Cloud Computing Architecture

As we know, cloud computing technology is used by both small and large organizations to store the
information in cloud and access it from anywhere at anytime using the internet connection.

Cloud computing architecture is a combination of service-oriented architecture and event-driven

architecture.

Cloud computing architecture is divided into the following two parts -

○ Front End
○ Back End

Diagram

Front End

The front end is used by the client. It contains client-side interfaces and applications that are required to access
the cloud computing platforms. The front end includes web servers (including Chrome, Firefox, internet
explorer, etc.), thin & fat clients, tablets, and mobile devices.

Back End

The back end is used by the service provider. It manages all the resources that are required to provide cloud
computing services. It includes a huge amount of data storage, security mechanism, virtual machines, deploying
models, servers, traffic control mechanisms, etc.

Components of Cloud Computing Architecture

There are the following components of cloud computing architecture -

1. Client Infrastructure

Client Infrastructure is a Front end component. It provides GUI (Graphical User Interface) to interact with the
cloud.

2. Application

The application may be any software or platform that a client wants to access.

3. Service

A Cloud Services manages that which type of service you access according to the client’s requirement.

Cloud computing offers the following three type of services:

i. Software as a Service (SaaS) – It is also known as cloud application services. Mostly, SaaS applications run
directly through the web browser means we do not require to download and install these applications. Some
important example of SaaS is given below –

Example: Google Apps, Salesforce Dropbox, Slack, Hubspot, Cisco WebEx.

ii. Platform as a Service (PaaS) – It is also known as cloud platform services. It is quite similar to SaaS, but
the difference is that PaaS provides a platform for software creation, but using SaaS, we can access software
over the internet without the need of any platform.Example: Windows Azure, Force.com, Magento Commerce
Cloud, OpenShift.

iii. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – It is also known as cloud infrastructure services. It is responsible for
managing applications data, middleware, and runtime environments.

Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2, Google Compute Engine (GCE), Cisco Metapod.

4. Runtime Cloud

Runtime Cloud provides the execution and runtime environment to the virtual machines.

5. Storage

Storage is one of the most important components of cloud computing. It provides a huge amount of storage
capacity in the cloud to store and manage data.

6. Infrastructure

It provides services on the host level, application level, and network level. Cloud infrastructure includes
hardware and software components such as servers, storage, network devices, virtualization software, and other
storage resources that are needed to support the cloud computing model.

7. Management

Management is used to manage components such as application, service, runtime cloud, storage, infrastructure,
and other security issues in the backend and establish coordination between them.

8. Security

Security is an in-built back end component of cloud computing. It implements a security mechanism in the back
end.

9. Internet

The Internet is medium through which front end and back end can interact and communicate with each other
VIRTUALIZATION AND ITS TYPES:

Virtualization is the "creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as a server, a desktop,
a storage device, an operating system or network resources".

In other words, Virtualization is a technique, which allows to share a single physical instance of a resource or an
application among multiple customers and organizations. It does by assigning a logical name to a physical
storage and providing a pointer to that physical resource when demanded.

concept behind the Virtualization?

Creation of a virtual machine over existing operating system and hardware is known as Hardware Virtualization.
A Virtual machine provides an environment that is logically separated from the underlying hardware.The
machine on which the virtual machine is going to create is known as Host Machine and that virtual machine is
referred as a Guest Machine

Types of Virtualization:

1. Hardware Virtualization.
2. Operating system Virtualization.
3. Server Virtualization.
4. Storage Virtualization.

1) Hardware Virtualization:

When the virtual machine software or virtual machine manager (VMM) is directly installed on the hardware
system is known as hardware virtualization.

The main job of hypervisor is to control and monitoring the processor, memory and other hardware resources.

After virtualization of hardware system we can install different operating system on it and run different
applications on those OS.

Usage:

Hardware virtualization is mainly done for the server platforms, because controlling virtual machines is much
easier than controlling a physical server.

2) Operating System Virtualization:

When the virtual machine software or virtual machine manager (VMM) is installed on the Host operating system
instead of directly on the hardware system is known as operating system virtualization.

Usage:

Operating System Virtualization is mainly used for testing the applications on different platforms of OS.
3) Server Virtualization:

When the virtual machine software or virtual machine manager (VMM) is directly installed on the Server system
is known as server virtualization.

Usage:

Server virtualization is done because a single physical server can be divided into multiple servers on the demand
basis and for balancing the load.

4) Storage Virtualization:

Storage virtualization is the process of grouping the physical storage from multiple network storage devices so
that it looks like a single storage device.

Storage virtualization is also implemented by using software applications.

Usage:

Storage virtualization is mainly done for back-up and recovery purposes.

Characteristics of virtualization

1. Resource sharing: Virtualization allows multiple users or applications to share

a single physical resource, such as a server or storage device. This can lead to
better utilization of resources and reduced costs.
2. Isolation: Each virtual machine or container is isolated from other virtual
machines or containers on the same physical resource. This provides security
and stability, as well as the ability to test and run different applications
simultaneously.
3. Abstraction: Virtualization abstracts the physical hardware and creates a
virtualized version of it. This means that applications can run on different
operating systems and hardware platforms without requiring changes to the
underlying hardware.
4. Scalability: Virtualization makes it easy to add or remove virtual resources as
needed, providing flexibility and scalability for organizations of all sizes.
5. Fault tolerance: Virtualization can provide fault tolerance by allowing virtual
machines to be migrated to other physical resources in the event of a
hardware failure or outage.
6. Mobility: Virtualization makes it easy to move virtual machines or containers
from one physical resource to another, providing flexibility and mobility for
organizations with changing needs.
 7. Performance: Virtualization can improve performance by allowing multiple
virtual machines to run on a single physical resource, improving resource
utilization and reducing overhead.

