What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing means storing and accessing the data and programs on remote servers that are
hosted on the internet instead of the computer’s hard drive or local server. Cloud computing is also
referred to as Internet-based computing, it is a technology where the resource is provided as a
service through the Internet to the user. The data that is stored can be files, images, documents, or
any other storable document.
The following are some of the Operations that can be performed with Cloud Computing
 Storage, backup, and recovery of data
 Delivery of software on demand
 Development of new applications and services
 Streaming videos and audio
Understanding How Cloud Computing Works?
Cloud computing helps users in easily accessing computing resources like storage, and processing
over internet rather than local hardwares. Here we discussing how it works in nutshell:
 Infrastructure: Cloud computing depends on remote network servers hosted on internet for
store, manage, and process the data.
 On-Demand Acess: Users can access cloud services and resources based on-demand they can
scale up or down the without having to invest for physical hardware.
 Types of Services: Cloud computing offers various benefits such as cost saving, scalability,
reliability and acessibility it reduces capital expenditures, improves efficiency.
Origins Of Cloud Computing
Mainframe computing in the 1950s and the internet explosion in the 1990s came together to give ris
e to cloud computing. Since businesses like Amazon, Google, and Salesforce started providing
web-based services in the early 2000s. The term “cloud computing” has gained popularity.
Scalability, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness are to be facilitated by the concept’s on-demand
internet-based access to computational resources.
These days, cloud computing is pervasive, driving a wide range of services across markets and
transforming the processing, storage, and retrieval of data
What is Virtualization In Cloud Computing?
Virtualization is the software technology that helps in providing the logical isolation of physical
resources. Creating logical isolation of physical resources such as RAM, CPU, and Storage.. over
the cloud is known as Virtualization in Cloud Computing. In simple we can say creating types of
Virtual Instances of computing resources over the cloud. It provides better management and
utilization of hardware resources with logical isolation making the applications independent of
others. It facilitates streamlining the resource allocation and enhancing scalability for multiple
virtual computers within a single physical source offering cost-effectiveness and better optimization
of resources.
To know about this refer this Article – Virtualization in Cloud Computing and Types
Architecture Of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing architecture refers to the components and sub-components required for cloud
computing. These components typically refer to:
1. Front end ( Fat client, Thin client)
2. Back-end platforms ( Servers, Storage )
3. Cloud-based delivery and a network ( Internet, Intranet, Intercloud )
1. Front End ( User Interaction Enhancement )
The User Interface of Cloud Computing consists of 2 sections of clients. The Thin clients are the
ones that use web browsers facilitating portable and lightweight accessibilities and others are
known as Fat Clients that use many functionalities for offering a strong user experience.
2. Back-end Platforms ( Cloud Computing Engine )
The core of cloud computing is made at back-end platforms with several servers for storage and
processing computing. Management of Applications logic is managed through servers and effective
data handling is provided by storage. The combination of these platforms at the backend offers the
processing power, and capacity to manage and store data behind the cloud.
3. Cloud-Based Delivery and Network
On-demand access to the computer and resources is provided over the Internet, Intranet, and
Intercloud. The Internet comes with global accessibility, the Intranet helps in internal
communications of the services within the organization and the Intercloud enables interoperability
across various cloud services. This dynamic network connectivity ensures an essential component
of cloud computing architecture on guaranteeing easy access and data transfer.

Cloud Computing
In cloud computing, we have access to a shared pool of computer
resources (servers, storage, programs, and so on) in the cloud.
You simply need to request additional resources when you require
them. Getting resources up and running quickly is a breeze
thanks to the clouds. It is possible to release resources that are
no longer necessary. This method allows you to just pay for what
you use. Your cloud provider is in charge of all upkeep.

What is a Cloud Deployment Model?

Cloud Deployment Model functions as a virtual computing
environment with a deployment architecture that varies
depending on the amount of data you want to store and who has
access to the infrastructure.

