Current Trends In Information Technology (CSIT)

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Cloud Computing: Everything is a Service

Module 004 Cloud Computing:

Everything is a Service

In the previous module, you were introduced to Utility Computing, one of

the concepts that shape Cloud Computing. In this module, you will learn
how Utility Computing is put to practical use in Cloud computing in the
form of the Everything-as-a-Service model. Later in this module, you will
also learn about the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

Objective 1: Recognize important terms such as Everything as a Service, Product, Service,
etc.
Objective 2: Discuss the main categories of XaaS
Objective 3: Recall the examples of each category of XaaS
Objective 4: Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Everything as a Service

In the previous module, service is any task that a server does for a client. This
definition also applies to Cloud Computing. Everything-as-a-Service is the
umbrella term for all Cloud-based computing resources made available to users
on an on-demand basis. Everything-as-a-Service is commonly abbreviated as
XaaS, in reference to Algebra, where X is used as a placeholder.

These resources are provided as services instead of products. Here’s the

difference. A product is something that you purchase once, like a television.
After the purchase, the manufacturer may provide you with some warranty or
product support, but you ultimately have full ownership. You can use it, not use
it, sell it, or break it because you own it. A service, on the other hand, is like a
movie theater. You don't purchase everything; you pay to use it for a certain
amount of time. You don't even have to pay for the entire facility. You just pay
for the one seat that you use.
XaaS has three main categories: Software as a service (SaaS), platform as a
service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). You may encounter other
terms like storage as a Service (STaas), Security as a service (SECaaS), or

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 Network as a Service (Naas), but a closer look will reveal that they are just sub-
categories that fall under the three main categories.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service is a model where applications are made available by vendors

to users over the Internet. The users do not have to develop the software
themselves. They don't even have to install the entire software on their
computers. In many cases, they can just access the apps using a web browser like
Google Chrome or Firefox. The following are examples of SaaS:

1. Microsoft Office 365

File:Office 365 2013.svg. (2017, May 22). Retrieved July 29, 2017, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Office_365_2013.svg

Microsoft Office 365 is the cloud-based version of Microsoft Office. It is available

for both home and business use. Along with the familiar Microsoft productivity
software such as Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, subscribers also gain access to
Cloud storage. Home package includes one terabyte and Skype.

2. Google Apps
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Cloud Computing: Everything is a Service

Screenshot. Retrieved July 29, 2017, from https://mail.google.com

You may know Google for its Search Engine. What you may not know is that
Google also offers several cloud-based apps. Anyone with a Google account (the

one that you need to access Gmail and log in to Youtube) can access Google Apps
for free. Here are some of the most useful Google Apps:

• Google Docs – word processor (like Microsoft Word)

• Google Sheets – spreadsheet (like Excel)
• Google Slides – presentation (like Powerpoint)
• Google Hangouts – chat, video call, voice call, etc.

G Suite is the name given to Google Apps for paid business use. G Suite has all the
same apps available to free users plus exclusive features such as custom email
addresses (@[companyname].com instead of @gmail.com), bigger cloud
storage, and better customization.

3. Zendesk

Zendesk Logo. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zendesk_logo_RGB.png

Zendesk is a customer service software company. They provide a family of

software applications that are designed to help businesses perform customer
service tasks. This includes a ticketing system for documenting customer
interactions such as emails and phone calls. Zendesk also provides a live chat
application attached to a company's website so customers can have real- time
conversations with company representatives.

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4. Dropbox

Dropbox Logo. (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dropbox_logo_2015.svg

Dropbox is a cloud-based file hosting service. Its main feature is cloud storage. It
lets you upload any file type. Dropbox can show previews of certain file types
such as .docx, .pdf, .xls, .jpg, .png, etc. Another key feature is synchronization. You
can access your dropbox account from multiple devices such as computers,
phones, and tablets. This means that you will always have access to your files'
latest versions wherever you log in. Dropbox also allows you to publicly and
privately share your files with others. The basic Dropbox account is free but only
has 2 gigabytes of storage. Paid accounts currently range from 1 terabyte to
unlimited space.

5. Slack

Slack provides collaboration tools and services for businesses. Slack's main
feature is team collaboration. It allows users to create groups called channels
where members can send chat messages, share files, and have a voice and video
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Cloud Computing: Everything is a Service

calls. Slack also automatically creates an archive of all interactions which can be
easily searched by the user.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

To create a software application, you need to have a platform. In computing, a

platform is an environment where a program can run. The components of a
platform include but are not limited to infrastructure, operating systems, and
database. Once you have all the required components, then you can build and
test your application. Once you're done, your platform can also host your
application, keeping it running so that it will be available to users.

Platform as a Service packages these components and offers them to users on an

on-demand basis. It provides users with a single environment where they can
create, test, manage, and host their applications. PaaS providers manage the
platform. Users only have to worry about managing their applications.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

In Information Technology, infrastructure refers to the collection of hardware

resources that are needed to run an organization or a system. It includes
physical assets such as servers, storage, networking, and even the facilities that
house them.
Infrastructure as a Service gives users access to virtual versions of these
resources. This is made possible through virtualization, which was discussed in
the last module. IaaS enables users to create cloud-based virtual structures that
mimic real-world infrastructure.

SaaS Vs. PaaS Vs. IaaS

It may be hard to differentiate SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. The "as a Service" part is
easy to understand. Just consider Utility Computing. Now, to better understand
the differences between infrastructure, platform, and software, let's use a house
analogy:

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 Infrastructure is like buying materials to build a house. You need to buy wood,
cement, etc. from different vendors. After you purchase the materials, you still
have to build the actual house.

