Cloud Computing

What is it?

Accessing software on the Internet

Instead of having the software on your computer you use it from the Internet.

This is called Software As A Service (SaaS).

This is a graphic of how it works

Cloud Computing Architecture

When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections: the front end and the back end. They connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet. The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The back end is the "cloud" section of the system.

Software as a Service (SaaS).

In the SaaS layer, the service provider hosts the software so you don’t need to install it, manage it, or buy hardware for it. All you have to do is connect and use it. SaaS Examples include customer relationship management as a service.

Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing happens on a public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud. Governance and security are crucial to computing on the cloud, whether the cloud is in your company’s firewall or not.

Public clouds are virtualized data centers outside of your company’s firewall. Generally, a service provider makes resources available to companies, on demand, over the public Internet.

Private clouds are virtualized cloud data centers inside your company’s firewall. It may also be a private space dedicated to your company within a cloud provider’s data center.

Hybrid clouds combine aspects of both public and private clouds.

Cloud Computing Characteristics

Cloud computing requires searching for a cloud provider. Whether your cloud is public, private, or hybrid, look for elasticity, scalability, provisioning, standardization, and billed usage:

Elasticity and scalability. The cloud is elastic, meaning that resource allocation can get bigger or smaller depending on demand. Elasticity enables scalability, which means that the cloud can scale upward for peak demand and downward for lighter demand. Scalability also means that an application can scale when adding users and when application requirements change.

Characteristics continued

Self-service provisioning. Cloud customers can provision cloud services without going through a lengthy process. You request an amount of computing, storage, software, process, or more from the service provider. After you use these resources, they can be automatically deprovisioned.

Standardized interfaces. Cloud services should have standardized APIs, which provide instructions on how two application or data sources can communicate with each other. A standardized interface lets the customer more easily link cloud services together.

Billing and service usage metering. You can be billed for resources as you use them. This pay-as-you-go model means usage is metered and you pay only for what you consume.

Cloud Computing Architecture

When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections: the front end and the back end. They connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet. The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The back end is the "cloud" section of the system.

The front end includes the client's computer (or computer network) and the application required to access the cloud computing system. Not all cloud computing systems have the same user interface. Services like Web-based e-mail programs leverage existing Web browsers like Internet Explorer or Firefox. Other systems have unique applications that provide network access to clients.

On the back end of the system are the various computers, servers and data storage systems that create the "cloud" of computing services. In theory, a cloud computing system could include practically any computer program you can imagine, from data processing to video games. Usually, each application will have its own dedicated server.

Cloud Computing Applications

The applications of cloud computing are practically limitless. With the right middleware, a cloud computing system could execute all the programs a normal computer could run. Potentially, everything from generic word processing software to customized computer programs designed for a specific company could work on a cloud computing system.

Why use Cloud Computing

You can access your applications and data from anywhere.

It could bring hardware costs down. You wouldn't need to buy the fastest computer

with the most memory, because the cloud system would take care of those needs for you.

Cloud Computing Concerns

Perhaps the biggest concerns about cloud computing are security and privacy.

Security is up to the Cloud provider. Privacy is a big concern for the user.

Cloud Applications

Microsoft Office 365 Audio

Myrna (Aviary) (audio editor)

SoundCloud (share audio/music)

BloggingBloggerEdublogs (for teachers and students)TypePadWordPress

CartooningDoInk (draw and Animate)ToonDoo

Charts, Diagrams, and DataCacoo (create diagrams)ChartGo (create charts)Google Public Data Explorer (Create charts and visualizations form public data)

DocumentsGoogle Docs (docs, spreadsheets, presentations, forms)

iCloud (docs, presentations, media and more apps)Zoho (docs, presentations, spreadsheets and more)

File SharingDrop.io

Dropbox (file sharing and convenient way to share a portfolio)

GraphicsFlickr (photo sharing)

Phoenix (Aviary) (Image and photo editor)Photoshop Express (photo editing)

Picasa Web Albums (photo sharing)Picnik (photo editing)

Sumo Paint (image editor and painting tool)

Polling/SurveySurvey Monkey

Vorbeo

QR Code GeneratorsKaywa

Snap.vuYouScan.me

QuizzesClassMarker

ProProfs Quiz Maker

ScreencastsScreen-o-Matic

Screenr

Social BookmarkingDelicious

DiggDiigo (research and knowledge sharing)

Linkpad.meSocial Media and Networking

LinkedIn (professional networking)Plaxo (networking)

Storify (create stories using social media)Twitter (microblogging)

Yammer (corporate microblogging)

VideoTeacherTube

YouTubeMisc.

Cometdocs (convert files, including to PDFs)Online-ConVert (media conversion – video, audio, images…)