Experiment No 1

Aim: Introduction and overview of cloud computing.

Theory:
Origin of cloud computing
Cloud computing has its origins in the 1960s, when computer scientists at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) began experimenting with ways to share resources among
multiple users. The concept of "cloud computing" as we know it today, however, began to
take shape in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when companies like Amazon, Google, and
Salesforce began offering web-based services that allowed customers to access and use
resources (such as storage and computing power) over the internet.
In 2006, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched a set of web services that allowed developers
to rent computing power, storage, and other resources on a pay-as-you-go basis. This was
one of the first examples of the modern "cloud computing" model, where companies could
rent resources on-demand and pay only for what they used.
Over the next several years, other companies, including Google and Microsoft, entered the
market with their own cloud computing platforms, and the cloud computing industry
continued to grow and evolve. Today, cloud computing is a mainstream technology that is
used by organizations of all sizes to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve their ability
to scale their resources as needed.

NIST Model
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a cloud computing
reference architecture, known as the NIST cloud computing reference architecture (NIST SP
500-292). This reference architecture provides a common framework for understanding,
describing, and comparing cloud computing systems.
The NIST model defines five essential characteristics of cloud computing, which are:

 On-demand self-service: Users can provision computing resources (such as servers

and storage) as needed, without requiring human interaction with a service provider.
 Broad network access: Resources can be accessed over a network, such as the
internet, using standard protocols.
 Resource pooling: Resources are dynamically assigned and reassigned according to
user demand.
 Rapid elasticity: Resources can be rapidly and automatically scaled up or down as
needed.
 Measured service: Cloud providers monitor and measure usage of resources, and
users are billed based on usage.
The NIST reference architecture also defines three service models:

 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

 Platform as a Service (PaaS)
 Software as a Service (SaaS)
Additionally, it defines four deployment models:

 Private cloud
 Community cloud
 Public cloud
 Hybrid cloud

(NITS Visual Model of Cloud Computing)

The NIST cloud computing reference architecture is widely used as a framework for
understanding, evaluating, and comparing different cloud computing systems. It provides a
common set of terms and definitions that can be used to describe cloud computing systems
and services, regardless of the specific technology or vendor.

Characteristics of cloud

 Scalability: Cloud computing allows organizations to scale up or down their computing

resources as needed, without the need for large capital investments.
 Cost savings: Cloud computing allows organizations to pay only for the resources they
use, rather than having to make large upfront investments in hardware and software.
  High availability: Cloud providers typically offer built-in redundancy and disaster
recovery options, so that users' data is always available, even in the event of a failure.
 Flexibility: Cloud computing allows organizations to access a wide range of resources,
such as servers, storage, and software, on-demand, which can be used to support
different business needs.
 Security: Cloud providers offer various security measures such as encryption, access
controls, and monitoring to protect the data and applications of their customers.
 Mobility: Cloud computing allows users to access their data and applications from
anywhere with an internet connection.
 Automation: Many cloud services are designed to automatically handle tasks such as
provisioning, scaling, and backup, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Deployment Model
In cloud computing, deployment models refer to the different ways in which cloud services
can be deployed and accessed by users. The National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) defines four deployment models:

 Public cloud: Public clouds are owned and operated by a third-party provider, and
resources are made available to the public over the internet. Public clouds offer the
greatest level of scalability and the most flexibility, but they also come with the least
amount of control and customization options.
 Private cloud: Private clouds are owned and operated by a single organization, and
resources are made available only to that organization. Private clouds offer more
control and customization options than public clouds, but they also come with higher
costs and less scalability.
 Community cloud: Community clouds are owned and operated by a group of
organizations that have common requirements. Resources are made available only to
the members of that group. Community clouds offer a balance of control and
scalability, but they also come with higher costs and less flexibility than public clouds.
 Hybrid cloud: Hybrid clouds are a combination of two or more of the above
deployment models. Organizations can use a private cloud for sensitive workloads,
and a public cloud for less critical workloads. Hybrid clouds offer the most flexibility,
but they also come with higher costs and more complexity.

