It is now impossible to imagine everyday business without the cloud. These services have a clear architecture that is required for cloud operation. There are different cloud architectures, so the services provided also differ.
What are cloud architectures?
The cloud architecture defines the way in which the applications and data can be accessed. There are a number of options as to how a cloud is aligned. A distinction is initially made between three forms of cloud:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
With Infrastructure as a Service, the hardware in the cloud represents the actual service. These are very elementary services, such as the storage or the computing power of the cloud servers. Accordingly, the user has to take care of many areas of the configuration himself. However, at the same time this gives the freedom to use the resources in the cloud freely.
With a Platform as a Service, parts of the servers are already preconfigured. The service providers of these systems manage the operating system and the middleware. Platform as a Service is used by web developers for development environments or for their own web applications.
Software as a Service refers to concrete applications that are placed entirely in the cloud. The service provider provides the entire service and the data is also stored in the cloud.
In addition, the cloud architectures differ according to how access is regulated. There are essentially four different cloud architectures:
- Public cloud
- Private cloud
- Hybrid cloud
- Multi cloud
In a public cloud, a service provider offers a uniform cloud solution that is the same for all users. Microsoft OneDrive is an example of such a solution. The private cloud is an individual solution that is only used by one company.
Hybrid and multi cloud are hybrid variants of these two architectures. In a hybrid cloud, several forms of public and private cloud are used in combination. They form one infrastructure. A multi-cloud, in turn, consists of several cloud services with the same function, which are used jointly and simultaneously.
What cloud solutions are there?
The choice of modern cloud solutions is very broad. Cloud service providers now offer a wide range of different solutions. This starts with simple services such as storage or computing power. Cloud solutions are also used for data backup.
A large area of cloud solutions is applications. These are mainly found in the SaaS area. In addition, there are even cloud services in the area of IT security. These include, for example, Firewall as a Service or SOC as a Service.
How is a cloud structured?
The structure of a cloud usually follows a clear standard. At the center is a server, which forms the basis for the cloud as hardware. It is located in a data center and is connected there to the Internet with high bandwidth. Users of the cloud services then connect to the cloud server via the Internet.
The architecture is then set up on the cloud server. It differs depending on the type of cloud. In the case of SaaS, for example, specific applications run on the server. In the case of Platform as a Service, it is software frameworks. Infrastructure as a Service, on the other hand, provides direct access to the server's resources, such as storage or computing power.
