Cloud ComputingWhat is Cloud Computing?

What is Cloud Computing?

A basic definition of cloud computing is the use ofthe Internet for the tasks you perform on yourcomputer. The "cloud" represents the Internet.

Internet

What is Cloud Computing?

From a user's point of view, a good cloudcomputing definition is using Web applicationsand/or server services that you pay to accessrather than software or hardware that you buy andinstall.

What is Cloud Computing?

"Cloud Computing" is a somewhat nebulous wordto describe users "renting" or borrowing onlinesoftware instead of actually purchasing andinstalling it on their own computers. It is the samebusiness model as people using Gmail or Yahoomail services, except that cloud computing goesmuch further.

What does this mean to us?• access a broad range of applications, services, and

hardware that you might not be able to access otherwise

• cut costs by "renting" software and applications rather than paying to have software and applications installed on your own equipment - which you may also have to buy or upgrade

• save time by not having to install and or upgrade software and applications

• access applications specific to your business needs that are only available over the Internet

What does this mean to us?

Cloud Example 1: Instead of selling you a copy of Microsoft Word for $300, acloud computing model would "rent" word processingsoftware to you through the Internet for perhaps 5 dollars amonth. You would not install any special software, norwould you be confined to your home machine to use thisrented online product. You simply use your modern webbrowser to login from any web-enabled computer, and youcan access your word processing documents in the sameway that you would access your online mail account.

What does this mean to us?

Cloud Example 2:

Your Real Estate business would not spend anydollars on a database. Instead, you would "rent“access to a sophisticated online database, and allteam members/assistants would access thatinformation through their web-enabled computersor handhelds.

What does this mean to us?Cloud Example 3: You decide to start a your own Real Estate Office, andneed computer tools for your receptionist, office manager,and 4 salespeople. But you do not want the headachesnor the cost of paying part-time IT staff to build andsupport those computer tools. Instead, you give all yourstaff and salespeople access to the cloud of the Internet,and rent their office software online, which will be storedand supported somewhere in Arizona. You will not need any regular IT support staff then; you willjust need occasional contract support to ensure that yourphysical on-site hardware is maintained.

What is Cloud Computing?

This brings us back to the initial question. What iscloud computing? It is the process of taking theservices and tasks performed by our computersand bringing them to the web.

Internet

The Benefits of Cloud Computing:

The primary benefit of cloud computing is reducedcost for everyone involved. Software vendors do nothave to spend thousands of hours supporting usersover the phone... they would simply maintain andrepair a single central copy of the product online.Conversely, users wouldn't have to shell out the largeup-front costs of fully purchasing word processing,spreadsheet, or other end user products. Users wouldinstead pay nominal rental fees to access the largecentral copy.

The Case Against Cloud Computing

Downsides to cloud computing include thedifficulty of managing cloud computing and thelegal and business risks to using cloud computing,such as the problem of downtime and datasecurity.

Links:Read more here:

http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/workingontheroad/f/cloudcomputing.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing

http://www.cio.com/article/477473/The_Case_Against_Cloud_Computing_Part_One

Examples of a Cloud Hosting Environment (not a recommendation):

http://www.gogrid.com/?_kk=cloud%20computing&gclid=CNGclt7Iq6cCFUHt7QodhTWNAwhttp://www.sentryds.com/products/datanex/buy-now/?gclid=CLmy_ZzJq6cCFdVf2god6nqCDg

You Tube Video about cloud Operating Systems:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RMWO9JxZjA