NIST cloud reference Architecture

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a reference

architecture for cloud computing that includes five essential characteristics, three
service models, and four deployment models. The NIST Cloud Computing
Reference Architecture is as follows:

Essential Characteristics:

1. On-demand self-service
2. Broad network access
3. Rapid elasticity
4. Measured serviceService Models

Service Models

1. Software as a Service (SaaS): Customers use cloud-based applications that

are provided and managed by the service provider.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): Customers use cloud-based development
platforms to build, test, and deploy their own applications.
3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Customers use cloud-based computing
resources, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking, to run their
own applications.

Deployment Models:

1. Private Cloud: Cloud resources are dedicated to a single organization and

may be located on-premises or off-premises.
2. Public Cloud: Cloud resources are shared by multiple organizations and are
available to the general public over the internet.
3. Hybrid Cloud: Cloud resources are a combination of private and public cloud
services that are integrated and work together.
 4. Community Cloud: Cloud resources are shared by a specific community of
organizations that have similar requirements, such as a government agency
or a research consortium.

The NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture provides a comprehensive

framework for designing and implementing cloud computing solutions that meet
the needs of organizations of all sizes and types.
There are five major roles detailed within NIST

■ Cloud Consumer
■ Cloud Provider
■ Cloud Auditor
■ Cloud Broker
■ Cloud Carrier

A cloud consumer is an individual or organization that uses cloud computing

services provided by a cloud service provider. The cloud consumer typically
accesses these services over the internet or a private network.

Cloud consumers can range from small businesses to large enterprises and can use
a variety of cloud computing services, including infrastructure as a service (IaaS),
platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS).

A cloud provider is an organization that provides cloud computing services to other

organizations or individuals. Cloud providers typically offer a variety of cloud
services, such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS),
and software as a service (SaaS), that customers can access over the internet or a
private network.

Cloud providers manage the underlying hardware and software infrastructure

required to deliver cloud services to their customers. They typically have data
centers located in multiple geographic locations to ensure redundancy and high
availability of their services.

A cloud auditor is an individual or organization that performs independent

assessments of cloud service providers' systems, applications, and infrastructure
to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best
practices.

The role of a cloud auditor is to provide an objective evaluation of a cloud service

provider's security and compliance posture. They typically review the cloud service
provider's policies, procedures, and controls to identify any vulnerabilities or risks
that could impact the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of customer data or
applications.

A cloud broker is an intermediary that connects cloud service providers with cloud
consumers to facilitate the selection, purchase, and management of cloud
services.The role of a cloud broker is to help cloud consumers navigate the
complex landscape of cloud computing and make informed decisions about which
cloud services and providers best meet their need.

The term "cloud carrier" is not commonly used in the context of cloud computing.
However, it may refer to a telecommunications company or Internet Service
Provider (ISP) that provides the underlying network infrastructure and connectivity
required to deliver cloud services.

Cloud providers typically rely on cloud carriers to provide the high-speed, reliable
network connectivity required to deliver cloud services to their customers. Cloud
carriers may also offer services such as virtual private networks (VPNs) and direct
interconnects that allow customers to securely connect to their cloud services over
a dedicated network connection.

CLOUD MANAGEMENT
Cloud lifecycle management is the process of managing the lifecycle of cloud services, from their design
and development to their retirement. The benefits of cloud lifecycle management include:

1. Improved Service Quality: Cloud lifecycle management helps ensure that cloud services meet the
quality and performance requirements of users. This includes defining service levels, monitoring service
performance, and identifying and addressing issues proactively.

2. Increased Efficiency: Cloud lifecycle management streamlines the process of designing, deploying, and
managing cloud services. This reduces the time and effort required to manage cloud services, allowing IT
teams to focus on other critical tasks.

3. Cost Optimization: Cloud lifecycle management helps optimize cloud service costs by identifying
opportunities to reduce costs throughout the service lifecycle. This includes selecting the right cloud
services, optimizing service usage, and retiring services that are no longer needed.

4. Better Governance and Compliance: Cloud lifecycle management ensures that cloud services comply
with internal policies, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. This includes ensuring that
services are secure, meeting compliance requirements, and adhering to data privacy regulations.
5. Improved Risk Management: Cloud lifecycle management helps identify and mitigate risks associated
with cloud services. This includes managing risks related to service availability, data security, and
compliance.

6. Flexibility and Agility: Cloud lifecycle management enables IT teams to quickly and easily modify or
update cloud services to meet changing business requirements. This allows organizations to adapt to
changing business needs and respond to market changes more quickly.

Overall, cloud lifecycle management provides organizations with a structured and consistent approach to
managing their cloud services. This helps organizations maximize the benefits of cloud computing while
minimizing risk and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.