Types of Cloud Computing Deployment

Models
The cloud deployment model identifies the specific type of cloud
environment based on ownership, scale, and access, as well as
the cloud’s nature and purpose. The location of the servers you’re
utilizing and who controls them are defined by a cloud
deployment model. It specifies how your cloud infrastructure will
look, what you can change, and whether you will be given
services or will have to create everything yourself. Relationships
between the infrastructure and your users are also defined by
cloud deployment types. Different types of cloud computing
deployment models are described below.
 Public Cloud
 Private Cloud
 Hybrid Cloud
 Community Cloud
 Multi-Cloud
Public Cloud
The public cloud makes it possible for anybody to access systems
and services. The public cloud may be less secure as it is open to
everyone. The public cloud is one in which cloud infrastructure
services are provided over the internet to the general people or
major industry groups. The infrastructure in this cloud model is
owned by the entity that delivers the cloud services, not by the
consumer. It is a type of cloud hosting that allows customers and
users to easily access systems and services. This form of cloud
computing is an excellent example of cloud hosting, in which
service providers supply services to a variety of customers. In this
arrangement, storage backup and retrieval services are given for
free, as a subscription, or on a per-user basis. For example,
Google App Engine etc.

Public Cloud

Advantages of the Public Cloud Model

 Minimal Investment: Because it is a pay-per-use service,
there is no substantial upfront fee, making it excellent for
enterprises that require immediate access to resources.
 No setup cost: The entire infrastructure is fully subsidized by
the cloud service providers, thus there is no need to set up any
hardware.
 Infrastructure Management is not required: Using the
public cloud does not necessitate infrastructure management.
 No maintenance: The maintenance work is done by the
service provider (not users).
 Dynamic Scalability: To fulfill your company’s needs, on-
demand resources are accessible.
Disadvantages of the Public Cloud Model
 Less secure: Public cloud is less secure as resources are
public so there is no guarantee of high-level security.
 Low customization: It is accessed by many public so it can’t
be customized according to personal requirements.
Private Cloud
The private cloud deployment model is the exact opposite of the
public cloud deployment model. It’s a one-on-one environment for
a single user (customer). There is no need to share your hardware
with anyone else. The distinction between private and public
clouds is in how you handle all of the hardware. It is also called
the “internal cloud” & it refers to the ability to access systems
and services within a given border or organization. The cloud
platform is implemented in a cloud-based secure environment
that is protected by powerful firewalls and under the supervision
of an organization’s IT department. The private cloud gives
greater flexibility of control over cloud resources.

Private Cloud

Advantages of the Private Cloud Model

 Better Control: You are the sole owner of the property. You
gain complete command over service integration, IT
operations, policies, and user behavior.
 Data Security and Privacy: It’s suitable for storing corporate
information to which only authorized staff have access. By
 segmenting resources within the same infrastructure, improved
access and security can be achieved.
 Supports Legacy Systems: This approach is designed to
work with legacy systems that are unable to access the public
cloud.
 Customization: Unlike a public cloud deployment, a private
cloud allows a company to tailor its solution to meet its specific
needs.
Disadvantages of the Private Cloud Model
 Less scalable: Private clouds are scaled within a certain range
as there is less number of clients.
 Costly: Private clouds are more costly as they provide
personalized facilities.
Hybrid Cloud
By bridging the public and private worlds with a layer of
proprietary software, hybrid cloud computing gives the best of
both worlds. With a hybrid solution, you may host the app in a
safe environment while taking advantage of the public cloud’s
cost savings. Organizations can move data and applications
between different clouds using a combination of two or more
cloud deployment methods, depending on their needs.

Hybrid Cloud

Advantages of the Hybrid Cloud Model

 Flexibility and control: Businesses with more flexibility can
design personalized solutions that meet their particular needs.
 Cost: Because public clouds provide scalability, you’ll only be
responsible for paying for the extra capacity if you require it.
 Security: Because data is properly separated, the chances of
data theft by attackers are considerably reduced.
Disadvantages of the Hybrid Cloud Model
 Difficult to manage: Hybrid clouds are difficult to manage as
it is a combination of both public and private cloud. So, it is
complex.
 Slow data transmission: Data transmission in the hybrid
cloud takes place through the public cloud so latency occurs.
Community Cloud
It allows systems and services to be accessible by a group of
organizations. It is a distributed system that is created by
integrating the services of different clouds to address the specific
needs of a community, industry, or business. The infrastructure of
the community could be shared between the organization which
has shared concerns or tasks. It is generally managed by a third
party or by the combination of one or more organizations in the
community.

