Managed vs. Unmanaged cloud services.
Managed Cloud services.
A managed cloud service is like having your personal tech wizard. Your cloud
provider handles a significant chunk of daily maintenance, management, and
technical tasks, such as system updates, server security, and data backups. This
means you can focus on running your business while your cloud provider takes care
of the technical nitty-gritty. This kind of service is a boon for businesses that may not
have the technical expertise in-house or would rather allocate their time and
resources to other areas.
Key features and benefits of managed cloud services.
Access to expert support for resolving technical issues
Enhanced security with the provider handling security updates
Backup and recovery services are provided by the cloud provider to prevent data loss
Cloud provider ensures your infrastructure is up-to-date with system updates
Scalability of resources based on business needs
Potential use cases for managed cloud services.
Ideal for small businesses or startups without in-house IT resources
Beneficial for large enterprises wanting their IT staff to focus on core business
activities rather than maintenance and management
Companies operating in sectors with strict data regulations can leverage managed
cloud services to help with regulatory compliance
Disadvantages of managed cloud services.
Managed services often cost more compared to unmanaged services due to the
added value of expertise and support
Using managed services may result in less control over your IT infrastructure as the
cloud provider manages significant parts of it
In conclusion, managed cloud services can be advantageous for businesses looking
to enjoy the benefits of the cloud without having to handle the infrastructure
themselves. However, it may cost more, and businesses might have less control
over their IT infrastructure.
Unmanaged cloud services.
On the flip side, an unmanaged cloud service is more of a do-it-yourself (DIY) model.
The service provider supplies the raw resources – think of it like a plot of virtual land.
Everything else that goes on that land – installing your applications, securing your
data, managing your storage, conducting system updates – is up to you. Although
this type of service can be more cost-effective and offer greater flexibility, it does
require a significant amount of technical expertise to manage and operate. It’s often
the preferred choice for businesses that have a robust technical team and specific
custom needs.
Key features and benefits of unmanaged cloud services.
Full control over the IT environment, allowing customization to fit specific needs
Potential cost savings as you’re only paying for the raw resources
Flexibility to implement your preferred tools and applications
Potential for enhanced security control if you have the expertise in-house
Potential use cases for unmanaged cloud services.
Suitable for businesses with a strong IT team capable of managing and securing the
cloud environment
Ideal for organizations with unique, complex needs that require a customized setup
Beneficial for companies willing to invest time and resources to gain total control over
their cloud environment
Disadvantages of unmanaged cloud services.
Requires a significant amount of technical expertise to properly setup, manage, and
secure
Can be time-consuming, as all responsibilities fall on the user
Risk of mismanagement or security breaches if not managed correctly
In conclusion, unmanaged cloud services can be beneficial for businesses that have
a strong IT team and specific needs. However, it requires a significant investment of
time and resources and carries the risk of mismanagement or security issues if not
managed properly.
Comparing Managed and Unmanaged Cloud services.
Aspect Managed Cloud
Service Level High; provider handles most tasks.
Cost Higher; added services included.
Scalability Easier; handled by provider.
Flexibility More complex; handled by the user.
Security Managed by provider’s experts.
Compliance Less; depends on the provider.
Expert Support Available as part of the service.
Time Investment Less; provider handles routine tasks.
Aspect Managed Cloud
Customization Limited; based on provider’s offerings.
Resource Management Optimized by provider.
Disaster Recovery Included in service.
Cloud Storage is a service that allows to save data on offsite storage
system managed by third-party and is made accessible by a web
services API.
Storage Devices
Storage devices can be broadly classified into two categories:
Block Storage Devices
File Storage Devices
Block Storage Devices
The block storage devices offer raw storage to the clients. These raw
storage are partitioned to create volumes.
File Storage Devices
The file Storage Devices offer storage to clients in the form of files,
maintaining its own file system. This storage is in the form of Network
Attached Storage (NAS).
Cloud Storage Classes
Cloud storage can be broadly classified into two categories:
Unmanaged Cloud Storage
Managed Cloud Storage
Unmanaged Cloud Storage
Unmanaged cloud storage means the storage is preconfigured for the
customer. The customer can neither format, nor install his own file system
or change drive properties.
Managed Cloud Storage
Managed cloud storage offers online storage space on-demand. The
managed cloud storage system appears to the user to be a raw disk that
the user can partition and format.
Creating Cloud Storage System
The cloud storage system stores multiple copies of data on multiple
servers, at multiple locations. If one system fails, then it is required only
to change the pointer to the location, where the object is stored.
To aggregate the storage assets into cloud storage systems, the cloud
provider can use storage virtualization software known
as StorageGRID. It creates a virtualization layer that fetches storage
from different storage devices into a single management system. It can
also manage data from CIFS and NFS file systems over the Internet. The
following diagram shows how StorageGRID virtualizes the storage into
storage clouds:
Virtual Storage Containers
The virtual storage containers offer high performance cloud storage
systems. Logical Unit Number (LUN) of device, files and other objects
are created in virtual storage containers. Following diagram shows a
virtual storage container, defining a cloud storage domain:
Challenges
Storing the data in cloud is not that simple task. Apart from its flexibility
and convenience, it also has several challenges faced by the customers.
The customers must be able to:
Get provision for additional storage on-demand.
Know and restrict the physical location of the stored data.
Verify how data was erased.
Have access to a documented process for disposing of data storage
hardware.
Have administrator access control over data.