Platform is like buying a house. You don't have to build it yourself. Someone
already built that for you. You may have a complete house, but it's still an empty
house. You still have to decorate, arrange furniture, etc. Eventually, if something
breaks, you have to repair it.

Software is like checking in to a hotel. You don’t have to worry about design,
construction, and maintenance. You get to enjoy all the features minus all the
effort.

In reality, the XaaS categories are normally interconnected, and in many cases,
they even overlap. Here are popular examples of vendors that provide all three
XaaS categories.

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

File:AmazonWebservices Logo.svg (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:AmazonWebservices_Logo.svg

Amazon Web Services is a company that is a subsidiary of Amazon.com that

offers many cloud-based services. AWS is mainly an IaaS provider, but many of
its services fall under the PaaS category. They also offer tools that fall under
SaaS.

2. Microsoft Azure

File:Microsoft Azure Logo.svg (n.d.). Retrieved July 20, 2017, from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Microsoft_Azure_Logo.svg
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Cloud Computing: Everything is a Service

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service provider owned and operated by

Microsoft. Microsoft Azure currently offers more than one hundred services that
fall into different XaaS categories.

3. Google App Engine

Google App Engine is a cloud-based platform for developing web applications.

While Google App Engine is marketed mainly as PaaS, it also has some IaaS
features.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

Now that you have a good understanding of how cloud computing works and how
it is used, let's look at its effects. The following are the major advantages of cloud
computing:

Cost Savings
Subscribing to cloud services is usually cheaper than purchasing resources and
employing people to build and maintain these resources.

Scalability
Cloud-based infrastructures are easier to upgrade and downgrade. Traditionally, if
a company wants to reduce its operation, it will be stuck with hardware that it
doesn't need anymore. With cloud infrastructure, the company has to
downgrade its subscription.

Reliability
Cloud services can be more reliable than in-house resources. Major vendors have
facilities in different countries, so even if one location goes down, several
backups are ready to go.

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Manageability
Cloud resources are usually well-organized because they are offered as service
packages. Some complex services, such as platform and infrastructure, can be
accessed using Internet browsers.

Strategic Edge
All these benefits of cloud computing can give a business a competitive advantage.

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Of course, with the benefits come the challenges. Here are some disadvantages of
cloud computing:

Internet dependence
Cloud computing relies completely on the Internet. When your Internet
connection gets interrupted, you will lose control of your resources. On the other
hand, in-house resources can still maintain some measure of control through
local networks.

Security
Cloud computing requires organizations to give vendors access to their data. This
is a major concern for businesses that deal with highly sensitive information.

Vendor Lock-In
It can be hard to switch vendors, especially for users who develop their
commercial cloud platforms' applications. If a developer has to move to a
different vendor, then they might need to make extensive alterations in their
code.

Limited Control
Even if cloud services are highly scalable, there are still limits to the level of
control granted to users. On the other hand, having your own resources gives
you full control.

Technical Issues
Even if reliability is one of the major benefits of cloud computing, technical issues
still can't be avoided. Furthermore, having a third-party provider means that you
have to rely on them to solve their side issues.
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Cloud Computing: Everything is a Service

Glossary of Terms

PRODUCT – is something that you purchase once

INFRASTRUCTURE – refers to the collection of hardware resources that are
needed to run an organization or a system
SERVICE – is any task that a server does for a client
EVERYTHING-AS-A-SERVICE – is the umbrella term for all Cloud-based
computing resources that are made available to users in an on-demand basis
SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE – is a model where applications are made
available by vendors to users over the Internet

References and Supplementary Materials

Ibm.com. (2016, October 17). IBM Cloud. Retrieved September 16, 2017,
from https://www.ibm.com/cloud-computing/learn-more/what-is-cloud-
computing/
Products.office.com. (n.d.). Office products. Retrieved September 16, 2017,
from https://products.office.com/en/products?tab=O-Home
Getnerdio.com. (n.d.). 10 Popular Software as a Service (SaaS) Examples -
MSP Blog. Retrieved September 16, 2017, from
http://getnerdio.com/blogs/10-popular-software-service-examples/
Google.com. (n.d.). Google Hangouts. Retrieved September 16, 2017, from
https://hangouts.google.com/
Google.com. (n.d.). Get Gmail, Docs, Drive, and Calendar for business.
Retrieved September 16, 2017, from https://gsuite.google.com/
Zendesk.com. (n.d.). Zendesk Demo | Watch a Quick Help Desk Software
Demo. Retrieved September 16, 2017, from
https://www.zendesk.com/demo/

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Dropbox.com. (n.d.). File types that preview on dropbox.com. Retrieved
September 16, 2017, from https://www.dropbox.com/help/files-
folders/file-types-that-preview
Slack.com. (n.d.). Features. Retrieved September 16, 2017, from
https://slack.com/is
Amazon.com. (n.d.). What is AWS? - Amazon Web Services. Retrieved
September 16, 2017, from https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-aws/
Microsoft.com. (n.d.). Intro to Microsoft Azure. Retrieved September 16,
2017, from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/fundamentals-
introduction-to-azure
Google.com. (n.d.). Choosing an App Engine Environment | App Engine
Documentation | Google Cloud Platform. Retrieved September 16, 2017,
from https://cloud.google.com/appengine/docs/the-appengine-
environments