The age in which installation discs, internal and external hard drives, and the worry of not being able to access your data without your computer is nearing the end of its existence. Prior to cloud computing, individuals have had to purchase or download software such as Microsoft Office or iTunes onto their computers in order to use it. This would include installing it onto the hard drive (which contained limited space). In addition, data that is on an individual computer, can only be accessed by that system unless stored externally and somewhere else. Cloud computing is the access to server-based resources and applications based on a WAN connection. It is accessible via devices which can access the internet such as computers or smart-phones. Even though the cloud is not widely used (due to the lack of knowledge of it), the cloud is one of the most significant and beneficial technological inventions regarding the internet because it is very flexible/mobile, highly automated, has increased storage, and it allows costs to be lowered, both on an individual and company scale.
Cloud computing technology has existed for a long time; however it has always been underutilized. Described by Massoud Alibakhsh, CEO of Nuesoft Technologies, ?the way it started, is Amazon is one of the companies that had a whole lot of servers and most of the time, they were underutilized. Amazon decided that they had unutilized assets and wanted to sell the computational power and storage of the servers to the public? (How Did Cloud Computing Get Its Start). ?At the time, Amazon only used 10% of their databases and server. Essentially, the backbone of Cloud Computing was unutilized space that wasn?t used by companies. As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology by the U.S. Department of Commerce, ?Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction? (Mell / Grance). Fundamentally, this means that applications that are managed/provided on the cloud server is stored in one central location which can be located anywhere and everywhere there is WAN and internet connection. Two popular cloud companies that already exist are Amazon and Google. Amazon provides multiple cloud products that can be accessed by any member with an account. Like iTunes, Amazon has a cloud player where you can store and play your music and the music purchased directly from Amazon (also available for ANDROID). Also provided is a universal cloud drive where any file, music, photos; each of these cloud drives hold 5 gigs of storage for each member.
Google provides an application that acts as a supplement to Microsoft Office called Google Docs. In Google Docs, users have an option to create a document, spreadsheet or a drawing. A link that can be shared is also provided so multiple users can connect and edit the document. This has been seen in the HST250 class at Michigan State University where students chose their wiki topics through a Google Doc spreadsheet. The accessibility and sharing of these documents make Cloud computing very flexible.
Flexibility and mobility are one of the main reasons why companies are taking advantage of Cloud computing and why individuals use it. Since applications and data are saved on the provider or employers? cloud, this allows cloud computers and employees to access the information and software anywhere. This permits employees to be more portable, meaning they have the ability to access work information while out of the office. With Amazon technology, cloud users can upload all types of files onto the Amazon cloud. As a result, that cloud member doesn?t need their personal computer or device and can still attain their files. In addition, there is further flexibility for companies as a whole, with third party devices. In his video, senior product manager of Cirtas Cloud Sherpa, Jeff Feierfeil mentions the flexibility of Cloud computing ?Cloud Computing is very flexible with a cloud controller. There are cloud controllers that have multiple AP?s, therefore no matter what applications you have, they can translate to the Cloud.
In addition the cloud controller prevents vendor lock-in therefore, if one vendor goes out of business you can easily transfer businesses because your cloud controller already supports multiple providers and your applications continue working as they normally would? (Maintaing Cloud Provider Flexability). Cirta Systems provides a device called the Bluejet Cloud Storage Controller which protects data within the cloud. Feierfeil informs that the controller has all the necessary API?s so the transfer of applications from personal computers to the cloud is hassle-free and ensures that it those applications will not have to be re-programmed to comply with the Cloud. The cloud controller also provides flexibility in a way that if one cloud provider runs out of business, the Cloud Controller easily can switch to another provider without any data lost and again, no necessary modification to applications for the API.
Lastly, the cloud is highly reliable. ?No longer will users need to worry about the hard drive on their computers crashing or their laptops stolen? (Nelson).
Another reason why companies and users prefer Cloud computing is because it is highly automated. Businesses that don?t run on Cloud computing have space-taking databases and servers which contain complicated software that have a team of engineers to install/configure and run. When these servers crash or fail, it is a lengthy process to repair all the issues. Additionally, there are situations when upgrades are applied and the systems crash. Cloud computing providers automatically update their cloud services; which means that companies themselves do not have to maintain servers and applications. Without having to self-update applications and servers, companies save money because they don?t have to pay for the updated software and their engineers/technicians to update, configure and maintain the software. The configuration and updating of the software itself requires a lot of time and may cause the software to be unusable during the time of update. Companies also save costs by reducing the size or amount of servers because there are lower costs on electricity and the maintenance of these servers (What Is Cloud Computing?).
