A widespread type of cloud technology. Main directions of development of cloud technologies. About the disadvantages of cloud technologies

The Internet has become entrenched in our lives. Many users can no longer imagine their life without a computer. Naturally, technology improves every year. And for active users of the global network, such a useful technology as a cloud server has appeared. What is it? What is it for?

Cloud technologies are...

Today you can often hear about such a function as cloud computing. The name of such servers comes from a graphic picture that is used to indicate technologies.

Cloud technologies- this is the ability to have access to data without installing special applications on the device. All necessary software is provided to users by servers. But whether you have to pay for this remote access to data or not depends directly on the requests.

How are cloud technologies different from conventional ones?

To more clearly explain the difference between conventional technologies and cloud storage, we can take email as an example. The case when mail client, such as Outlook, is already installed on the user's computer, and all data received by email is saved on hard drive, is considered a common IT technology. That is, the user himself can manage the received files and decide what to do with them. And the mail client will work exactly as long as the computer is running.

But email, which is opened using a browser, is already a cloud technology. That is, the user, without installing anything on the device, can access his email address. Moreover, if something happens to the server on which all the data is stored, then access to email will be lost.

What do you have to pay for when using the cloud?

Cloud server is not a completely free technology. There are times when a user will have to pay for the provision of cloud storage service. All servers are divided into three types, which charge for different functions.

• IaaS is a cloud model that requires a fee to provide remote access to the storage. That is, the user only pays for access to the server.
• When using the PaaS cloud, you will have to pay not only for the available resources, but also for access to special software for processing data.
• SaaS is a storage facility that provides access to a whole range of software, for which, of course, you will have to pay a considerable subscription fee.

Positive aspects

Using cloud technologies has a number of advantages that are quite significant.

Young businesses benefit greatly from using cloud servers. They will not have to worry about buying their own server equipment or spend money on building local network, hire system administrators. You just need to choose one of the cloud servers that is ideal in terms of memory size, number of clients and other characteristics, and pay a subscription fee once a month.

Cloud technologies are an opportunity to access necessary information using a regular browser from anywhere in the world. Performance will no longer be of concern to the client, since it is monitored by those whom the user pays for cloud storage. Similar systems are in demand among corporate users who need to establish document flow in the enterprise network.

For ordinary users For those who simply do not want to clog up their computer with unnecessary information, there are free cloud servers that will be quite sufficient.

Negative points

Of course, new cloud technologies also have a number of disadvantages.

Firstly, confidential data transmitted using cloud storage can be intercepted by hackers. The quality of the Internet connection must be very high. If the Internet is interrupted, access to data on the “clouds” will be impossible. At the same time, large enterprises still need system administrator to establish data transfer.

If the client wants to save money and prefers a cheaper server, then he will have to face performance problems. Cheap cloud storage systems do not have a very good hardware infrastructure, where problems regularly appear, and fixing them takes a lot of time.

If the use of cloud technologies is planned for the long term, then it can be much more expensive than installing your own local server. Especially if cloud technology with wide range capabilities such as SaaS.

Cloud storage overview

Cloud technologies are storage facilities that can be divided into three types of services:

• Creation of infrastructure.
• Platform services.
• Software services.

This unit will help you choose cloud server for data storage.

Windows Live SkyDrive is suitable for those who need a large amount of data. It allows you to store information up to 25 GB. There are no restrictions on file format. However, there are a number of advantages for some types. For example, when storing Office documents you can edit them directly in the browser.

Dropbox is more widely used than Windows Live SkyDrive, although it has a much smaller amount of data - only 2 GB. It is enough to install one application on the device to have remote access.

A special server even exists for storing music. This is Grooveshark, which is considered one of the most popular cloud storage services for music files.

The concept of "Cloud technologies"

Cloud technologies- These are data processing technologies in which computer resources are provided to the Internet user as an online service. The word “cloud” is present here as a metaphor, personifying a complex infrastructure that hides all the technical details behind it.

