Week 7 - Clear - Cloud Computing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/analogica/4291451416/

What is cloud computing? Simply put cloud computing is anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. There are three main categories of cloud computing services. They are as follows:  Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). Many of the applications that you use everyday use cloud based computing.  Applications, such as Facebook, Twitter, Gmail and YouTube are all run from cloud based services.

So what does a cloud have to do with computing? How did the cloud name come about? Well, the term cloud computing simply comes from the cloud symbol that’s often used to represent the Internet in diagrams. For a more in-depth explaniation of cloud computing please watch the video below!

*Permission granted for use by Standard YouTube License

So you may be wondering what exactly is SaaS, PaaS and IaaS?!.  These are all cloud computing options.  SaaS or Software-as-a-Service can be accessed from anywhere as long as you have Internet connection. The great part about SaaS is that you don't need any hardware or software because the vendor supplies it all.  PaaS or Platform-as-a-Service allows developers to create applications on the vendors platform. Infrastructure-as-a-Service or IaaS allows businesses or individuals to rent server or storage space and only pay for what use, instead of wasting money, resources and real estate.  With the onset of cloud computing individuals and businesses can now become more efficient and more green!