Today, there are many technologies that are more developed than before. For example, for storing data whether it’s documents, videos, or music on your computer or cellphone. If in the past data storage was still using floppy disks or floppy disks which were expensive and also had little storage capacity, now storing data will be much safer with cloud computing technology.
Even cloud computing is not a matter of data storage, there are many uses of cloud that you need to know. And now, cloud computing has indeed become something that you have to apply for everyday life.
So, what exactly is cloud computing or cloud computing? And how to use it to work properly?
Table of Contents
Cloud Computing
For the first time, first understand about cloud computing. What is cloud? What is the shape of the cloud? Where is the cloud? Do you know? Even though you may have used it before.
In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the internet instead of your computer’s hard drive.
In the end, the “cloud” is just a metaphor for the internet. It goes back to the days of flowcharts and presentations that would represent the internet giant’s server-farm infrastructure as nothing more than a puffy cloud, accepting connections and sharing information as it floats.
What cloud computing isn’t about is your local storage. That’s when you save data or run programs from your hard drive or solid-state drive. Everything you need is physically close to you, which means accessing your data quickly and easily, for that one computer, or another on the local network.
Working from your local drive is how the computer industry has functioned for decades; some would argue it’s still superior to cloud computing, for reasons I’ll explain shortly.
The History of the Presence of Cloud Technology
In the early stages, the cloud was used to express the free space between the end user and the provider. In 1997, Professor Ramnath Chellapa of Emory University defined cloud computing as “a new computing paradigm, where the boundaries of computing will be determined by economic reasons, not just technical boundaries.” This somewhat confusing description is correct in describing the evolution of clouds.
Cloud is gaining popularity as companies gain a better understanding of services and their uses. In 1999, Salesforce became a popular example of using Cloud Computing successfully. They used it to pioneer the idea of using the Internet to deliver software programs to end users.
The program (or application) can be accessed and downloaded by anyone with Internet access. Businesses can purchase software on demand, in a cost-effective manner, without leaving the office.
Amazon & Google-The Official Birth of Cloud Computing
In 2002, Amazon introduced web-based retail services. This was the first big business to think of using only 10% of their capacity (which was common at the time) as a problem to be solved. The cloud computing infrastructure model gives them the flexibility to use their computer capacity more efficiently. Soon after, other large organizations followed their example.
In 2006, Amazon launched Amazon Web Services, which offers online services to other websites, or clients. One Amazon Web Services site, called Amazon Mechanical Turk, provides a variety of cloud-based services including storage, compute, and “human intelligence.”
In the same year, Google launched the Google Docs service. Google Docs was originally based on two separate products, Google Spreadsheets and Writely.
Google bought Writely, which offered tenants the ability to save documents, edit documents, and transfer them to the blogging system. (This document is compatible with Microsoft Word.) Google Spreadsheets (acquired from 2Web Technologies, in 2005) is an Internet-based program that allows users to develop, update, and edit spreadsheets, and share data online.
An Ajax-based program is used, which is compatible with Microsoft Excel. Spreadsheets can be saved in HTML format.
In 2007, IBM, Google, and several universities joined forces to develop server farms for research projects that required fast processors and large data sets. The University of Washington was the first to register and use the resources provided by IBM and Google.
Cloud Service Type
Services from the cloud consist of several types. And of course, for each type has a different type of service and also a different use. For that, know each type of cloud computing service first before you use it.
1. SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS is a software delivery method that allows data to be accessed from any device with an internet connection and a web browser. In this web-based model, the vendor of the software hosts and maintains the servers, databases, and code that make up the application.
And for good reason. Business applications delivered via web browsers have no painful installation or strict contracts, and are paid for overtime, not all at once. This usually makes the system more flexible and affordable enough for any budget.
2. PaaS (Platform as a Service)
In the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) model, developers essentially rent everything they need to build applications, relying on cloud providers for development tools, infrastructure, and operating systems.
It is one of the three cloud computing service models. PaaS greatly simplifies web application development; from a developer perspective, all backend management takes place behind the scenes. Although PaaS has some similarities to serverless computing, there are many important differences between them.
3. Iaas (Infrastructure as a Service)
In computing, infrastructure refers to the computers and servers that run code and store data, as well as the cables and equipment that make the connections between those machines. For example, servers, hard drives, and routers are part of the infrastructure.
Before cloud computing became an option, most businesses hosted their own infrastructure and ran all their applications on-premises.
Functions of Cloud Computing
If we look briefly at the history and understanding of cloud computing, it is the delivery of various services over the Internet, including data storage, servers, databases, networks, and software. Cloud-based storage makes it possible to save files to a remote database and retrieve them on demand.
1. Increase Data Storage Capacity
In general, this is the function of cloud computing that is often used. Sometimes, you’ve backed up your photos on your phone on Google Photos or on iCloud, right? That is one of the functions of cloud computing, which is to increase the capacity of data storage on your smart device.
2. Improving Stakeholder Performance
The next function is to increase the performance of stakeholders. By using cloud-based storage, the work power of each stakeholder in a business will be more productive and optimal. Where, each team or department can be connected to each other at the same time and can save existing resources.
3. Get System Updates Periodically (Up to Date)
You certainly know that the computer system will continue to be up to date because it is for system security and user convenience. Cloud computing has this very important function.
The update aims to improve security, then improve features to provide a better experience for online users around the world. Thus, every storage operation becomes more secure, targeted, and has high credibility.
Owned Benefits
When you use cloud computing, there are many benefits that you can get, including:
- Backup and restore data
- Increased cooperation
- Excellent accessibility
- Low maintenance cost
- Mobility
- IServices in a pay-per-use model
- Unlimited storage capacity
- Data security
Use of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is very useful in today’s era. There are already many companies or businesses that use cloud to help ease their work. Some of its uses are invisible, but you can feel them.
For example, Google Drive, Dropbox, and various social media also use cloud computing technology.
Health
Medical devices have also applied cloud methods, including Telemedicine, which is a long-distance communication tool between health personnel and patients and also as an intermediary media for transferring medical data from one location to another. Not only Telemedicine, cloud computing is also used in Electronic Health Records, and Teleradiology analytics.
Teaching Field
Cloud computing used in teaching includes Google Talk, Google Video for Education, and Google Classroom. All of these applications can make it easier for teachers and students in the process of learning to educate.
Government Sector
The government sector has also applied cloud computing. The figures of cloud in the government sector are the outsourcing of ICT management services by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) and the application of cloud in the work methods of the Nuclear Energy Supervisory Agency and the Ministry of Research and Technology (Kemenristek).
Here are some explanations about cloud computing from Netdata about the development of Cloud Computing in Indonesia which is currently growing, and hopefully useful.