The 'Cloud'

Link to us: http://sn.im/cloudtype

Now that we know about cloud computing, let’s get to know more about what is the cloud. The cloud basically refers to the larger network of servers and computers connected to one another. Like how the real natural clouds can be categorized into a few types, the ‘cloud’ in cloud computing, which refers to the network of the computers and servers, can also be categorized into a few types. There are a few possible ways of categorising the ‘cloud’. However in this post, we will introduce you to the most common way of categorising the ‘cloud’. These types are private cloud, public cloud and hybrid cloud.

(Image from :http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_computing_types.svg, Aug 2010)

Private Cloud

A private cloud is also known as an internal cloud. As defined from Univa UD, a private cloud is:

“A cloud environment which creates a pool of resources behind a company's firewall and includes resource management and dynamic allocation, charge back and support for virtualization.”

(http://searchenterprisewan.techtarget.com/Types-of-cloud-computing-services-WAN-managers-should-consider, Aug 2010)

It generally includes any virtual server that provides storage or service that is created for the sole purpose of a company or an organization. It can only be accessed by authorized users only, such as the staffs or members of the organization. Consequently, some companies provide these cloud computing services to customers as well.

Public Cloud

A public cloud, also known as an external cloud, as its name suggests, is cloud computing services that are opened to the public. From Univa UD, it is defined as:

“A cloud environment which exists outside a company's firewall, offered as a service by a 3rd party vendor.”

(http://searchenterprisewan.techtarget.com/Types-of-cloud-computing-services-WAN-managers-should-consider, Aug 2010)

It is usually provided by external service providers with or without an amount of fees. As the cloud computing technology is growing rapidly, the numbers of public cloud service providers are also increasing tremendously. This is because it can also be used as a form of business or marketing strategy. Today, there are many major companies and organization that provides free cloud computing services. One of the leading organisations in cloud computing technology is Google. This is because, Google offers a vast collection of web-based applications that are presented with cloud computing. Next we have Microsoft who is also one of the major companies which implemented cloud computing technology and provides cloud services to users, such as SkyDrive. IBM on the other hand has a Cloud Computing Centre devoted to researching and offering cloud services to its users.

Hybrid Cloud

This can be also referred to as mixed cloud. Univa UD has defined it as:

“A cloud environment in which external services are leveraged to extend or supplement the internal cloud.”

(http://searchenterprisewan.techtarget.com/Types-of-cloud-computing-services-WAN-managers-should-consider, Aug 2010)

It is mainly just a combination of both the private and public cloud. Even though it is rarely seen, there are some companies that do offer mixed cloud services.


So now that you know about the 'Cloud', which type of cloud do you think has more benefits? Is it the private cloud? The public cloud? Or the hybrid cloud??

Reference:

Printed Reference:

Michael Miller. 2009. Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online. Que Publishing, United States.

Internet Reference:

UnivaUD: Types of Cloud

URL: http://www.univaud.com/about-cloud/types.php