Cloud computing is an overarching term that refers to providing large scale IT services such as servers, storage, databases, networks, software, information and analytics over the internet (cloud). Cloud computing is providing a wide array of IT services over the internet on a pay-per-use basis. The “cloud” term in cloud computing comes from the cloud symbol that is frequently used in flowcharts and diagrams to represent the internet.

Cloud servers are located in data centers all around the world. Organizations can have access to any kind of information technology ranging from applications to storage through a cloud service provider instead of having their own infrastructure or data centers. This provides users flexible resources, economic efficiency and the ability to innovate quickly.

A Short History of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing usually brings to mind products and ideas that first appeared in the 21st century, when in fact the emergence of this technology goes back to much earlier to the 1950s.

Around 1955 computer scientist John McCarthy who coined the term “artificial intelligence” puts forth the theory of sharing the information processing time that resembles cloud computing of today. Back then information processing cost a lot and small companies that did not have their own computers wanted to take advantage of information processing services without having to make a big investment. For this reason if users were able to find a way to share the computer they could have rented the computer in an efficient way without individually having to make a big purchase.

1970s witnessed the emergence of the virtual machine concept. It became possible to run more than one operating system at the same time in an isolated environment using virtualization software. Virtual machines took the main computer, which people share access over, to the next level and allow for many information processing environments to take place in a single physical environment. Virtualization led to important propulsion in the development of information processing technologies.

In the 1990s telecommunication companies started providing virtual private networks (VPN). In the past telecommunication companies only provided data links from one location to only one another. Thanks to these virtual private network connections these companies were able to provide users to share access over the same physical infrastructure instead of creating a physical infrastructure for each new user. Virtual private networks, just like the virtual machines, had an important contribution in the emergence of the cloud computing term.

By 1996 cloud computing, even though there have been some dispute about the term, was already a vibrant and growing asset for companies, educational institutions and information technologies. Later on cloud computing models and services have been developed to provide the best solution for various requirements.

Nowadays cloud computing takes place in the background of any system that uses an online service; whether one is sending an e-mail, processing a document or streaming TV and music. Even though only a short amount of time has passed since the introduction of cloud computing services, this technology is used in various areas ranging from small companies to global conglomerates, government institutions to non-profit organizations, satisfying the needs of its users.

How Does Cloud Computing Work?

A cloud computing system consists of two parts, back-end platform and the front-end. These two parts connect to each other over a network. The front-end is the part that the computer user or the customer sees. The server applications in the back-end are the “cloud” part of the system. The front-end includes the application that the customer needs to connect their computer or computer network to the cloud information processing system. Not all cloud computing systems share the same user interface. Services such as web-based e-mail applications use the available Web browser. Other systems have unique applications that allow clients network access.

At the back-end of the system are various computers, servers and data storage systems that form the “cloud” of the information services. In theory a cloud computing system can practically house any computer application ranging from data processing to video games. Usually each application will have its own server.

A central server manages the system and monitors the network traffic and client requests to ensure everything runs smoothly. It follows a sequence of rules known as protocol and uses special software called middleware. Middleware allows computers connected to the network to communicate with each other. Most times servers do not operate at full capacity. It is possible to operate a single physical server, as many servers that actually independently runs their own operating systems. This is called virtualization. Virtualization of servers maximizes the output of independent servers to reduce the need for more physical machines.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

In practice there are infinite areas of application for cloud computing. A cloud computing system can run any application that a normal computer runs with the help of the necessary middleware.

There are many reasons for the increasing popularity of cloud computing:

• Cloud computing allows users to access their applications and data at any time and place. Data is not limited to a hard disk on the user’s computer or the internal network of a company.
• Cloud computing systems reduce the advanced hardware requirements on the client’s side which might lead to reduced hardware costs. Thanks to cloud computing you do not require the fastest computer or the largest memory. Even a computer with an inexpensive computer terminal and basic input devices such as a monitor, keyboard and a mouse can provide enough processing power to run the middleware necessary to access the cloud system.
• Any company that takes advantage of IT services has to make sure to have the right software in order to reach its goals. Cloud computing systems allow companies to have company-wide access to such applications. This way companies do not have to purchase a software or license for each employee and instead pay a reasonable fee to the cloud computing company to continue their operations.
• Servers and digital storage devices require large physical spaces. Some companies rent physical spaces to store servers and databases. Thanks to cloud computing data can be stored in the cloud to achieve space-saving.