Cloud (scattered) computing (English cloud computing, also used the term Cloud (scattered) data processing) is a data processing technology in which computer resources and power are provided to the user as an Internet service. The user has access to his own data, but cannot manage and does not have to care about the infrastructure, operating system and the actual software with which he works. The term "Cloud" is used as a metaphor based on the diagram of the Internet computer network, or as an image of a complex infrastructure behind which all the technical details are hidden. According to an IEEE document published in 2008, “Cloud computing is a paradigm in which information is permanently stored on servers on the Internet and temporarily cached on the client side, e.g. personal computers, game consoles, laptops, smartphones, etc.”

Cloud data processing as a concept includes the concepts:

• 1) infrastructure as a service
• 2) platform as a service
• 3) software as a service
• 4) data as a service
• 5) workplace as a service

and other technological trends, which have in common the belief that the Internet is able to meet the data processing needs of users.

For cloud technologies, the most important feature is the uneven demand for Internet resources from users. To smooth out this unevenness, another intermediate layer is applied - server virtualization . Thus, the load is distributed between virtual servers and computers.

Cloud technologies is one big concept that includes many different concepts that provide services. For example, software, infrastructure, platform, data, workplace, etc. Why is all this needed? The most important function of cloud technologies is to meet the needs of users who need remote data processing.

What is not considered cloud computing? Firstly, this is autonomous computing on local computer. Secondly, this is “utility computing”, when the service of performing particularly complex calculations or storing data arrays is ordered. Thirdly, this is collective (distributed) computing (grid computing). In practice, the boundaries between all these types of calculations are quite blurred. However, the future cloud computing still much larger than utility and distributed systems.

Cloud data storage-- an online storage model in which data is stored on numerous servers distributed over the network, provided for use by clients, mainly by third parties. In contrast to the model of storing data on your own dedicated servers, purchased or rented specifically for such purposes, the number or any internal structure of servers to the client, in general case, not visible. Data is stored, as well as processed, in the so-called cloud, which, from the client’s point of view, is one big virtual server. Physically, such servers can be located remotely from each other geographically, even located on different continents.

In order to understand what a “cloud” is, it’s worth starting with the history of this issue. It is necessary to understand: is this technology really in the category of new ideas or is this idea not so new.

Lecture Cloud technologies

Cloud technologies (computing) are distributed data processing technologies in which computer resources and power are provided to the user as an Internet service.

The main types of cloud technologies include:

" InfrastructureHowservice" (“Infrastructure as a Service” or “IaaS”)

" PlatformHowservice" ("Platform as a Service", " PaaS")

"Software as a service"(“Software as a Service” or “SaaS”).

Let's take a closer look at each of these technologies.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS is the provision of computer infrastructure as a service based on the concept of cloud computing.

IaaS consists of three main components:

Hardware (servers, storage systems, client systems, network equipment)

Operating systems and system software (virtualization tools, automation tools, basic resource management tools)

Middleware (e.g. systems management)

IaaS is based on virtualization technology, which allows the user of the equipment to divide it into parts that correspond to the current needs of the business, thereby increasing the efficiency of using available computing power. The user (company or software developer) will only have to pay for the server time, disk space, network bandwidth and other resources that he really needs to work. In addition, IaaS provides the customer with a complete set of management functions in one integrated platform.

IaaS eliminates the need for enterprises to maintain complex data center, customer, and network infrastructures, while also reducing the associated capital expenditures and operating costs. In addition, additional savings can be achieved by providing the service within a sharing infrastructure.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS is the provision of an integrated platform for developing, testing, deploying and maintaining web applications as a service.

To deploy web applications, the developer does not need to purchase hardware and software, and there is no need to organize their support. Access for the client can be organized on a rental basis.

This approach has the following advantages:

scalability;

fault tolerance;

virtualization;

safety.

Scalability PaaS involves automatic allocation and release of the necessary resources depending on the number of users served by the application.

PaaS as an integrated platform for developing, testing, deploying and supporting web applications will allow the entire range of operations for developing, testing and deploying web applications to be performed in one integrated environment, thereby eliminating the cost of supporting separate environments for individual stages.

Ability to create source code and make it available to general access within the development team significantly increases productivity in creating applications based on PaaS.

Software as a service (SaaS).

SaaS– an application deployment model that involves providing the application to the end user as an on demand service. Such an application is accessed via the network, and most often via an Internet browser. In this case, the main advantage of the SaaS model for the client is the absence of costs associated with installing, updating and maintaining the functionality of the equipment and software running on it. Target Audience- end consumers.

