Cloud Infrastructure
Support the computing requirements of a cloud computing model. Cloud infrastructure is flexible, scalable and cost-effective. It lets you allocate your compute, network, storage and security resources on demand.
MOVING
67% of enterprise IT infrastructure and software will be cloud-based by the end of 2020.
IMPROVEMENT
80% of companies report operation improvements within the first few months of adopting the tech.
SECURITY
94% of businesses report significant improvements in online security after moving their data to the cloud.
USAGE
50% of people said cloud usage would be higher than initially planned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cloud
Managed Cloud Services
Manage, Optimize and Enhance Cloud Efficiency
What is cloud infrastructure?
Cloud infrastructure is a term used to describe the components needed for cloud computing, which includes hardware, abstracted resources, storage, and network resources.
The Benefits of the Cloud Infrastructure
Why bother with cloud applications, hosting, and services? The benefits for organizations of all sizes are significant. For businesses with few, if any, IT resources, cloud applications and hosting can alleviate the need to have a technical team at your disposal. For larger companies, cost savings and access to cutting edge technologies improve customer experiences and accelerate business outcomes without adding significant overhead.
How is Cloud Infrastructure Categorized?
Cloud infrastructure generally is categorized into three parts that all collaborate to create a cloud service:
Computing: The computing portion of the infrastructure is delivered by server racks in order to deliver cloud services for various services and partners.
Networking: To transfer data externally as well as between computer and storage systems, this part of the infrastructure relies on routers and switches.
Storage: A cloud infrastructure will likely need considerable storage often using a combination of hard disks and flash storage
Difference between Private, Public and Hybrid Cloud Architectures
A cloud infrastructure is offered in three methods: private, public, and hybrid. Each offers a varying amount of security, control, and management.
Private: With a private cloud architecture, the service is done in-house and on-premise. Resources are shared internally among gated users for a high-level of control and security for sensitive data. This method is often better executed when a company is big enough to effectively operate its own cloud data center and has the budget to finance it. A private cloud makes sense, for example, if a company’s business revolves around an application and its data.
Public: A public cloud architecture is a service provided, managed, and maintained off-site via the internet. This method can help streamline workflows and collaboration on applications with many users (email, for example), making sharing resources more efficient. However, there is a higher risk of vulnerability with a public offering. A public cloud makes sense, for example, if a company is working on an ad-hoc software development project with a PaaS offering.
Hybrid: A hybrid cloud architecture includes a combination of private and public cloud offerings. This offering provides efficiency with a public cloud and security with a private cloud, but a company must manage numerous platforms at once while ensuring seamless integration. A hybrid cloud makes the most sense, for example, if a company wants to enable a SaaS app while prioritizing security. Therefore, the SaaS provider would create a private cloud within its firewall.
What Are The Three Cloud Infrastructure Delivery Models?
Public cloud service providers deliver cloud infrastructure and related services in three main delivery models: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). The three delivery models vary in terms of which parts of the technology stack are outsourced and which aspects the customer will provide.
In the IaaS model, a cloud service provider delivers networking, data storage, servers, and virtualization capabilities. The customer gains access to as much data storage and computing power as they need, but will be required to provide their own software platform to run on it. This includes operating systems, runtime, middleware, data, and applications.
In the PaaS model, a cloud service provider delivers the full cloud infrastructure (networks, servers, data, virtualization) along with a software platform that includes operating systems, middleware and runtime. The PaaS model is meant to provide customers with the capability to develop, test, deploy and operate their own applications in the cloud, without the typical expense and complexity of building on-site IT infrastructure.
In the SaaS model, a service provider delivers an application through a web-based portal. This removes the need for the customer to store any information about the application on their local hard disk – all of the data storage is located on the servers of the service provider. SaaS companies are responsible for every aspect of the technology stack, from maintaining the cloud infrastructure that supports the application to the application itself.
What Are The Cloud Infrastructure Components?
When an organization purchases cloud computing services under the IaaS model, they are renting or leasing access to computing power, data storage, networking and virtualization capabilities that are owned by another company. Each component of cloud infrastructure plays a role in helping these organizations successfully deploy and deliver applications and other services:
Network
Cloud resources are typically delivered to users over the internet, so there is a need for third-party service providers to build and maintain the networking infrastructure that makes this possible. This infrastructure includes physical wiring, switches, load balancers and routers that help ensure cloud infrastructure is always available for customers when needed.
Storage
Cloud storage services allow organizations to store and manage data on off-site file servers instead of building their own physical data centers. Third-party cloud storage providers like Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Storage can manage and maintain data along with remote back-ups. Data that is stored in the cloud can be accessed via the internet or queried by other applications that are deployed in the cloud. Cold data (data that is not actively being used) can also be stored in cloud infrastructure.
Servers
A server is simply a computer or device that has been programmed to provide a service to a customer or user. There are web servers that serve HTML or PHP files using the HTTP protocol, file servers that store large volumes of information, mail servers that send e-mail over the internet and several other types. In private cloud deployments, organizations may use dedicated servers to store information, while public cloud providers use the multi-tenant model and may use the same server to provide services for more than one customer.
Virtualization
Virtualization may be the most important aspect of cloud infrastructure. Virtualization software abstracts the available data storage and computing power away from the actual hardware, enabling users to interact with their cloud infrastructure through a graphical user interface. Computing resources and data storage are often virtualized in cloud computing, making it easier for users to leverage these resources with added simplicity and less waste.
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Building an IT cloud infrastructure that is flexible, scalable and cost-effective, while executing strategies and frameworks that move IT to an “as-a-service” model, is a daunting task.
Shaarait helps companies in Kuwait plan, architect, build and integrate IaaS solutions across private, public and multi-cloud environments