CLOUD COMPUTING

Assessment IV

Arindam Mondal
1) What are the advantages of using cloud computing?

Cost Savings
Cost saving is the biggest benefit of cloud computing. It helps you to save
substantial capital cost as it does not need any physical hardware investments.
Also, you do not need trained personnel to maintain the hardware. The buying
and managing of equipment is done by the cloud service provider.

Strategic edge
Cloud computing offers a competitive edge over your competitors. It helps you to
access the latest and applications any time without spending your time and
money on installations.

High Speed
Cloud computing allows you to deploy your service quickly in fewer clicks. This
faster deployment allows you to get the resources required for your system
within fewer minutes.

Back-up and restore data

Once the data is stored in a Cloud, it is easier to get the back-up and recovery of
that, which is otherwise very time taking process on-premise.

Automatic Software Integration

In the cloud, software integration is something that occurs automatically.
Therefore, you don't need to take additional efforts to customize and integrate
your applications as per your preferences.

Reliability
Reliability is one of the biggest pluses of cloud computing. You can always get
instantly updated about the changes.

Mobility
Employees who are working on the premises or at the remote locations can easily
access all the could services. All they need is an Internet connectivity.

Unlimited storage capacity

The cloud offers almost limitless storage capacity. At any time you can quickly
expand your storage capacity with very nominal monthly fees.

Collaboration
The cloud computing platform helps employees who are located in different
geographies to collaborate in a highly convenient and secure manner.

Quick Deployment
Last but not least, cloud computing gives you the advantage of rapid deployment.
So, when you decide to use the cloud, your entire system can be fully functional in
very few minutes. Although, the amount of time taken depends on what kind of
technologies are used in your business.

Other Important Benefits

Apart from the above, some other advantages of cloud computing are:

 On-Demand Self-service
 Multi-tenancy
 Offers Resilient Computing
 Fast and effective virtualization
 Provide you low-cost software
 Offers advanced online security
 Location and Device Independence
 Always available, and scales automatically to adjust to the increase in
demand
 Allows pay-per-use
 Web-based control & interfaces
 API Access available.

2) Explain different models for deployment in cloud computing?

There are certain services and models working behind the scene making the
cloud computing feasible and
accessible to end users. Following are the working models for cloud computing:
 Deployment Models
 Service Models

DEPLOYMENT MODELS
 Deployment models define the type of access to the cloud, i.e., how the cloud is
located? Cloud can have any of
the four types of access: Public, Private, Hybrid and Community.

PUBLIC CLOUD
The Public Cloud allows systems and services to be easily accessible to the
general public. Public cloud may be
less secure because of its openness, e.g., e-mail.

PRIVATE CLOUD
The Private Cloud allows systems and services to be accessible within an
organization. It offers increased
security because of its private nature.

COMMUNITY CLOUD
The Community Cloud allows systems and services to be accessible by group
of organizations.

HYBRID CLOUD
The Hybrid Cloud is mixture of public and private cloud. However, the critical
activities are performed using
private cloud while the non-critical activities are performed using public cloud.

SERVICE MODELS
Service Models are the reference models on which the Cloud Computing is
based. These can be categorized into
three basic service models as listed below:
1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)
3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

INFRASTRUCTURE AS A SERVICE (IAAS)

IaaS provides access to fundamental resources such as physical machines,
virtual machines, virtual storage, etc.

PLATFORM AS A SERVICE (PAAS)

PaaS provides the runtime environment for applications, development &
deployment tools, etc.

SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE (SAAS)

SaaS model allows to use software applications as a service to end users.

3) How user can gain from utility computing?

Utility computing allow the user to pay per use means whatever they are
using only for that they have to pay. It is a plug in that needs to be
managed by the organizations on deciding what type of services has to be
deployed from the cloud. Utility computing allows the user to think and
implement the services according to them. Most organizations go for hybrid
strategy that combines internal delivered services that are hosted or
outsourced services.

4) What is the requirement of virtualization platform in implementing cloud?

Cloud computing runs on the virtualization technology. It offers numerous platforms like the
VMWare to create a private cloud and create a channel top connect external cloud with private
cloud. The cloud computing services are delivered over the internet via the three models of
Platform as a Service(PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service(IaaS) and Software as a Service(SaaS).

Virtualization involves partitioning of a physical system into several smaller systems that support a
horde of operating systems and applications.