In summary, the deployment model chosen depends on the organization's specific needs,
such as the level of security, control, and scalability required, as well as the cost constraints.
Public clouds are typically more cost-effective and offer more scalability, while private clouds
offer more control and security, but at a higher cost. Community clouds offer a balance of
control, scalability and security but also comes at a higher cost. Hybrid clouds offer the most
flexibility, but they also come with higher costs and more complexity.
 (Deployment Model)
Service Model

 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): IaaS provides users with access to virtualized

computing resources, such as servers, storage, and networking. IaaS providers allow
users to rent these resources on a pay-as-you-go basis, and users have full control over
the operating system and software that runs on the virtual machines. Examples of IaaS
providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud
Platform.
 Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS provides users with a platform for developing,
testing, and deploying their own software applications. PaaS providers handle the
underlying infrastructure (such as servers and storage), and users only need to focus
on developing and deploying their applications. Examples of PaaS providers include
AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine, and Heroku.
 Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS provides users with access to software applications
that are hosted and maintained by the SaaS provider. Examples of SaaS include email,
customer relationship management (CRM), and office productivity software like
Microsoft Office 365, Google G Suite, Salesforce.
 (Cloud Service Model)
Each service model has its own set of characteristics and benefits. IaaS is the most flexible
and allows for the most control over the underlying infrastructure. PaaS is a middle ground
between IaaS and SaaS, it allows for more control than SaaS but less control than IaaS. SaaS
is the least flexible, but it is also the easiest to use and requires the least amount of technical
expertise. The choice of service model depends on the specific needs and requirements of the
organization.

Advantages of cloud computing

 Scalability: Cloud computing allows organizations to scale up or down their computing

resources as needed, without the need for large capital investments. This enables
organizations to respond quickly to changing business conditions, without having to
make significant investments in new hardware and software.
 Cost savings: Cloud computing allows organizations to pay only for the resources they
use, rather than having to make large upfront investments in hardware and software.
This can result in significant cost savings, particularly for small and medium-sized
businesses.
 High availability: Cloud providers typically offer built-in redundancy and disaster
recovery options, so that users' data is always available, even in the event of a failure.
This can help organizations avoid costly downtime and ensure continuity of
operations.
 Flexibility: Cloud computing allows organizations to access a wide range of resources,
such as servers, storage, and software, on-demand, which can be used to support
different business needs.
 Security: Cloud providers offer various security measures such as encryption, access
controls, and monitoring to protect the data and applications of their customers.
 Mobility: Cloud computing allows users to access their data and applications from
anywhere with an internet connection, enabling remote work and collaboration.
  Automation: Many cloud services are designed to automatically handle tasks such as
provisioning, scaling, and backup, reducing the need for manual intervention.
 Innovation: Cloud computing allows organizations to focus on their core business and
leave the underlying infrastructure to be managed by cloud providers. This allows
organizations to take advantage of new technologies and innovations faster than they
would be able to do so by themselves
 Global access: Cloud providers have data centres around the world, this allows
organizations to access their data and applications from anywhere in the world with
low latency.
 Elasticity: Cloud computing allows organizations to scale resources up or down
depending on their usage, this allows them to save on costs by only paying for the
resources they use.

Disadvantages of cloud computing

 Security risks: Storing data and running applications in the cloud can increase the risk
of data breaches and cyber attacks. Organizations must ensure that their data is
properly secured and that they have adequate controls in place to prevent
unauthorized access.
 Dependence on internet connectivity: Cloud computing relies on internet
connectivity, so if an organization's internet connection goes down, they will lose
access to their data and applications.
 Limited control and customization: Organizations that use public cloud services have
less control over the underlying infrastructure and may have fewer options for
customization.
 Vendor lock-in: Organizations that use a specific cloud provider's services may find it
difficult and costly to switch to a different provider in the future.
 Compliance and regulatory issues: Some organizations may have compliance and
regulatory requirements that prevent them from using certain types of cloud services.
 Limited visibility and transparency: Organizations may not have full visibility and
transparency into the underlying infrastructure of the cloud services they use, this can
make it difficult to troubleshoot issues and ensure compliance.
 Limited physical access to data: With cloud computing, organizations do not have
physical access to their data and applications. This can make it more difficult to
conduct forensic investigations or perform other types of security assessments.
 Latency: Depending on the location of the data center, the data might have to travel
a long distance over the internet, this can cause delays or latency issues.
 Data Sovereignty: Data Sovereignty laws can prevent certain types of data to be stored
in certain countries, this can limit the options for organizations that want to use cloud
services.
 Limited control over upgrades: Cloud providers will be in charge of upgrades and
maintenance of the cloud infrastructure, this can limit the control of the organizations
over their own infrastructure.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, cloud computing is a rapidly growing technology that allows individuals and
organizations to access and store data, applications, and services over the internet. This can
provide many benefits, such as cost savings, scalability, and flexibility. Cloud computing
services are provided by companies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and
Google Cloud Platform, and can be used for a wide range of purposes, from personal storage
to enterprise-level data analysis. As technology continues to advance, the use of cloud
computing is likely to become even more widespread, making it an important area for
individuals and businesses to stay informed about.