Community Cloud

Advantages of the Community Cloud Model

 Cost Effective: It is cost-effective because the cloud is shared
by multiple organizations or communities.
 Security: Community cloud provides better security.
 Shared resources: It allows you to share resources,
infrastructure, etc. with multiple organizations.
 Collaboration and data sharing: It is suitable for both
collaboration and data sharing.
Disadvantages of the Community Cloud Model
 Limited Scalability: Community cloud is relatively less
scalable as many organizations share the same resources
according to their collaborative interests.
 Rigid in customization: As the data and resources are
shared among different organizations according to their mutual
interests if an organization wants some changes according to
 their needs they cannot do so because it will have an impact
on other organizations.
Multi-Cloud
We’re talking about employing multiple cloud providers at the
same time under this paradigm, as the name implies. It’s similar
to the hybrid cloud deployment approach, which combines public
and private cloud resources. Instead of merging private and
public clouds, multi-cloud uses many public clouds. Although
public cloud providers provide numerous tools to improve the
reliability of their services, mishaps still occur. It’s quite rare that
two distinct clouds would have an incident at the same moment.
As a result, multi-cloud deployment improves the high availability
of your services even more.

Multi-Cloud

Advantages of the Multi-Cloud Model

 You can mix and match the best features of each cloud
provider’s services to suit the demands of your apps,
workloads, and business by choosing different cloud providers.
 Reduced Latency: To reduce latency and improve user
experience, you can choose cloud regions and zones that are
close to your clients.
 High availability of service: It’s quite rare that two distinct
clouds would have an incident at the same moment. So, the
multi-cloud deployment improves the high availability of your
services.
Disadvantages of the Multi-Cloud Model
 Complex: The combination of many clouds makes the system
complex and bottlenecks may occur.
 Security issue: Due to the complex structure, there may be
loopholes to which a hacker can take advantage hence, makes
the data insecure.
What is the Right Choice for Cloud
Deployment Model?
As of now, no such approach fits picking a cloud deployment
model. We will always consider the best cloud deployment model
as per our requirements. Here are some factors which should be
considered before choosing the best deployment model.
 Cost: Cost is an important factor for the cloud deployment
model as it tells how much amount you want to pay for these
things.
 Scalability: Scalability tells about the current activity status and
how much we can scale it.
 Easy to use: It tells how much your resources are trained and
how easily can you manage these models.
 Compliance: Compliance tells about the laws and regulations
which impact the implementation of the model.
 Privacy: Privacy tells about what data you gather for the model.
Each model has some advantages and some disadvantages, and
the selection of the best is only done on the basis of your
requirement. If your requirement changes, you can switch to any
other model.

Overall Analysis of Cloud Deployment

Models
The overall Analysis of these models with respect to different
factors is described below.

Public Private Community Hybrid

Factors Cloud Cloud Cloud Cloud

Complex, Complex, Complex,

requires a requires a requires a
Initial Setup Easy
professional professional professional
team to setup team to setup team to setup

Scalability
and High High Fixed High
Flexibility

Cost- Cost-Effective Costly Distributed cost Between

 Public Private Community Hybrid
Factors Cloud Cloud Cloud Cloud

among public and

Comparison
members private cloud

Reliability Low Low High High

Data
Low High High High
Security

Data Privacy Low High High High

Models of Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing helps in rendering several services according to
roles, companies, etc. Cloud computing models are explained
below.
 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
 Platform as a service (PaaS)
 Software as a service (SaaS)

1. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) helps in delivering computer

infrastructure on an external basis for supporting operations.
Generally, IaaS provides services to networking equipment,
devices, databases, and web servers.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) helps large organizations, and
large enterprises in managing and building their IT platforms. This
infrastructure is flexible according to the needs of the client.
Advantages of IaaS
 IaaS is cost-effective as it eliminates capital expenses.
 IaaS cloud provider provides better security than any other
software.
 IaaS provides remote access.
Disadvantages of IaaS
 In IaaS, users have to secure their own data and applications.
 Cloud computing is not accessible in some regions of the
World.

2. Platform as a service (PaaS)

Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a type of cloud computing that
helps developers to build applications and services over the
Internet by providing them with a platform.
PaaS helps in maintaining control over their business applications.
Advantages of PaaS
 PaaS is simple and very much convenient for the user as it can
be accessed via a web browser.
 PaaS has the capabilities to efficiently manage the lifecycle.
Disadvantages of PaaS
 PaaS has limited control over infrastructure as they have less
control over the environment and are not able to make some
customizations.
 PaaS has a high dependence on the provider.

