What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is a technology that leverages the internet to deliver resources such as data storage, databases, networking, software, applications and data analytics. Companies that offer cloud computing services are known as cloud service providers. Cloud computing provides a scalable, accessible and cost-effective alternative to physical on-premises hardware and servers. This is because cloud services usually offer unlimited storage space and are delivered using a pay-as-you-go model, with simple management via a centralised portal.
Simply put, cloud computing is the practice of delivering on-demand IT services remotely using an internet network and hosting at one or more external datacentres. With cloud computing, users simply create an account with a cloud provider (e.g. OVHcloud, AWS, Microsoft, Google, Oracle or IBM) and purchase cloud services on a pay-as-you-go basis, instead of purchasing physical on-premises machines and managing resources in-house. Since its inception, cloud computing has helped millions of organisations to embrace new technologies, drive efficiency, reduce time to market and expand their operations, whilst also driving down IT infrastructure costs and enabling organisations to shift from a CapEx to OpEx model.
Why is cloud computing important?
Over the past 20 years, cloud computing technology has evolved considerably, to the extent that cloud services now account for more than a third of annual enterprise IT services spending worldwide. The reason cloud computing is so popular is perhaps obvious, with its cost-effective and scalable design being ideal for building modern applications, delivering quality services, and transforming business operations. Public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud computing have all changed how organisations approach their infrastructure and deliver services, offering a robust alternative to physical on-premises infrastructure. Innovation within cloud computing shows no signs of slowing down, as it looks set to support the next generation of enterprise IT services, including AI, machine learning, and big data analytics.
Who uses cloud computing?
Cloud computing offers a wide range of benefits, and is therefore used by large and small organisations operating in all industries and sectors worldwide. Cloud services is essential for many use cases, including data storage, data backup, software development, data analytics, communications, virtual desktops, and applications. Cloud computing also supports remote working and collaboration, being a key facilitator for modern business life. Without cloud computing, many organisations simply wouldn’t have been able to grow, reach new markets, or create new solutions for their customers.
What are the features of cloud computing?
Cloud computing has multiple features, including:
Self-service
A core feature of cloud computing is that users can manage their cloud computing resources as required, without the need for intervention from the cloud service provider.
Elasticity
With cloud computing, resources can be scaled up or down easily based on demand, enabling users to manage their workloads efficiently.
Metered service
Cloud computing services are billed using a pay-as-you-go model, based on the customer’s usage of cloud resources. This enables users to control their cloud costs and increase efficiency.
Resource pooling
Another feature of cloud computing is that resources are pooled together and shared amongst users. The cloud service provider then allocates resources dynamically as required.
Broad network access
Being based on the internet, cloud computing services, applications and data can be accessed on multiple devices, including laptops and smartphones.
What are the benefits of cloud computing?
There are multiple benefits of cloud computing for both the enterprise and users, including:
Flexibility and agility
Thanks to cloud computing, users can access files over the internet on devices such as laptops and smartphones. Cloud services also make it much easier to organise data, as files can be stored, shared and organised on a cloud-based network.
Cloud computing services are rented from a cloud provider (such as OVHcloud, AWS, Google, IBM, Oracle or Microsoft), often using a pay-as-you-go model, so they can be agile to enterprise customer demands, with the ability to drop resources and acquire new ones without hefty investment or over-allocation. This system helps ensure business continuity, but at a lower cost.
Speed of deployment
A user’s journey to the cloud – from concept to production – has never been faster or smoother. With the ability to deploy new resources in just a few clicks, cloud computing enables users to scale their cloud services up or down seamlessly. The scalability offered by cloud computing enables businesses to expand infrastructure, accommodate traffic peaks, deploy and delete sandbox environments, as well as shorten overall time to market.
Cost control
As an organisation grows, the ongoing cost of its operations and IT infrastructure must be considered, in terms of both current and future requirements. Cloud computing’s economies of scale are difficult to match, as there is no need to anticipate workloads and invest in resources that may only be required occasionally. Using a cloud service provider, customers only pay for the cloud resources they use – whether this involves the cloud computing technology that powers solutions, the IT infrastructure an organisation relies on each day, or the long-term storage of databases.
Scalability
Cloud computing offers unmatched scalability. Because the hardware for cloud services is fully managed externally by the cloud provider, customers can freely add or delete new resources from anywhere, potentially with a single click. This core cloud computing feature gives businesses more freedom to focus on how they will utilise architectures, rather than the deployment process.
