What is the cloud computing today?

Definition of cloud computing

For some people, cloud computing is synonymous with the Internet. Although in many cases, there is a close correspondence between the two, but in fact there are some differences. The detailed definition of cloud computing is a daunting task, and there is a certain "when I see it, I know". The National Security Technology Agency (NIST) provides a good start on the definition of cloud computing. Although it should not be regarded as authoritative in absolute sense, it can serve as a basis for our discussion.

NIST's definition of cloud computing covers three areas: basic features, service patterns, and deployment patterns. These areas can be more or less decomposed into what cloud computing looks like, what it does, and how it is done. The basic features are largely self-evident: on-demand self-service (basically automated), extensive network access (services can be accessed through standard channels, such as mobile devices via the Internet), resource pools ("Off the Grid"), fast elasticity (what resources you need, and when you need it), and measurement services (service configuration and billing functions).

The NIST service model includes software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). The scope of cloud services can range from providing users with the results of the application (SaaS) to simply providing the hardware to remotely run the software stack (IaaS). Cloud computing is essentially software that outsource hardware with different service levels: Customers can interact with cloud services using browsers, or they can run all programs, including applications and operating systems, on the hardware (servers, etc.) provided by the vendor.

Of course, the deployment model is uncontroversial: the private cloud (the entire service is dedicated to a single customer), the community cloud (a specific set of customers with limited service), the public cloud (understandable as the Internet) and the hybrid cloud (some of the above combinations).

Again, this definition should not be considered an authoritative definition or a detailed definition, but it provides a direction to define the cloud, preventing some unrelated products from being involved in the discussion.

Cloud Wash White

Novelty is often a selling point, so it is natural that businesses often try to keep their products in line with the latest trends. Therefore, the "cloud wash white" phenomenon also emerged. Because cloud computing is a great new thing (or less new, after all, it is fundamentally different from the previous computing model in the definition of NIST), if the term can somehow become a product name, it will attract more attention. A considerable number of enterprises began to cloud the white business, such as Oracle Company.

A more obscure example is Adobe's Creative Cloud, according to an article in the Internet News blog Mashable: "It's not a cloud-based application at all." The CEO of Adobe described it accurately as a hybrid solution. Customers still need to install local software in subscription mode, which means that customers can get the latest software updates and all cloud-based services and consolidations in the first time. The product has some cloud computing elements, but many of the same products with cloud computing elements do not have names associated with cloud products. Perhaps the key factor is the core of the system software, such as Photoshop, which runs on the user's local computer and stores the local storage as the default for the file. The new Adobe model seems to favor software ordering rather than cloud services.

Integrated integration

One of the main characteristics of cloud computing is that in many cases it usually involves the minimum amount of hardware and software outsourcing to achieve centralization of resources. With the popularity of PCs, the cost of computing power has declined, leading to decentralized computing power. But the cloud model reversed the trend: computing power, including storage, is becoming increasingly concentrated in the data center so that it can serve a large number of customers. This trend raises some concerns, particularly the impact of downtime (many customers will be affected, not just a few customers) and the likelihood of a cascading failure. Other issues include the lack of control of resources by smaller and larger companies, and the impact on privacy, especially given the appalling news that similar to last year's National Security Service scandal and the complicity of major technology companies.

Integrated integration does serve the mobile market well. However, mobile device users often lack the same computing power as fixed PCs due to the heat dissipation and limited space of the equipment. At the same time, storage becomes a problem. Thanks to the central integration and the relatively ubiquitous distribution capabilities of the Internet, cloud service providers can provide remote hardware for computing and storage, as well as the ability to synchronize data across multiple connected devices.

Maturity

One of the main concerns about new products or business models is that they are too novel to be able to withstand the use (and abuse) of pressure. Security has been a major problem in the context of cloud computing, but in many ways cloud computing has matured in this area. To be sure, it's not perfect, but none of the systems are perfectly safe. While cloud computing's concentration has created potentially larger targets for hackers and other malicious attackers, it has also brought more security investments, so it has at least reached a certain level of balance. At this point, however, cloud services or local computing are fundamentally less secure than each other (except for the physical and network separation of the local model).

Conclusion

NIST's definition of cloud computing is a good starting point, but it does not have to be an authoritative or exhaustive definition. Cloud computing is based on its basic characteristics, service patterns, and deployment patterns. A good definition, or at least a tentative definition, is the need to filter out non-cloud products through cloud-cleaning to raise the market's focus on cloud computing. One of the main consequences of the increasing reliance on cloud technology is both positive and negative. Although it can reduce costs through economies of scale and achieve better mobility, it also creates the possibility of a single failure leading to greater damage. Given the U.S. National Security Agency scandal, cloud computing has received some negative attention, and many privacy issues remain unresolved. But cloud computing is a mature (or almost mature) model, although it will be refined further over time, and in some cases can provide a value for local computing power. The key is that the final customer evaluates their needs and determines whether the cloud services really can deliver value to their particular application.