3. Software as a service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a type of cloud computing model

that is the work of delivering services and applications over the
Internet. The SaaS applications are called Web-Based Software or
Hosted Software.
SaaS has around 60 percent of cloud solutions and due to this, it
is mostly preferred by companies.
Advantages of SaaS
 SaaS can access app data from anywhere on the Internet.
 SaaS provides easy access to features and services.
Disadvantages of SaaS
 SaaS solutions have limited customization, which means they
have some restrictions within the platform.
 SaaS has little control over the data of the user.
 SaaS are generally cloud-based, they require a stable internet
connection for proper working.
For more, you can refer to Cloud-Based Services.
FAQs:
1. List the disadvantages of the public cloud model?
Answer:
The disadvantages of the public cloud model are:
 Data Security and Privacy Concerns: Because it is open to the
public, it does not provide complete protection against cyber-
attacks and may expose weaknesses.
 Issues with Reliability: Because the same server network is
accessible to a wide range of users, it is susceptible to failure
and outages.
 Limitation on Service/License: While there are numerous
resources that you may share with renters, there is a limit on
how much you can use.

2. List the disadvantages of the hybrid cloud model?

Answer:
The disadvantages of the hybrid cloud model are:
 Maintenance: A hybrid cloud computing strategy may
necessitate additional maintenance, resulting in a greater
operational expense for your company.
 Difficult Integration: When constructing a hybrid cloud, data,
and application integration might be difficult. It’s also true that
combining two or more infrastructures will offset a significant
upfront cost.

3. List the disadvantages of the private cloud

model?
Answer:
The disadvantages of the private cloud model are
 Restricted Scalability: Private clouds have restricted scalability
because they are scaled within the confines of internally
hosted resources. The choice of underlying hardware has an
impact on scalability.
 Higher Cost: Due to the benefits you would receive, your
investment will be higher than the public cloud(pay for
software, hardware, staffing, etc).

4. What is utility computing?

Answer:
Utility computing is a service-providing paradigm in which a
service provider makes computing resources and infrastructure
management available to customers as needed, charging them
on a per-use basis rather than a set fee.
The user can only pay for what they use using utility computing. It
is a plug-in that is administered by an organization that
determines what kind of cloud services must be deployed. The
majority of businesses prefer a hybrid strategy.

5. How to secure data while transferring?

Answer:
To keep your data safe while being transported from one location
to another, be sure the encryption key used with the data you’re
transferring isn’t leaking.
 Fog Computing




Fog computing also known as fog networking or fogging, is a decentralized computing architecture
that brings cloud computing capabilities to the network’s edge. This method intends to increase
efficiency, minimize latency, and improve data processing capabilities. In this article, we will see
concepts of fog computing in detail.
What is Fog Computing?
Fog Computing is the term introduced by Cisco that refers to extending cloud computing to an edge
of the enterprise’s network. Thus, it is also known as Edge Computing or Fogging. It facilitates the
operation of computing, storage, and networking services between end devices and computing data
centers.

