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3.3.2. Cloud Computing Concepts (Models, Characteristics)

šŸ’” First Principle: Cloud computing delivers on-demand IT resources over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing, characterized by elasticity, self-service, and broad resource pooling.

Scenario: A startup needs to launch a new web application. They don't have the capital to buy their own servers. They decide to use a public cloud provider's IaaS offering to host their application on virtual servers, allowing them to pay only for the resources they use and scale up as their user base grows.

Cloud computing is a model for delivering IT services, not a single technology.

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  • Cloud Models (Deployment):
    • Public Cloud: Services are offered over the public internet and are available to anyone who wants to purchase them (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
    • Private Cloud: Cloud infrastructure is operated solely for a single organization. Can be on-premises or hosted by a third party.
    • Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private clouds, bound together by technology that allows data and applications to be shared between them.
  • Cloud Models (Service):
    • IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): The provider offers fundamental resources like virtual machines, storage, and networking. You manage the OS and up.
    • PaaS (Platform as a Service): The provider manages the platform (including OS). You manage your applications and data.
    • SaaS (Software as a Service): The provider manages everything. You just use the software.
  • Cloud Characteristics:
    • Elasticity: The ability to automatically scale resources up and down based on demand.
    • Shared/Pooled Resources: Resources are shared among multiple customers (multitenancy).
    • Metered Utilization: You pay only for what you use.
    • File Synchronization: Services like Dropbox or OneDrive that keep files consistent across multiple devices.

āš ļø Common Pitfall: Underestimating the importance of managing cloud costs. The pay-as-you-go model is a double-edged sword; if resources are not properly managed, costs can spiral out of control.

Key Trade-Offs:
  • Control (IaaS) vs. Ease of Use (SaaS): IaaS gives you the most control but also the most responsibility. SaaS is the easiest to use but offers the least control.

Reflection Question: How does the cloud characteristic of "elasticity" provide a significant advantage over traditional on-premises IT for a business with unpredictable or seasonal traffic?