5) Before going for cloud computing platform what are the essential things to
be taken in concern by users?

the issues one must have to think about:

 Data Security and Privacy Requirement

 Budget Requirements

 Type of cloud - public, private or hybrid

 Data backup requirements

 Training requirements

 Dashboard and reporting requirements

 Client access requirements

 Data export requirements

To meet all of these requirements, it is necessary to have well-compiled planning. Here in this
tutorial, we will

discuss the various planning phases that must be practised by an enterprise before migrating the
entire business

to cloud.

Strategy Planning Phase

In this, we analyze the strategy problems that customer might face. There are two steps to perform
this analysis:

 Cloud Computing Value Proposition

 Cloud Computing Strategy Planning

CLOUD COMPUTING VALUE PROPOSITION

In this, we analyze the factors influencing the customers when applying cloud computing mode and
target the key

problems they wish to solve. These key factors are:

 IT management simplification

 operation and maintenance cost reduction

 business mode innovation

 low cost outsourcing hosting

 high service quality outsourcing hosting.

All of the above analysis helps in decision making for future development.

CLOUD COMPUTING STRATEGY PLANNING

The strategy establishment is based on the analysis result of the above step. In this step, a strategy
document is

prepared according to the conditions a customer might face when applying cloud computing mode.

Cloud Computing Tactics Planning Phase

This step performs analysis of problems and risks in the cloud application to ensure the customers
that the cloud

computing successfully meet their business goals. This phase involves the following planning steps:

 Business Architecture Development

 IT Architecture development

 Requirements on Quality of Service Development

 Transformation Plan development

BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT

In this step, we recognize the risks that might be caused by cloud computing application from a
business

perspective.

IT ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT

In this step, we identify the applications that support the business processes and the technologies
required to

support enterprise applications and data systems.

REQUIREMENTS ON QUALITY OF SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

Quality of Service refers to the non-functional requirements such as reliability, security, disaster
recovery, etc. The

success of applying cloud computing mode depends on these non-functional factors.

TRANSFORMATION PLAN DEVELOPMENT

In this step, we formulate all kinds of plans that are required to transform current business to cloud
computing

modes.

Cloud Computing Deployment Phase

This phase focuses on both of the above two phases. It involves the following two steps:

 Cloud Computing Provider

 Maintenance and Technical Service

CLOUD COMPUTING PROVIDER

This step includes selecting a cloud provider on basis of Service Level Agreement (SLA), which
defines the level of

service the provider will meet.

MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICAL SERVICE

Maintenance and Technical services are provided by the cloud provider. They must have to ensure
the quality of services.

6) What are the security laws which are implemented to secure data in a cloud
?

Some of the commonly seen cloud computing security risks are:

· Loss of sensitive data
· Violation of existing regulatory controls
· Malware infections
· Hacked interfaces
· Permanent data loss
· Abuse of cloud service
· Insider threat
· Hijacking of accounts

However, the possible threats to our data do not mean they cannot
be made secure. Cloud security can be made effective if proper
defensive measures are implemented.
Here are a few practical tips, which will make your cloud experience
risk-free.

1. Backup Data Locally
One of the most important things to consider while managing data
is to ensure that you have backups for your data. It is always good
to have electronic copies of your data so you can continue
accessing them even if the original gets lost or corrupted.

2. Avoid Storing Sensitive Information

Let’s be honest. There is no such thing as actual privacy on the
internet, and the rise in the number of identity thefts is standing
proof of it. So it is always advisable to avoid storing information
such as passwords, credit/debit card details etc. on the cloud.

3. Use Cloud Services that Encrypt Data

To enjoy better privacy, always look for cloud storage services that
offer local encryption for your data. This provides double security as
the files will have to be decrypted to gain access. This method
protects your data even from service providers and administrators.
Taking a few preventive measures like this around data encryption
can make your most sensitive information tightly secure.
4. Encrypt Your Data
Before you upload your files onto the cloud, it is always beneficial to
encrypt your data, even if the cloud storage automatically encrypts
them. There are many third-party encryption tools that will apply
passwords and encryption to files once you are done editing them
so that they are encrypted before uploading.
5. Install Anti-virus Software
All the above security measures could be taken to secure your data,
but sometimes the problem is not cloud security but the system you
have logged in from. Hackers can easily access your account if
there is no proper protection in place for your system. In such cases
you are exposing yourself to viruses that provide penetration points.
6. Make Passwords Stronger
This might be something you have heard over and over again. But
still, it is very important to provide stronger passwords to prevent
your files from being hacked. There are sites offering tips on how to
form strong passwords.
7) Mention the name of some large cloud providers and databases? Explain
them.

