--how your organization can benefit from a cloud move and how different cloud services can serve you
Cloud Computing Services
· How your organization can benefit from the cloud
· Infrastructure as a Service
o Also known as Everything as a Service
o You are using a virtualized server and running software on it
o Most prevalent is Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and GoGrid
· Platform as a Service
o A way to build applications and have them hosted by the cloud provider
o It allows you to deploy applications without having to spend the money to buy the servers on which to house them
o Examples are Google and RightScale
· Software as a Service
o The cloud vendor providing the given piece of software you want to use, on their servers
o SaaS provides the applications for you
o It’s hard to differentiate between companies like Google or Salesforce that offer both PaaS and SaaS services
§ Not only can you build an application with Google but you can also allow others to use the application
you developed
· Software Plus Services
o Microsoft’s take on SaaS is slightly different.
o You run some software onsite and reach out to the cloud for additional services
o This provides flexibility of using a cloud provider, and also the reliability of having data stored on site, as well
How Those Applications Help Your Business
· Operational Benefits
o Reduced costs- technology is paid incrementally
o Increased storage- more data storage available on the cloud
o Automation- provider keeps application up to date
o Flexibility
o Better mobility- users can access the cloud from anywhere with an internet connection
o Better use of IT staff
· Economic Benefits
o People- by moving to the cloud you’ll rely on few staffers
o Hardware- major cloud suppliers can purchase hardware much cheaper than a regular business
o Pay as you go- you pay for what you use on the cloud
o Time to market- get apps up and running faster
· Staffing Benefits
o For the Consumer
§ No software installation or maintenance
§ Shorter deployment time
§ Worldwide availability
o For the Provider
§ Operating environment- the provider owns their domain
§ Predictable revenue stream
§ Small, regular upgrades
§ Customer relationship management- management must keep customers happy so a good relationship must be built
Chapter 5 Hardware and Infrastructure
Clients:
Mobile clients are ideal for running small, less complex applications away from the office. There are some concerns when deciding on the type of client you wish to integrate with your cloud. Specifically pertaining to mobile clients, security and speed are primary concerns.
Thin clients are a second type discussed in the text. Thin clients are those computers which have no hard drive. Therefore, they can only be used to access information on your server.
Thick clients on the other hand are those which we are most familiar with. These are computers with hard drives allowing each end user to have different applications installed on each machine. Thick clients are ideal if non-cloud based applications are used.
Security:
Although there are some concerns about others accessing information stored on the cloud, there are some notable benefits to using cloud based systems. Some of these include having centralized data storage decreasing the chances for data leaks. Another idea to consider is the possibility that cloud providers may be able to secure your data better than you can.
Other security aspects to consider are:- improved logging
- ability to create a forensic server online
SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network) can be used with any standard web browser without downloading special software on the end users’ computers. These have the ability to be sure certain security measures are in place prior to accessing information stored in the cloud. Examples of such precautionary steps include but are not limited to:
-requiring antivirus software to be running
-verifying that operating systems patches have been installed
-checking to see if malware applications are running
Network:
There are 4 different levels of connectivity allowing users to access information stored in the cloud.
1) Basic Public Internet
2) Accelerated Internet
3) Optimized Internet Overlay
4) Site-to-Site VPN
*See Table 5-1 on page 103 for details comparing the four options
Some things to consider when deciding on the appropriate level of connectivity for your use includes the size of your network, optimal transmission speed, symmetry of data transfers.
Services:
Identity: how applications know about its users. (Just think about signing into google to access your documents; user name and password)
Integration: how applications share information, or talk among themselves
Also discussed are the fairly basic services such as mapping, payments and searching capabilities.
Chapter 6 Accessing the Cloud
Platforms:
A platform is how the cloud is delivered to you. AJAX is a group of web development techniques used to create web applications.
Pros:
- can retrieve new info and adjust how the content is presented (very efficient)
- More interactive and respond quickly to user inputs
- connections to the server are reduced
Cons:
- The back button doesn’t work
- difficult to bookmark
- If a browser does not support AJAX then it can’t be used
- There is no standards body behind it so no widely adopted best practice to test it.
Web Hosting Service
You need a “cloud provider” to store your data and applications. It serves as the organization that will host your data.
Proprietary Methods
These are individual companies that offer their own ways to connect to the could. Microsoft is an example.
Web Applications
Someone else may have already created the application, therefore using what they have created is an easy way to use an applications. Google is an example. Google offers may apps that hopefully satisfy what your looking for.
Web APIs
APIs stands for Application programming interface, which is a set of programming instructions to access a web-based program. An example of API usage, is when you enter your credit card number on the computer, API is what gets the job done. Another example is when calling back and forth is done by a computer.
Web Browsers
For the most part, all browsers are the same and you should be able to use any browser you want. Internet explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome are examples of web browsers. Each have specific features, so choosing the best one that satisfies your needs is ideal.
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