What is cloud computing? – LinkedIn

Course Transcript

- [Instructor] Before we can begin to explore the cloud including strategies for migrating to the cloud, and cloud tools to consider, we should understand what the cloud really is, so let's begin with a quick overview of the cloud, then what cloud computing means. The label cloud computing is really a metaphor for the internet. If you've ever looked at a network diagram, the internet portion of that network is typically represented by a cloud graphic. Also important to consider, the cloud in a diagram like this will typically represent the part of the solution that is someone else's concern, and that is what cloud computing's all about. By leaving a good chunk of the networking solution in someone else's hands, a person or a business can cut operational costs dramatically while allowing them or their IT departments to concentrate on strategy as opposed to maintaining the data center. But these days it would be overly simplistic to equate cloud computing to the internet. A person or a business might choose to access applications that reside at a location other than their own computers or servers. Think Microsoft Office for example. This would eliminate the need to install applications locally on every computer at home or at the office, and when an update or even upgrade becomes available, there's no work to be done at your end, because someone else is hosting those applications and the updates are completed by them, not you. They handle it all including the cost of the servers that host those applications. Of course data storage has become a big piece in the cloud computing puzzle as well. With some or all of your data stored in the cloud, you can cut capital expenditures since you won't need to buy the equipment needed to store everything. Think of all those photos on your tablet as a personal example. And, one of the biggest advantages to the cloud is the ability to access your applications, and your data from anywhere, on any device that connects to the internet. Users simply login from wherever they are to use their applications, and access their data. No more copying files and transferring them to multiple devices. This is great for sharing and collaborating on files too. Of course with anything IT-related, there are also going to be cons and that goes for cloud computing too, and internet outage can be an issue in cloud computing, cutting off access to your applications and data, preventing you from getting your work done. Sometimes the problem can be with the site you're accessing. If they're having issues, and it does happen, you're once again out of luck trying to get at your applications and your data. Might be rare, but it's a real possibility to consider, and in some scenarios if your company deals with sensitive or proprietary data, it may be necessary to store that data or run that application locally or internally, and not on someone else's machines. Healthcare organizations come to mind, in the sense of the patient data they deal with. So that's a high-level look at cloud computing, including some of the pros and cons. In most business scenarios, you will see cloud computing as an important piece of an overall networking strategy, and not the only solution.

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What is cloud computing? - LinkedIn

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