Top Cloud Database

1. Amazon Web Services

Amazon offers a wide array of cloud database services, which includes NoSQL as
well as relational databases. Amazon RDS – Relational Database Service runs on
either Oracle, SQL or MySQL server instances whereas Amazon SimpleDB is
primarily a schema-less database that is meant to handle smaller
workloads. Amazon DynamoDB falls on the NoSQL databases, which is
a Solid State Drive – SSD - that is capable of automatically replicating workloads
across three different availability zones. According to AWS CTO Werner Vogels,
DynamoDB is the fastest growing database service in the history of AWS.
Furthermore, Amazon offers supplementary data-management services such as
Redshift – a data warehouse and Data Pipeline – a data integrating service for
easier data management.

2. SAP

SAP, the giant in offering enterprise software, now offers a cloud database platform
called HANA for complementing the on-premise database-related tools of an
organization. One of the major database tools complemented by SAP HANA
includes Sybase, and this tool is available in the AWS cloud.

3. EnterpriseDB

Although EnterpriseDB was designed to focus on open-source PostgreSQL

databases, its true claim-to-fame was its capability to work on Oracle database
applications. The Postgres Plus, Advanced Server of EnterpriseDB, enables
businesses to use applications that are designed for Oracle on-premise databases,
which run in cloud from HP and AWS. It comprises of scheduled backups as well as
binary replications.
4. Garantia Data

Garantia Data has been offering gateway service for customers who prefer running
Memcached (in-memory NoSQL) databases as well as open-source Redis in the
public cloud of AWS. The software of Garantia enables easy configuration of open-
source data platforms with the help of clusters.

5. Cloud SQL by Google

This database service comprises of two main products - Cloud SQL that describes a
relational database and BigQuery analysis tool, which can run queries on vast sets
of data stored in the cloud.

6. Azure by Microsoft

Azure cloud-computing platform offered by Microsoft offers a relational database that

enables users to access SQL databases either on Microsoft cloud or on hosted
servers on virtual machines.

7. Rackspace

Databases offered by Rackspace come in managed or hosted cloud databases.

Rackspace provides high performance and incorporates a SAN storage network
based on the OpenStack platform.

8) Explain what are the different modes of software as a service (SaaS)?

SaaS applications run on multi-tenancy concept usually on a subscription basis. Multi-tenancy is the capacity to
offer applications to users on a shared infrastructure. Instead of hosting on individual user machines and
escalating the prices, multi-tenancy approach makes it more cost efficient for the users. There are two main
methods that SaaS (software as a service) is offered:

- Simple Multi-Tenancy: Users are given resources as per their needs and are not shared with any other user. It
is cost-efficient, in the sense, it involves sharing of maintenance overheads, labor costs and data center
costs including energy, network etc. It does not require any code changes and gives individual users more
isolation and privacy. But it requires the users to be very competitive in their prices and this could mean lower
margins. It does not scale efficiently.
- Fine-Grain Multi-Tenancy: This too has similar features with resources being shared among multiple users.
They are hosted in a private environment and users can scale their requirements far more efficiently. It is a little
complicated as it requires changes in the data model and applications must be rewritten to suit each one's needs.

9) What is the use of API’s in cloud services?

Continued adoption of cloud computing and growth of cloud hosting services has encouraged system
administrators to look for additional ways to integrate with cloud models. Cloud computing is
witnessing some direct use scenarios, that require higher levels of customization.

The environment of Cloud Application Programming Interface (API) owes its existence to the ability of
enhancing cloud experience and a greater level of compatibility across different clouds.

A cloud API is a type of Application Programming Interface that facilitates development of services as
well as applications for provisioning cloud platforms, hardware, and software. It acts as a service
gateway to enable indirect and direct cloud software and infrastructure services to cloud users.

Cross platform and cloud provider APIs help cloud users gain ability to access cloud resources not
only from their principal cloud provider but from others as well. Since organizations are able to access
workloads and cloud resources from other cloud platforms and providers, these APIs enable saving of
development efforts and time.

10) In cloud computing what are the different layers?

 Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS): IAAS providers give low-level

abstractions of physical devices. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an
example of IAAS. AWS provides EC2 for computing, S3 buckets for storage
etc. Mainly the resources in this layer are hardware like memory, processor
speed, network bandwidth etc.
 Platform as a Service (PAAS): PAAS providers offer managed
services like Rails, Django etc. One good example of PAAS is Google App
Engineer. These are the environments in which developers can develop
sophisticated software with ease.Developers just focus on developing
software, whereas scaling and performance is handled by PAAS provider.
 Software as a Service (SAAS): SAAS provider offer an actual
working software application to clients. Salesforce and Github are two
good examples of SAAS. They hide the underlying details of the software
and just provide an interface to work on the system. Behind the scenes the
version of Software can be easily changed.