Cloud Computing în the Business Environment

Cloud computing is everywhere and in recent years has become something that no serious business can’t afford to ignore. This paper describes the concept of cloud computing (a computing platform for the next generation internet), what components comprise a cloud solution and various applications you can expect to find. This paper mainly targets the implementation of the “cloud” into the business world (there are 3 major “cloud” solutions for organizations: Compute Clouds, Cloud Storage and Cloud Applications) , it studies the potential benefits (monetary savings, operational and organizational benefits) of using it, but also the issues that need to be considered before making the shift. Our paper gives an overview of the main “cloud” services such as SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and the largest companies that provide these services (Google, IBM, Microsoft, Salesforce.com, Yahoo, Amazon). Although the “cloud” has a lot of advantages, it obviously has limitations and this paper also covers those cases where cloud computing isn’t advisable. Security issues are also covered and the Ecology Center case study is analyzed (how the implementation of the Amazon EC2 cloud helped this company overcome some serious problems).

KEYWORDS: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, cloud computing

1. INTRODUCTION TO CLOUD COMPUTING

1.1. Cloud computing name and diagram

The name cloud computing is used as a metaphor for describing the internet. In network diagrams, the internet is usually displayed as a cloud, like in Figure 1. The cloud figure encompasses all the elements that make the network run properly.

Figure 1.

Description: A cloud is used in network diagrams to depict the Internet.

Source: http://www.techfornonprofits.com/blogger/uploaded_images/New-Network-770142.png

1.2. Defining cloud computing

“Cloud computing” is a new perspective on grid computing, utility computing, virtualization and clustering. The aspect that makes it stand out is that it allows companies and individuals to connect to software on the internet, instead of on a hard drive or local network. Cloud computing is very promising in the new economy because it provides a solution to increase capacity and performance without investing on infrastructure, personnel or software licensing. This concept is still in its early stages and companies are advised to analyze it carefully before making any decisions. Our paper contains a wide range of information and research on the first adopters, how it began and on its potential benefits. The defining of cloud computing is still under much debate. Ask ten different “ cloud” specialists and you’ll most probably get ten different answers. In the past, making the most out of your PC meant installing software, increasing storage or buying new hardware. Nowadays you can access those same programs and applications on the Internet as if they belonged to you. Cloud computing is the next stage in the evolution of the Internet. It is a system that allows users to connect to a wide variety of resources, data and servers that are located somewhere “out there”, instead of more traditional tangible infrastructure or networks. Cloud computing can provide high-end performance to even the most basic client.