In the previous part we discussed about Cloud Computing definition.
In this part let us discuss various applications in Cloud Computing. I am going to discuss these applications under three major categories:
- Infrastructure as a Service
- Platform as a Service
- Software as a Service (SAAS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
IT Managers employing IaaS need not worry about hardware upgrades on the server, nor hardware failures. Instead they simply focus on how much capacity needed to support their organization computational needs and acquiring that using simple on-demand request to Cloud Vendors.
IaaS also simplifies expensive procurement, installation and configuration process from days (or weeks) to few hours (or minutes). With these savings from Operational processes, they can focus on strategic initiatives and R&D projects by converting expensive CAPEX projects to operational expenses.
If you are new to the Cloud, it is good idea to migrate your Development and Testing environments on Cloud to get comfortable before moving your production environments to Cloud.
Take advantage of metered billing; know exactly your costs for the computing usage, either to bill back your customers or for cost distribution.
For occasional high computing needs instead of employing massive parallel computers or mainframe, think about getting on to cloud with Cloud providers who provides high-computing needs.
For Backup Services, again Cloud Backup Services are excellent; as your archival needs grows you can increase your storage requirements with Cloud provider on-deand.
In addition IaaS vendors provide monitoring, analytical services on the infrastructure along with detail billing capabilities.
IBM offers Smart Cloud Foundation enables organization for Private and Hybrid Cloud needs with whole stack of services and tools to build your own Cloud infrastructure service by converting all those technologies into Services.
Amazon EC2 provides excellent public / virtual clouds with completely automated web service based computing Machines which are pre-configured, templated Amazon Machine Image (AMI) to get up and running immediately or create an AMI containing your applications, libraries, data and associated configuration settings.
There are lot of other Cloud Vendors provide services in various forms in IaaS. Think about Service Levels on scalability, global reach, metered billing, Security, reliability before finalizing IaaS vendor.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Moving beyond infrastructure, if you are focused on Cloud based application development, PaaS vendors are providing Cloud Application development platforms, allowing Developers to focus on development and not worry about Infrastructure Installation, upgrades, release management, scalability or monitoring.
If you got an application idea, this is quickest way to develop application and make it available to global audience without any expensive upfront infrastructure costs. As application demand rises, you can increase capacity and meet your scalability needs with incremental costs.
Google App Engine provides Application Development Platform on Python, Java and Go languages to develop applications.
Windows Azure is another PaaS provides an open and flexible cloud platform that enables you to quickly build, deploy and manage applications across a global network of Microsoft-managed datacenters. You can build applications using any language, tool or framework.
IBM SmartCloud Application Services—delivers a secure, collaborative cloud-based environment that supports a full lifecycle of accelerated application development, deployment and delivery.
Force.com Cloud application development platform by Salesforce is another example. Here applications also developed on the browser using Force.com platform.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
This is biggest market in Cloud Computing. No hardware, no software, use applications provided by Cloud Vendor in a multi-tenant model at extremely reasonable rate based on the usage. If you have a browser you are all set to run your business using SaaS application by paying based on the usage or per user basis.
Google Apps is best example at ~$4 per user per month you can have corporate email, collaboration tools, office tools, document storage with your own domain. No need to worry about expensive software licenses, hardware costs, and support.
Sales Cloud from Salesforce.com is leading CRM application on Cloud on per user basis it is easy to onboard and enhances your sales process.
Some of the vendors are offering SaaS as part of their product EcoSystems. For example Apple iCloud provides seamless integration of content across its products (IPad, Iphone, iMac, iPod etc.) by syncing photos, emails and contacts using iCloud .
IBM offers number of products in SaaS arena by providing Software as a service in Business Process Management (BPM), Analytics, Social Business, Smarter Cities, “Buying, Procurement and sourcing”, selling and Merchandise, Cloud Integration tools etc.
Having so many applications on Cloud and off-cloud, there is demand for integration of these applications to exchange data and complete the business process. In the next section I am going to discuss about IBM Cast Iron, Cloud based integration tool how we can integrate these Cloud applications quickly to improve connectivity and create business value.