In the SaaS model:

the application is adapted for remote use;

one application can be used by several clients;

payment for the service is charged either monthly subscription fee, or based on the total volume of transactions;

application support is already included in the payment;

Application upgrades can be carried out smoothly and transparently for customers by maintenance staff.

From the point of view of software developers, the SaaS model makes it possible to effectively combat unlicensed use of software, due to the fact that the client cannot store, copy and install the software.

In fact, SaaS software can be considered as a more convenient and profitable alternative to internal information systems.

The development of SaaS logic is the concept WaaS (Workplace as a Service - workplace as a service). That is, the client receives at his disposal a virtual workplace fully equipped with everything necessary for the operation of the software.

Communications (VoIP)

Antispam and antivirus

Project management

Distance learning

Data storage and backup

All three types of cloud services are interconnected and represent a nested structure.

In addition to various methods of providing services, there are several options for deploying cloud systems:

Private cloud- used to provide services within one company, which is both a customer and a service provider. This is an option for implementing the “cloud concept” when a company creates it for itself, within the organization. First of all, implementation private cloud eliminates one of the important questions that certainly arises among customers when familiarizing themselves with this concept - the question of data protection from the point of view of information security. Since the “cloud” is limited by the company itself, this issue is resolved using standard existing methods. For private cloud characterized by a reduction in the cost of equipment through the use of idle or inefficiently used resources. And also, reducing the cost of purchasing equipment by reducing logistics (we don’t think about which servers to buy, in what configurations, what productive capacities, how much space to reserve each time, etc.

In essence, power increases in proportion to the overall growing load, not depending on each task that arises - but, so to speak, on average. And it becomes easier to plan, purchase and implement - launch new tasks into production.

Public cloud- used by cloud providers to provide services to external customers.

Mixed (hybrid) cloud- joint use of the two above deployment models

Let's start with the definition of cloud computing. This phenomenon is new, so there are not many authoritative sources where this concept is defined. The most comprehensive and fundamental approach to this issue American specialists Peter Mell and Tim Grans from the Laboratory Information Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In my work The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (Definition of cloud computing: NIST version) they write the following (author's translation from English).

Cloud Computing is a model for providing convenient network access on-demand to a shared set of configurable computing resources (for example, networks, servers, data storage, applications and/or services) that the user can quickly use for his tasks and release while minimizing the number of interactions with the service provider or own management efforts. This model is aimed at increasing the availability of computing resources and combines five main characteristics, three service models and four deployment models.

Characteristics of cloud computing:

1. Self-service on demand
   The consumer, when he needs it, can independently use computing capabilities, such as server time or network storage, in automatic mode, without interactions with service provider personnel.
2. Widely accessible via the Internet
   Opportunities are available via the network; they are accessed based on standard mechanisms, which allows the use of heterogeneous thin and thick client platforms (for example, mobile phones, laptops, PDAs).
3. Pooling resources
   The provider pools its computing resources to serve a large number of consumers using the Multi-tenancy principle. Various physical and virtual resources are dynamically allocated and reallocated according to user needs. There is a sense of location independence where the customer does not know or control where exactly the computing resources they use are located, but may be able to determine their location at a more abstract level (for example, country, region or data center). Examples of resources could be data storage, computing power, RAM, throughput,virtual machines.
4. Ability to adapt quickly
   Computing capabilities can be quickly and flexibly reserved (often automatically) for rapid scaling to meet customer needs, and also quickly released. From a consumer's perspective, the available options often appear unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
5. Measurable service
   Cloud systems automatically control and optimize the use of resources through the measurement of certain abstract parameters. Options vary depending on the type of service. For example, these could be: data storage size, processing power, throughput, and/or number of active user records. The use of resources is monitored and controlled; reports are generated. Thus, both the supplier and the consumer receive transparent information about the volume of services provided (consumed).

Service models:

1. Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) – cloud software as a service, hereinafter referred to as “Software as a Service”;
2. Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS) – cloud platform as a service;
3. Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – cloud infrastructure as a service.

