when it comes to compliance? A good provider operates in full
compliance with all applicable regulations, so you don’t have to worry about incurring
violations.

What Are the Cons of Cloud Computing?

The advantages of storing data in the cloud are hard to ignore, but what are the disadvantages
of online storage? These are the top five concerns companies have about transitioning to the
cloud.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE COSTS

Though the cloud can help reduce costs in some areas, it is important to make sure that when
you move to the cloud, it truly makes sense. It is important to put a proper plan in place and
look at all systems within the organization. The key is to do an analysis of the systems and
group them into two categories. These two categories are systems that should be moved to the
cloud and which systems should remain on-premises. Once this is determined, you can set a
budget for the initiative.

2. MOVING FROM CLOUD TO ON-PREMISES

Moving from on-premises servers to cloud data centers is usually an easy process for your
organization. Though this is the case, moving to another cloud supplier or back to an on-
premises server is not as easy. This process can actually get quite expensive, and the terms
can often favor the cloud supplier. Before deciding to enter into a contract with a supplier,
make sure to ask the question and understand the process for moving workloads out of the
cloud supplier data center. It is critical to cover the timelines, fines, and process.

3. LIMITED CONTROL

Because the infrastructure of the cloud is owned and managed by the service provider,
businesses may worry about not having enough control over the service. This is where the
provider’s end-user license agreement (EULA) can help you out. It explains what limits the
provider can place on your use of the deployment. All legitimate cloud computing providers
allow your organization to exert control over your applications and data, even if it doesn’t
allow you to alter the infrastructure in any way.
When a provider presents you with a service level agreement (SLA), it helps to make sure
you understand every word of it. This will help you confirm what you can and can’t do with
the service.

If your contract includes placing your own equipment in a cloud supplier’s data center (i.e.,
CoLo), it is important to understand the proximity of the data center to your office. Make sure
to get the full list of details on the ability to access the equipment in the event it requires
maintenance.

4. VENDOR LOCK-IN

One of the disadvantages of cloud computing can come in the form of vendor mismatches.
Organizations might run into complications when migrating services to a different vendor
with a different platform. If this process isn’t handled correctly, data can be exposed to
unnecessary vulnerabilities. A good cloud services provider has the expertise to migrate your
data between vendors safely.

5. SLOWER BACKUPS AND RESTORES

Because moving data to the cloud involves some significant communication latency, backups
can end up taking longer than they would with an in-house system. Even for larger, full
backups, this isn’t usually an issue. The longest backups can run in the background without
disrupting networks, and the subsequent smaller backups take less time.

If you need to restore a whole server, it might take longer. Individual files and folders,
however, probably won’t be impacted. Differences in speed are negligible with the right
provider.

6. INTERNET RELIANCE

One minor drawback to cloud computing is the fact that it’s completely reliant on the
internet. If your internet connection goes down, you won’t have access to data stored in the
cloud for the duration of the outage. However, an internet interruption won’t destroy or
compromise your data stored in the cloud. Since your business needs the internet to perform
nearly every function, cloud computing is really no different than any other web-based tool.

7. INTERNET USE

If you’re running backups during working hours when people are heavily using the internet, a
large backup to the cloud has the potential to increase congestion and reduce your internet
performance. This issue primarily affects small businesses without the resources to invest in
the highest internet bandwidth and speeds. However, a good provider will work with you to
avoid this issue through scheduling or automation.