Cloud Services Overview

John

 

Cloud Services Provide

  • Availability
  • Scalability / Dynamic adjust for current workload (up or out)
  • Elasticity / Providing scalability automatically
  • Agility / React quickly
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Fault Tolerance
  • Latency
  • Global Reach
  • Security
  • Predictive Cost

 

Things to consider for cost when using Cloud

  • Economies of Scale – Cloud providers have far larger resources therefore able to provide for cheaper
  • Capital Expenditure (CapEx) – spending money up front on physical infrastructure, then deducting that expense over time. Value decreases over time.
  • Operational Expenditure (OpEx) – spending money for services used right now. No upfront cost, it is a pay as used service. Deductions are for current year only, no value decrease over time.
  • Consumption Based Model – Cloud is OpEx, you only pay for what is used. Ability to pay more as more needed, or pay less if needs drop.

 

Types of Cloud Models

  • Public Cloud – owned by host, connection over secure network and typically over internet.
    • Ownership – resources are owned by host. Pay for usage
    • Multiple End Users – makes resources available to multiple end users
    • Public Access
    • Skills – since public resources the skill set is common
    • No CapEx, yes OpEx
    • Consumption-based Model
    • Some concerns with Public Cloud:
      • Security
      • Compliance
      • Ownership – user organization dont own resources so cannot control
      • Specific Scenarios – ex support lagacy equipment that cloud vendor does not have
  • Private Cloud – owned and operated by user organization. Resides in their own datacenter and managed by user organization. Used when data must reside physically in location – example Medical or Government.
    • Ownership – resources owned by user. Pay for usage
    • Control – totally done by user
    • Connectivity – private
    • Public Access – none
    • Some concerns with Private Cloud:
      • Upfront CapEx
      • Lack of agility
      • Higher maintenance
      • Skills required is more specific, harder to find
  • Hybrid Cloud – mix of public and private cloud

 

Types of Cloud Services

  • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
    • Virtual Machines, storage, networks, OS, whole infrastructure
    • No upfront costs
    • User ownership – user required to maintain the infrastructure
    • Cloud ownership – physical layer and its availability to user
    • Shared Responsibility – both user and cloud provider responsible for infrastructure
  • PaaS (Platform as a Service)
    • Host manages infrastructure
    • Fast deployment, user only focus on platform
    • No upfront costs
    • User ownership – user responsible for apps running on the platforms
    • Cloud ownership – cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure and physical layer
    • Limitations of the platform – depending on what service the host is providing, may not fit to all types of workloads
  • SaaS (Software as a Service)
    • Provider hosts and manages whole software system
    • No upfront costs – usually a subscription model
    • User Ownership – minimal
    • Cloud Ownership – responsible for provisioning, management and maintenance
    • Office 365, Micrsoft Skype, etc.
    • Limitations of the software

 

 

References

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