Cloud Computing
What is cloud computing and what are its unique features?
Cloud computing is using computing resources over connections to the internet rather than needing to have the hardware required with the user, users can for example connect to a server and use the server to do their work, instead of having to process everything on their own hardware. Cloud computing allows for more cost efficient when compared to traditional forms of server hosting, for example in cloud computing you only need to pay for the hosting you need when you need it, and the maintenance of such servers is done entirely by the providers. Moreover, it is much more scalable meaning that when you need to expand your processing load or even decrease it, you can do so automatically.
What are the 3 major cloud service models?
There are 3 major cloud service models: SaaS, IaaS, PaaS. Firstly, SaaS stands for Software as a Service, under this model applications are hosted and maintained online, examples include Google Docs, WorkFlowy, and SoundCloud. Next, IaaS stands for Infastructure as a Service, where a business would provide storage, servers, networking hardware, maintenance and support all online; examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS) and IBM Cloud. The third major cloud service model is PaaS which stands for Platform as a service, which is used to test and develop applications, examples include SAP and Wasabi.
Effective applications of cloud computing, and the business model of cloud computing
Applications of cloud computing are as stated before essentially limtless, so effective applications just depend on it's application in the right situations. For example, why waste resources such as time & money when you can be more cost-effective sometimes when the cloud solutions are much more cheaper and are usually maintained by the provider of the service? The business model of cloud computing is usually based on subscription services with different tiers, so you only pay for what you need on a monthly or anual basis. This benefits both the consumer who can choose the pricing plan that suits them and the provider a stable income during the subscription period. Moreover, in most occasions the consumer does not use most features in the subscription plan, meaning that the provider usually does not have to provide full support for each user.
Resources
IBM Cloud
Fingent
HowStuffWorks