Cloud Computing Overview
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing can be described as a combination of virtualization servers providing scalable services, applications, storage and infrastructure for multiple clients over the Internet.Where is Cloud Computing available now?
- Microsoft Office Live Small Business
- Microsoft Online Services
- Amazon
- Google Apps
- Yahoo
- Sales Force
- Zoho
- Virtual VOIP
What are Cloud Computing advantages?
- Rapid deployment of services. Deployment in 1 day is possible. Quicker testing cycles.
- Less money needed for on site hardware, administration and maintenance required.
- Less capital expenditure.
- Application access is independent of operating system, Internet browser and computing device type.
- Scalable to handle variable business needs.
- Access to large expensive hardware and services with little costs.
- Electricity costs for local servers is saved in a cloud environment. Virtual cloud servers save on electricity by sharing.
- Disaster recovery from a local event. Easy to set up quickly in a new location.
- Data access independent of location or device. E.g. Home, work or while traveling.
- Telephony can also now be hosted.
- National Fibre Broadband Internet access will allow more access to cloud computing.
- Save about $1000/year in electricity for each physical server (including cooling) by not deployed locally.
- Storage costs are shared which can lower client level fees.
- Lower data centre costs. Less space, cooling, UPS and generator requirements.
What are Cloud Computing disadvantages?
- Monthly fees
- Business data is stored off site.
- What happens to your data if your provider goes out of business?
- If the Internet is down locally then Cloud applications may be unavailable. Some offline synchronizing application options exist.
- Encryption of data transmission and storage needs to be considered.
- Training of programmers with cloud standards.
- Intellectual Property stored off site.
- Cloud computing may not be economic in large organizations
Cloud Computing Building Block examples
- Web Hosting ~$100 per year
- Cloud Server ~$500 - $1000 per year or $0.20 per hour
- Content Management System for Web – free
- Web page editor – free to $1000’s
- Online Office applications $50 per year
- VOIP telephony – from $15 unlimited national calls/month
Cloud Computing Examples
- Global e-Training
- Global e-Commerce
- Software as a service
- Virtual VOIP telephony
- Anywhere Office applications and collaboration
- Email from anywhere
- Online backup services
- Create a automated online service business
Cloud Business Opportunities
- Start a new business with hosted virtual computers and VOIP telephony cheaply
- Control a cloud server for your clients websites
- Use web hosting to create an e-Commerce shop
- Use web hosting to create Information paid site
- Create a Software as a service application
- Build your own cloud computing setup. A physical server can host up to 80 virtual PCs.
- Assist other businesses to operate online
- Search Engine Optimization services
References
http://www.applicationsnet.com/ Virtual Computers, Web Hosting and Virtual VOIPhttp://www.salesforce.com/platform/ Over 100,000 SAAS Applications
http://gears.google.com/ Online and Off Line development platform
http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/ Amazon cloud platform and development environment
http://www.paypal.com.au/au Worldwide payment system
http://www.checkout.google.com Worldwide payment system
http://developer.apple.com/ Develop and sell applications for Apple Online
http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/details.html Online Business Office Apps
http://www.microsoft.com/Online/default.mspx Microsoft Online Services
http://www.joomla.org/ Free Web Content Management Systems. Extra 4000 custom features available.
http://www.nvu.com/ Free Web page editor.
http://www.wampserver.com/en/ Free web server development platform for PC.
Web Traffic Accelerator Sample Search Engine Optimization service
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