Robust security
For too long, security was a major concern for many organisations, which made them reluctant to migrate, either partially or completely, to the cloud. Despite this, cloud computing has evolved significantly over the years, specifically addressing these concerns, and cloud providers now offer a variety of cloud security solutions. Cloud computing enables businesses to leverage secure private connections between physical on-premises infrastructure and external datacentres, supported by sophisticated anti-DDoS protection and automated backups.
Freedom of location
Data residency is important to consider when designing cloud computing infrastructure - not only to enhance the performance of sites and applications, but to gain certifications and fulfil compliance requirements (especially considering regulations like the Cloud Act and GDPR). Hosting cloud computing resources securely, in external datacentres, means they can be located as close as possible to where an organisation’s teams and end users are based. This helps to take all the stress out of achieving compliance.
Types of cloud computing models
The concept of cloud computing is simple, but moving to the cloud can involve numerous models – from the relatively straightforward to the highly sophisticated. These are the three most common cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS):
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is a popular cloud computing service model. It enables users to access virtual computing resources over the internet, without the need for physical on-premises hardware. With IaaS, businesses rent out cloud computing infrastructure – such as computing power, data storage and networking – from a cloud service provider, but still oversee the management of their mission-critical applications, security systems, databases, and operating systems.
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
Using the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) cloud computing model, teams can manage, build, test and deploy their own applications on a cloud-based platform designed to benefit the user. Any underlying IT infrastructure – such as hardware and middleware – is managed by a cloud service provider. Without the need to maintain cloud computing infrastructure, internal IT teams can save time and focus on business needs relating to their data and applications, freeing them up to drive sustained business growth.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
With the SaaS cloud computing model, software platforms are hosted externally, in the cloud. Users can access software over the internet via a subscription model, without the need to purchase, install and update key software platforms. This also ensures their key tools are accessible to teams around the world. With SaaS, the user only needs to worry about managing their own data within an application, as the software is handled by the cloud service provider. This saves time and accelerates business efficiency.
Types of cloud computing deployment models
For all three of the above cloud computing models, there are several deployment strategies, each with advantages specific to the cloud environment, including:
Hosted private cloud
Hosted private cloud delivers the flexibility of cloud computing alongside the raw power of dedicated resources. This way, businesses enjoy the power and autonomy of a fully managed, dedicated cloud computing solution, without the need to manage or maintain hardware – a perfect foundation for IT teams looking to optimise their operations.
Public cloud
Public cloud provides on-demand cloud computing resources, offering everything you need to scale up from testing to deployment, plus an excellent price/performance ratio. A public cloud approach can be used to modernise organisations at all levels, from start-ups looking to launch their solutions as quickly as possible, to global companies that require on-demand cloud computing resources for specific projects and applications.
Hybrid cloud
Hybrid cloud delivers a ‘best of both worlds’ cloud service. It combines bare metal and cloud computing solutions, which are intelligently converged and integrated to maximise the advantages of both. For example, a cloud user might rely on a fleet of dedicated servers to power sites and applications, while utilising cloud computing to automate and streamline the storage of data.
Multi-cloud
With the multi-cloud approach, an organisation deploys multiple clouds from multiple different vendors (e.g. OVHcloud, AWS, Google, Microsoft, IBM or Oracle) within one infrastructure. These clouds will use one approach – usually public cloud or private cloud – and normally consist of PaaS or IaaS services. Multi-cloud deployments offer a range of benefits for organisations, such as reduced risk of downtime, low costs, and flexibility around licensing and adopting new technologies. It also enables organisations to choose the cloud services that best suit the needs of their business and customers.
What is the difference between traditional hosting and cloud computing?
Traditional hosting involves using physical servers to host websites and applications. In contrast, cloud computing leverages virtual servers provided by cloud providers to host and manage data and applications. This major difference affects the delivery of services and management of resources in several ways, particularly in the following:
Infrastructure
Traditional hosting requires significant upfront investment in hardware and infrastructure. On the flip side, cloud computing provides businesses with virtual infrastructure, reducing the need for physical servers and hardware. Cloud providers offer services that can scale based on demand, providing both flexibility and cost savings.
Scalability
With traditional hosting, scaling up requires purchasing additional hardware, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Cloud computing services, such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, allow organisations to scale resources up or down based on real-time demand. This scalability is a key advantage of using cloud models.