Fog Computing

 The devices comprising the fog infrastructure are known as fog nodes.
 In fog computing, all the storage capabilities, computation capabilities, data along with the
applications are placed between the cloud and the physical host.
 All these functionalities are placed more towards the host. This makes processing faster as it is
done almost at the place where data is created.
 It improves the efficiency of the system and is also used to ensure increased security.
History of Fog Computing
The term fog computing was coined by Cisco in January 2014. This was because fog is referred to as
clouds that are close to the ground in the same way fog computing was related to the nodes which are
present near the nodes somewhere in between the host and the cloud. It was intended to bring the
computational capabilities of the system close to the host machine. After this gained a little
popularity, IBM, in 2015, coined a similar term called “Edge Computing”.
Types of Fog Computing
 Device-level Fog Computing: Device-level fog computing utilizes low-power technology,
including sensors, switches, and routers. It can be used to collect data from these devices and
upload it to the cloud for analysis.
 Edge-level Fog Computing: Edge-level fog computing utilizes network-connected servers or
appliances. These devices can be used to process data before it is uploaded to the cloud.
 Gateway-level Fog Computing: Fog computing at the gateway level uses devices to connect the
edge to the cloud. These devices can be used to control traffic and send only relevant data to the
cloud.
 Cloud-level Fog Computing: Cloud-level fog computing uses cloud-based servers or appliances.
These devices can be used to process data before it is sent to end users.
Components of Fog Computing
 Edge devices: Edge devices are the network devices nearest to the data source. Edge devices
consist of sensors, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), and gateway routers.
 Data Processing: Data processing occurs locally on edge devices rather than being routed to a
central location for processing. The end effect is greater performance and lower latency.
 Data Storage: in Data storage. Instead of transferring data to a central place, edge devices can
keep information locally. This increases security and privacy while lowering latency.
 Connectivity: For fog computing to work, edge devices must be connected to the rest of the
network at high speeds. This can be done using wired or wireless methods.
When to Use Fog Computing?
 It is used when only selected data is required to send to the cloud. This selected data is chosen for
long-term storage and is less frequently accessed by the host.
 It is used when the data should be analyzed within a fraction of seconds i.e Latency should be
low.
 It is used whenever a large number of services need to be provided over a large area at different
geographical locations.
 Devices that are subjected to rigorous computations and processings must use fog computing.
 Real-world examples where fog computing is used are in IoT devices Devices with Sensors,
Cameras (IIoT-Industrial Internet of Things), etc.
Advantages of Fog Computing
 This approach reduces the amount of data that needs to be sent to the cloud.
 Since the distance to be traveled by the data is reduced, it results in saving network bandwidth.
 Reduces the response time of the system.
 It improves the overall security of the system as the data resides close to the host.
 It provides better privacy as industries can perform analysis on their data locally.
Disadvantages of Fog Computing
 Congestion may occur between the host and the fog node due to increased traffic (heavy data
flow).
 Power consumption increases when another layer is placed between the host and the cloud.
 Scheduling tasks between host and fog nodes along with fog nodes and the cloud is difficult.
 Data management becomes tedious as along with the data stored and computed, the transmission
of data involves encryption-decryption too which in turn release data.
Applications of Fog Computing
 It can be used to monitor and analyze the patients’ condition. In case of emergency, doctors can
be alerted.
 It can be used for real-time rail monitoring as for high-speed trains we want as little latency as
possible.
 It can be used for gas and oils pipeline optimization. It generates a huge amount of data and it is
inefficient to store all data into the cloud for analysis.
Difference Between Edge Computing and Fog Computing

Edge Computing Fog Computing

Less scalable than fog computing. Highly scalable when compared to edge computing.

Millions of nodes are present. Billions of nodes are present.

Edge Computing Fog Computing

Nodes are installed far away from the Nodes in this computing are installed closer to the
cloud. cloud(remote database where data is stored).

Edge computing is a subdivision of fog

Fog computing is a subdivision of cloud computing.
computing.

The bandwidth requirement is very low.

The bandwidth requirement is high. Data originating
Because data comes from the edge nodes
from edge nodes is transferred to the cloud.
themselves.

Operational cost is higher. Operational cost is comparatively lower.

High privacy. Attacks on data are very

The probability of data attacks is higher.
low.

Edge devices are the inclusion of the IoT

Fog is an extended layer of cloud.
devices or client’s network.

The power consumption of nodes filter important

The power consumption of nodes is low. information from the massive amount of data collected
from the device and saves it in the filter high.

Fog computing helps in filtering important information

Edge computing helps devices to get
from the massive amount of data collected from the
faster results by processing the data
device and saves it in the cloud by sending the filtered
simultaneously received from the devices.
data.

Conclusion
Finally, fog computing delivers cloud capabilities to the edge of networks, increasing efficiency,
lowering latency, and improving data processing capabilities. It is perfect for real-time data analysis,
low-latency applications such as IoT, and situations where data privacy and security are critical.
While it provides scalability and lower bandwidth usage, it also has issues in managing data
congestion and increasing power consumption. Fog computing is making progress in applications
such as healthcare monitoring, industrial IoT, and real-time analytics across a variety of industries.
Frequently Asked Questions on Fog Computing – FAQs
How does fog computing reduce latency?
By allowing data to be processed where it is being used.
Does fog support IoT concept?
Fog computing supports the Internet of Things (IoT) .
How data is stored in fog computing?
Data has been stored on local computers and storage systems rather than being routed to the cloud
via a centralised data centre.
What is the security of fog computing?
Security is a critical issue for fog computing, because fog-based services are supplied to massive-
scale end customers by front fog nodes/servers.