What is DNS?

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the Internet. DNS translates domain
names to IP addresses so browsers can load Internet resources.

There are 4 DNS servers involved in loading a webpage:

DNS recursor - The recursor can be thought of as a librarian who is asked to go find a
particular book somewhere in a library. The DNS recursor is a server designed to receive
queries from client machines through applications such as web browsers.

Root nameserver - The root server is the first step in translating (resolving) human readable
host names into IP addresses. It can be thought of like an index in a library that points to
different racks of books - typically it serves as a reference to other more specific locations.

TLD nameserver - The top level domain server (TLD) can be thought of as a specific rack
of books in a library. This nameserver is the next step in the search for a specific IP address,
and it hosts the last portion of a hostname (In example.com, the TLD server is “com”).

Authoritative nameserver – is responsible answers to recursive DNS nameservers about

where specific websites can be found. These answers contain important information for each
domain, like IP addresses.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is storing and accessing of data and computing services over the internet.
It doesn’t store any data on your personal computer. It is the on-demand availability of
computer services like servers, data storage, networking, databases, etc. The main purpose of
cloud computing is to give access to data centres to many users. Users can also access data
from a remote server.

Defining Cloud Computing using an analogy

Whenever you use a bus or train, you buy a ticket and take your seat. Other passengers also
do the same. This will not bother you and you are not interested in where they go. When your
stop comes you get off the bus thanking the driver. Cloud computing is just like that bus,
carrying data and information for different users and allows you to use its service with
minimal cost.

Types of Clouds
1. Private Cloud: Computing resources are deployed for one particular organisation. This
method is more used for intra-business interactions. Computing resources can be
governed, owned and operated by the same organisation.
2. Community Cloud: Computing resources are provided for a community and
organisations.
3. Public Cloud: Is used usually for B2C (Business to Consumer) type interactions. The
computing resource is owned, governed and operated by government, an academic or
business organisation.
4. Hybrid Cloud: The cloud is used for both type of interactions – B2B (Business to
Business) or B2C (Business to Consumer). This deployment method is called hybrid cloud
as the computing resources are bound together by different clouds.

Cloud Computing Services

The Cloud Computing Offerings are
 Software as a Service (SaaS)
 Platform as a Service (PaaS)
 Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
 Function as a Service (Faas)
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS is a software distribution model in which applications are hosted by a vendor or service
provider and made available to customers over a network (internet). Through internet this
service is available to users anywhere in the world. Traditionally, software application needed
to be purchased upfront &then installed onto computers. SaaS users subscribes to software.
Anyone who needs access to software can subscribe as a user. SaaS is compatible with all
internet enabled devices. Important tasks like accounting, sales, invoicing and planning all
can be performed using SaaS.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

PaaS provides a platform and environment to allow developers to build applications and
services. This service is hosted in the cloud and accessed by the users via internet. Let’s
compare PaaS with painting a picture, where you are provided with paint colours, different
paint brushes and paper by your school teacher and you just have to draw a beautiful picture
using those tools. It provides platform to support application development. It includes
software support and management services, storage, networking, deploying, testing,
collaborating, hosting and maintaining applications.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS provides access to computing resources in a virtualized environment “the cloud” on
internet. It provides computing infrastructure like virtual server space, network connections,
bandwidth, load balancers and IP addresses. The pool of hardware resource is extracted from
multiple servers and networks usually distributed across numerous data centres. This provides
redundancy and reliability to IaaS.

Function as a Service (FaaS)

 Event-Driven Execution: FaaS helps in the maintenance of servers and
infrastructure making users worry about it. FaaS facilitates the developers to run code
as a response to the events.
 Cost Efficiency: FaaS facilitates cost efficiency by coming up with the principle
“Pay as per you Run” for the computing resources used.
 Scalability and Agility: Serverless Architectures scale effortlessly in handing the
workloads promoting agility in development and deployment.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing:

1. On-demand self-services: The Cloud computing services does not require any
human administrators, user themselves are able to provision, monitor and manage
computing resources as needed.
2. Broad network access: services are generally provided over standard networks and
heterogeneous devices.
3. Rapid elasticity: IT resources should be able to scale out and in quickly and on a
need basis.
4. Resource pooling: resources present are shared across multiple applications and
occupant in an uncommitted manner. Multiple clients are provided service from a same
physical resource.
5. Measured service: resource utilization is tracked for each application, it will
provide both the user and the resource provider with an account of what has been used.
6. Multi-tenancy: Cloud computing providers can support multiple users on a single
set of shared resources.
7. Virtualization: Cloud computing providers use virtualization technology to abstract
underlying hardware resources and present them as logical resources to users.
8. Resilient computing: Cloud computing services are typically designed with
redundancy and fault tolerance in mind, which ensures high availability and reliability.
9. Flexible pricing models: Cloud providers offer a variety of pricing models,
including pay-per-use, subscription-based, and spot pricing, allowing users to choose
the option that best suits their needs.
10. Security: Cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect their users’
data and ensure the privacy of sensitive information.
11. Automation: Cloud computing services are often highly automated, allowing users
to deploy and manage resources with minimal manual intervention.
12. Sustainability: Cloud providers are increasingly focused on sustainable practices,
such as energy-efficient data centres and the use of renewable energy sources, to reduce
their environmental impact
Advantages of cloud computing
Cost Savings
It helps to save substantial capital cost as it does not need any physical hardware investments.
The buying and managing of equipment is done by the cloud service provider.

Strategic edge
It helps users to access the latest applications any time without spending time and money on
installations.

High Speed
It allows users to deploy service quickly in fewer clicks. This faster deployment allows users
to get the resources required for their system within fewer minutes.

Back-up and restore data

Once the data is stored in a Cloud, it is easier to get the back-up and recovery of that data.
Automatic Software Integration
Software integration occurs automatically. There is no need to take additional efforts to
customize and integrate applications as per user preference.

Reliability
Users can always get instantly updated about the changes.

Mobility
Employees who are working on the premises or at the remote locations can easily access all
the could services. All they need is an Internet connectivity.
Unlimited storage capacity
Cloud offers limitless storage capacity. Users can quickly expand their storage capacity with
very nominal monthly fees.

Collaboration
The cloud computing platform helps employees who are located in different geographies to
collaborate in a highly convenient and secure manner.

Quick Deployment
Cloud computing gives the advantage of rapid deployment. So the entire system can be fully
functional in very few minutes.

Disadvantages of Cloud Computing

Performance Can Vary
Any greedy behaviour or DDOS attack on your tenant could affect the performance of the
shared resource.

Technical Issues
Is prone to an outage and other technical issues.

Security Threat in the Cloud

Users should be aware of the fact that they will be sharing all their company’s sensitive
information to a third-party. Hackers might access this information.
Downtime
Downtime should also be considered while working with cloud computing. Cloud provider
may face power loss, low internet connectivity, service maintenance, etc.

Internet Connectivity
Good Internet connectivity is a must in cloud computing. You can’t access cloud without an
internet connection.

Lower Bandwidth
Many cloud storage service providers limit bandwidth usage of their users. So, surpassing the
given allowance, the additional charges could be significantly costly