Cloud Computing for Dummies

The question organizations are going to be left with is not whether they should move to the cloud, rather what strategy they should adopt to move to the cloud.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of on-demand computing on a pay as you go model via the internet. It enables you switch from a CAPEX to OPEX model for Information Technology resources. Cloud exist to eliminate those undifferentiated repetitive task while you focus on strategic task that contribute to the business goals.

Essential Characteristics and Benefits of Cloud Computing.

1. Provides computing resource on demand (compute, servers, network and storage).
2. Permits measurement of services so you only pay for what you use and reduce the cost of running and maintaining data centers.
3. Permits resource pooling thereby benefiting from economies of scale reflected in its pricing.
4. Permits rapid elasticity where users can scale resources on as needed thereby avoiding the need to guess capacity.
5. Trade capital expenses for variable expense.
6. Increase speed and agility. You can go global in minutes.

Challenges of Cloud Adoption.

1. Data security with loss and unavailability of data.
2. Data governance and sovereignty.
3. Legal and regulatory issues.
4. Lack of standardization with evolving technologies.
5. Choosing the right deployment, and cloud service providers.
6. Concerns related to business continuity.

3 Deployment Models for Cloud Computing.

Public Cloud: In this model compute resources such as servers, storage, network, and database are shared with different organization and accessed over the internet. The provider owns, manages and maintains the infrastructure. Users do not own the infrastructure. Same way we pay for water and gas. The Provider bears all the cost. The user is subject to the security and services of the Provider. The benefits include vast on demand resource are available, offers economies of scale, highly reliable even if one physical component fails.

Private Cloud: In this model the infrastructure is provisioned exclusively for use by a single organization. It may be owned, managed and operated by the organization, 3rd party or some combination. It may exist on or off premise. If it is owned and managed by external providers it is provisioned by way of Virtual private Cloud (VPC).

Hybrid Cloud: A combination of on-premise cloud for mission/data critical processes and the public cloud for other processes. You can run sensitive, highly regulated, mission sensitive application on private cloud and less sensitive workload on a public cloud. It could be a hybrid mono cloud (one cloud provider) or hybrid multi cloud (can also be deployed on any public cloud infrastructure)

3 Service Models for Cloud Computing.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides access to computing resources such as servers, storage and networks without a need to manage them. The provider provides access to raw computing resource and the user takes care of the platform and application. Using a car illustration IaaS is similar to leasing a car. You do not own it but you choose the specification, buy the gas, and maintain the car.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): Access to platform (hardware, software, and infrastructure) needed to develop, deploy, manage and run applications without worrying about the underlying compute resource. The provider manages the resources which includes: operating system, database, analytics, middleware etc and you do not need to provision compute resource. Using a car illustration PaaS is similar to renting a car. You do not own it and have limited input to the underlying car as a package.

Software as a Service (SaaS): Software licensing and delivery model in which software and applications are centrally hosted and licensed on a subscription basis. Using a car illustration SaaS is similar to getting a taxi or uber. You simply pay for the service.

Major Components in Cloud Computing.

Photocredit: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Region (1): Region is a geographic area or location where infrastructure is clustered. Regions are bound by laws. The regions are isolated to prevent impact of disasters. A region is made up of zones. To determine what region is right for you, you have to consider:

• Latency (where are my customers located) to improve speed to my customers.
• Cost which is depended on economies and tax laws.
• Compliance e.g HIPPA requirement or other requirements by law.
• Services since some services may not be available in all regions.

Zones/Availability Zones(AZ) (2): Every region has multiple zones with distinct data-centers. Isolation of zones improve fault tolerance, spreads resources across multiple zones and decreases latency.

Virtual Servers (VS): Virtualization is relevant to building cloud strategy. It is the process of creating a software version of compute, storage or network. It is possibly through the hypervisor. Hypervisors pull resources and make available for the environment.

VPC (3) and Subnets (4): A VPC (3) lets you provision a logically isolated section of the cloud where you can launch resources in a virtual network that you define, isolating your traffic. VPC’s are divided into Subnets (4) that must reside entirely within one AZ. Cloud resources, such as VSs (or VSIs), storage, network connectivity, and load balancers, are deployed into subnets within Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs). Using private and public subnets allows users to deploy multi-tier enterprise applications securely.

Internet Gateway (IGW) (5) and Route table (6): The IGW is a VPC component that allows communication between your VPC and the internet. While the route table contains a set of rules, called routes that are used to determine where network traffic from your subnet or gateway is directed.

Networking: In cloud we use logically instances of networking element. Networking is delivered as a service.

Containers: Containers are an executable unit of software in which application code is packaged, along with its libraries and dependencies, in common ways so that it can be run anywhere—desktops, traditional IT, or the cloud. Containers are lighter weight and consume fewer resources than Virtual Machines - helping streamline the development and deployment of cloud native applications.

Cloud Security: This is a joint effort with Security of the Cloud (network, hypervisors, physical location) handled by cloud providers and Security in the Cloud (user data, applications, guest OS, access control) handled by organizations.

Cloud Computing as an enabler for Application Modernization

In the past, applications were siloed and monolithic which were expensive to maintain. The need to accelerate delivery, leverage new technology and become responsive to customers need and changing market dynamics required that we reconsider our approach to application development. Application Modernization helps organizations accelerate their digital transformation, take advantage of new technologies and services, and become more responsive to changing market dynamics.

Application modernization supports micro services architecture with a cloud infrastructure delivered through DevOps.

• Microservices architecture is an approach in which an application is built as a collection of loosely coupled and independently deployable components or services, leading to efficient development, maintenance, and upgradation cycles. e.g search functionality, recommendations or catalogs for an eCommerce site
• Cloud native applications are applications that are built or refactored to work in the cloud environment. These applications, developed using DevOps methodologies, consist of microservices packaged in containers that can run in any environment—making it possible to create and update features in quick iterative cycles.
• DevOps is a collaborative approach that enables development and operations teams to continuously deliver software in quick iterative cycles while reducing overhead, duplication, and rework. DevOps’ tools, practices, and processes help tackle the complexities and challenges posed by the cloud, allowing solutions to be delivered and updated —quickly and reliably.

Cloud Computing Resources: Amazon Web Services (AWS) vs Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Compute

Database (DB)

Storage

Containers

Load Balancers

PaaS

Application Monitoring and Cost Optimization