We will reveal only the first service model as relevant to the topic of this work. Software as a service (SaaS) is providing the consumer with the opportunity to use the supplier’s applications running on the cloud infrastructure. Applications are accessed from various client devices through a thin client interface, such as a web browser. The consumer does not control or manage the cloud infrastructure on which the application runs, including the network, servers, operating systems, data storage, or even application settings. A possible exception is individual application user settings.

Deployment Models:

1. Private Cloud
2. Community cloud
3. Public cloud
4. Hybrid cloud

We will reveal only the third deployment model as relevant to the topic of this work. Public cloud (PublicCloud)– in this model, the cloud infrastructure is available to everyone or a wide industry group and is owned by the cloud service provider.

Above we defined cloud computing and described its main characteristics. We also provided a classification of cloud computing by service model and deployment model, that is, we talked about what types of cloud computing exist. So what are “cloud services for small companies”?

The concept contains the words “cloud” and “services,” which means we are talking about services provided from the cloud, that is, using cloud infrastructure.

Since these services are intended “for small companies”, then:

1. These services should help you run your business;
2. These services should be affordable for small companies;
3. They must be widely available;
4. They should not require specific knowledge from the consumer (for example, in the field of information technology).

Based on the above, we give the following definition. Cloud services for small companies– these are business automation applications distributed using the SaaS (software as a service) model through the Public Cloud and available to a wide circle customers at an affordable price.

A sociological survey conducted in the United States showed that 54% of respondents firmly believe that they have never used cloud technologies. In fact, the situation is completely different - more than 95% of Internet users use cloud technologies without even knowing it. You use them when you watch online videos, play online games, download music through iTunes, check your Gmail, or access Facebook.

This is how, before our eyes, and completely unnoticed by us, a revolution took place in the field computer technology.
We use increasingly powerful and resource-intensive programs that require increasingly powerful hardware to operate. We are forced to operate on everything large volumes data, and this data needs to be stored somewhere. But if you think about it, we don’t use this super-powerful program very often, and without it we could have bought a simpler computer (like doing it ourselves). And we also don’t need terabytes of data every day.

This is approximately the same logic (only, of course, at a higher level) that Eric Schmidt, who was then the head of , was guided in 2006, proposing new model computer technologies. Actually, he did not propose anything fundamentally new; distributed computing had been widely used before, but he coined the term “cloud” and after his speech, the model he proposed began to develop rapidly.

Modern data centers concentrate colossal computing power and huge volumes of disk space. Modern software and communication channels allow servers located on different continents to work as a single unit. You just need to create convenient system access, and then the entire array of this power can be provided to those who need it. Virtualization tools allow you to divide computing power into individual consumers in any proportion.

And such an access system was developed. Now the user can access remote computing resources via a web service.
Several areas of cloud technologies are already operating and rapidly developing in the corporate sector.

Types of cloud technologies

The first, lowest level is the provision of the right to use as a service software(SaaS). The consumer does not need to buy expensive software and powerful workstation, on which it can work. There is no need to employ specialists who will install, configure and maintain all this equipment. He simply rents the right to use the software and pays only for the time he used it. Moreover, it can work on any device with Internet access, be it a tablet or even a smartphone. After all, all calculations are performed on the cloud side of the provider, and only the results are delivered to the user’s device.

The next level is the provision of a platform as a service. In this case, the consumer receives at his disposal operating systems, database management systems, or development and debugging tools on which he can develop and deploy his projects.

And finally, on top level The entire infrastructure of a large corporate computer network is provided to the consumer in a cloud version.
Well, what do we, ordinary users, get from cloud technologies? We have already mentioned that we often use services deployed in the clouds without knowing it. In addition, we have dozens of different cloud storages at our disposal. They all offer services that are approximately the same in functionality.

Typically the user is prompted to download and install small program and create a folder to store the files you want to place in cloud storage. You need to configure settings for synchronizing files and folders located on your local computer (as) and in the cloud. Everything that will be stored in the cloud will be available to you from any device via the web interface. You can open free access to a folder or file to anyone by sending them the appropriate link.

Let's look at some of the most popular storages

Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 have already been created with an eye to using cloud technologies, the same can be said about operating systems from Apple. 90% of the research budget Microsoft used for the development of this particular area. This means that the pace of development of cloud technologies will only increase.