The cloud is a global network of servers. They are hooked together and operate as a single ecosystem.
There are a number of functions the cloud serves:
- store and manage data
- run applications
- stream videos
- provide email
- offer social media
The cloud is in contrast to files being stored locally on a computer. This allows for larger databases to be built.
Data can be accessed from anywhere requiring only an Internet connected device. Services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are examples of services available due to the cloud.
Software running on the cloud is enhanced by the improved processing power and expanded storage.
Major Players
There are a few major players in the cloud storage field. They are some of the largest names in technology.
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft
- Alibaba
- Oracle
The Top 4 control about 67% of cloud infrastructure.
Ways To Deploy Cloud
There are a number of different ways for corporations to deploy cloud resources.
- Public - services to the public over the Internet
- Private - services are offered over a private internal network typically hosted on-premises of the entity
- Hybrid - shares services between public and private clouds
- Community - shares resources only between organizations, such as with government institutions
Value Proposition
There are many reasons for companies to embrace the cloud.
The value propositions are:
- cost reduction
- device independence
- maintenance
- multitenancy
- performance
- productivity
- scalability
- availability
- security
The main benefit is that companies do not have to deal with the physical infrastructure, leaving that to outside entities. This ends up saving them money when factoring the cost of hardware, personnel, upkeep and internal security.
Disadvantages
While there are a large numbers of benefits, there are some things for corporations to worry about when deploying a cloud strategy.
- compliance
- control
- latency
- outages
Probably the biggest factor in this is control. By employing cloud, there is counterparty risk. Another company has control over the data. It is housed on their node infrastructure, providing an account to access it.
The host provider has the ability to restrict access for any violation of the terms of service.
Hacks can also be a problem. This exists on in-house infrastructure but, with cloud, reliance is upon someone else. It is often a negligible point since cloud companies often have better cybersecurity teams than individual firms. They are also likely to utility artificial intelligence as part of their security monitoring.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence covers a host of different segments. It is essentially the training of software to perform tasks like a human. The goal is to create outputs that are faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
Cloud is a major component of this. Most devices do not have the processing power to train these systems. This is where cloud companies can offer a service. We also see the massive need for data. Much of AI research is still larges amount of computing power coupled with ever growing amounts of data.
Social media companies such as Twitter (X) and Facebook are known for their incredible databases. Tesla is also becoming known as major player in this field with its video training for self driving.
Cloud companies are data warehouses. This is why they are some of the most valuable corporations in the world. They provide the data along with the massive processing power.
The cloud is the epicenter. For applications to provide AI services, this often requires more compute at the edge. This is a race that will take place. As the cloud advancements, similar steps are required in our devices. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are still going to require expanding processing to utilize what is developed in the cloud.