Computer storage and space is very important when it comes to computers. When individuals purchase computers, the hard drive size is a important consideration (the more the better). There are now hybrid style computers which include a solid hard drive and a limited amount of space on a cloud drive. For example, netbooks such as the ASUS Eee PC?s provide a 250 gigabyte hard drive and an addition five hundred gigabytes on their ?ASUS Web Storage? application. Cloud computing allows companies to use the provider?s servers and databases to store data and information. This is very significant for two main reasons. First, it lowers the costs for companies because they can get rid of large servers that occupy a lot of space. Since the amount of data is most likely endless, the more data a company accrues, the more servers they will eventually have to buy. With Cloud networks, there is a unlimited amount of data from the cloud drive that these companies can store to. Second, cloud storage balances the playing field for small companies and businesses that cannot afford the fees to purchase the staff to maintain the servers and the servers themselves. This allows the small business to grow/expand and focus their assets and budget on items that pertain to the business itself (Nelson).
Storage, automation, storage all affect the cost of Cloud computing.
Costs and benefits are the most important factors to a company and individuals. For individuals, people are only willing to pay a specific amount for specific features that a computer has, however the more features, the more the device is going to cost. For individuals, cloud computing reduces the cost of the laptop/computer itself. With cloud computing, individuals can save data online which reduces the cost of purchasing the hard drive. Cloud computing also allows data to be stored on the internet, therefore there is no need for jump drives, external hard drives to be purchased because it data can be transferred via the internet.
On a company scale, although companies haven?t posted their costs in cloud computing, it saves money. Instead of paying for software and updates, for applications and software, companies pay per use. Unlike Amazon, this eliminates underutilization because there is only payment for what is used. This is a type of subscription service. Subscription services are also beneficial because when companies pay for software, when that software is updated, they lose money because what they paid full price for is now outdated. Also without the need of having huge servers on premise, companies save on maintenance of those servers and the costs of the bill of running the servers. Other fees that are tied to this is the staffing of engineers and technicians to configure and maintain these databases.
Many companies today such as Samsung and Acer are creating products that are based solely on the Cloud. Laptop companies have created ?Chromebook? laptops. These notebook computers only contain the Google Chrome Browser. Some advantages to this concept is that because there is no hard drive, the battery has a longer life (Samsung lasts up to 8.5 hours), Since there are no serial numbers or copyright protection, there are no necessary payments to Microsoft. The Chromebook can boot in a speedy ten seconds, which is always a plus. Files are stored in a cloud, therefore when a Chromebook is stolen there is no worry that important and classified files are lost. Users can log onto any Chromebook and have their specific data. Chromebooks are cheaper than most reasonably priced laptops on the market. Although at this time Chromebooks may not be practical, after a few years of Google production and updates, they will prove to be worth the cost and efficient (Pogue).
Cloud computing is one of the most significant changes of the era and it proves to be significant to companies because all the cloud can do. This method of computing is very flexible because of all the combined services, the better reliability with storing data, collaboration of applications, portability that allows users to access data wherever, and devices that require less technology. It has increased storage that is limitless and can be backed up with the Cloud storage controller. The Cloud itself is highly automated which allows companies to get rid of large servers and databases that occupy space and are costly to purchase/configure/maintain. Additionally, there is no fear of the servers crashing to due to manually updating the software or having to purchase the software. Lastly, there are countless decrease in cost because there is no unnecessary maintenance and no purchasing of software/updates, and because everything is a subscription. On a more personal basis, this saves money because users do not need to purchase high-tech devices because simple products such as smart-phones can run the cloud software. Cloud computing has already helped government agencies and computers by reducing costs and fees, however it will be interesting to see what updates and improvements the Cloud program will have in a few years.
Biblography
How Did Cloud Computing Get Its Start??. Perf. Massoud Alibaksh.?Youtube: Broadcast Yourself. Google, 8 Sept. 2010. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdHXn4p5-O8>.
Maintaining Cloud Provider Flexibility. Dir. Cirtas Cloud Serpa. Perf. Jeff Feierfeil.Youtube: Broadcast Yourself. Google. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n6UXFksQ0Q>.
Mell, Peter, and Timothy Grance.?The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing. Rep. U.S. Department of Commerce. Special Publication 800-145.?NIST.gov. National Institute of Standards and Technology. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/drafts/800-145/Draft-SP-800-145_cloud-definition.pdf>.
Nelson, Michael R. ?The Cloud, the crowd, and Public policy: a new age of more flexible, less expensive, and more secure computing will emerge soon if governments act wisely.??Issues in Science and Technology 25.4 (2009): 71+.Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 30 June 2011.
Pogue, David. ?A Laptop, Its Head In the Clouds.??New York Times. New York Times, 15 June 2011. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/technology/personaltech/16pogue.html>.
SalesForce. ??What Is Cloud Computing??.??Youtube: Broadcast Yourself. Google. Web. 30 June 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms>.
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Source: http://history.msu.edu/hst250/2011/06/30/wiki-article-cloud-computing/
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