Cost
Traditional hosting often involves fixed costs (subscription-based) regardless of usage. Cloud computing follows a pay-as-you-go model, enabling customers to pay only for the resources they use. As a result, businesses can benefit from better cost management and flexibility.
Management and control
Traditional hosting requires in-house management of servers and applications, leading to higher management overhead. Cloud computing, however, offers managed services where the cloud provider handles the management of the infrastructure. This gives businesses the freedom to focus on their core activities.
Security and reliability
While traditional hosting can offer robust security measures, cloud computing provides enhanced security features, such as data encryption and regular security updates. Moreover, these services often include disaster recovery and backup options, ensuring higher reliability and uptime.
Access and flexibility
Traditional hosting limits access to physical servers, whereas cloud computing allows users to access data and applications from anywhere via the internet. This level of flexibility strengthens team collaboration and boosts productivity.
The role of AI in cloud computing
The integration of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how businesses and organisations leverage technology for innovation and efficiency. This is primarily focused on developing advanced tools and technologies to address the following needs:
Data processing and analytics
Cloud computing provides the necessary infrastructure to handle large volumes of data, making it ideal for AI applications. By using cloud services, companies can process and analyse data at scale, enabling them to gain valuable insights and make informed business decisions.
Scalability and flexibility
AI applications often require substantial computing power and storage, which cloud computing can provide on demand. This scalability allows businesses to run complex AI models without the need for extensive on-premises infrastructure.
Cost efficiency
Cloud computing follows a pay-as-you-go model, allowing organisations to manage costs effectively. AI projects can be resource-intensive, but cloud services enable businesses to scale resources as needed, ensuring cost efficiency and optimal resource utilisation.
Fast deployment and integration
Cloud computing enables quick deployment of AI applications, reducing the time to market for new innovations. By leveraging cloud-based AI services, businesses can easily integrate AI solutions into their existing workflows.
What is cloud security?
Cloud security is the practice of leveraging technologies and procedures to protect the data, IT services and applications hosted on a cloud computing network. With the cyber threat landscape evolving rapidly, all organisations utilising cloud services must ensure that they incorporate cloud security into their cloud strategy to protect both theirs and their customers’ data, as well as to ensure compliance with data regulations.
To ensure their cloud computing network, services and data are protected against external and internal threats, organisations can adopt a variety of cloud security solutions from their cloud provider. They can also implement measures and processes on premises. However, both the organisation and the cloud provider have a shared responsibility for cloud security, as the provider will need to ensure that its datacentres and infrastructure are secure, whilst the organisation is responsible for controlling who can access the data and applications it stores in the cloud.
Here are some common cloud security solutions:
IAM solutions and procedures give IT teams visibility over which users can access the cloud computing network, including access to data and applications, and which devices are connected to the cloud network. Using IAM tools, an organisation can implement policies and protocols to control who accesses the cloud computing network. Such tools also ensure organisations can remain compliant with data protection laws, including GDPR. Most IAM solutions involve creating an identity for each user, utilising technologies such as Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). These tools enable users to access cloud computing services safely, whilst IT teams and organisations can monitor access and restrict if necessary.
SIEM solutions gather and analyse security data from across the entire cloud computing infrastructure. This includes devices connected to the cloud network, servers, applications and more. SIEM tools collect data from all these places and analyse it to detect threats and unusual behaviour, enabling IT teams to investigate and respond to threats before they can wreak havoc on the cloud computing network. Most SIEM solutions use automated technologies, such as AI, to collate and analyse data from the cloud network, and offer a comprehensive view of the data and applications that have been accessed, so IT teams can build a clearer picture of how and when a malicious incident occurred.
This cloud security method involves using solutions to control access to the cloud computing network and devices connected to the network. With the rise in hybrid and remote working facilitated by cloud computing technologies, this method of cloud security is essential for many organisations, as employees work remotely on devices connected to the organisation’s cloud network. An example of a network and device security solution is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which creates a secure connection between the user’s device and the organisation’s cloud network, using encryption to conceal data and IP addresses from potential attackers.
Cloud Solutions at OVHcloud
OVHcloud offers a range of cloud solutions covering all three approaches – hybrid cloud, public cloud and hosted private cloud. This enables you to build your virtual infrastructure in whatever way is right for your organisation, budget, and long-term business goals. Please explore our cloud computing solutions below, and feel free to contact our sales team, who will be more than happy to discuss your requirements and offer advice on the right cloud services for you.