Components of Cloud Computing

Components in a cloud refers to the platforms, like front end, back end and cloud based delivery and the network that used. All together forms an architecture for cloud computing. With the main components like SAAS, PAAS and IAAS there are 11 more major categories in cloud computing that we will explain here.

Storage-as-a-Service: This is the component where we can use or request storage, like as we do it physically using the remote site. It is also called disk space on demand. This is the main component where even other components will have a base component as Storage-as-a-Service.


Figure 1: Storage-as-a-Service

Database-as-a-Service: This component acts as a live databse from remote where its functionality and other features works as though a physical db is present in the local machine.Its main objective is to reduce the cost of db using many softwares as well as hardwares.


Figure 2: Database-as-a-Service

Information-as-a-Service: Information that can be accessed remotely from anywhere is called Information-as-a-Service. Here the information will be fetched remotely. This includes, for example, live stock prices, internet banking, online news, credit card validation and so on.


Figure 3: Information-as-a-Service

Process-as-a-Service: This component combines various resources such as data and services. This happens either hosted within the same cloudcomputing resource or remotely. Mainly this is used for business processes where various key services and information are combined to form a process. This helps delivery on demand. For example mobile networks (internet settings are sent as soon as activated).


Figure 4: Process-as-a-Service

Application-as-a-Service: Application-as-a-Service (also known as SAAS) is the complete application built ready for use by the client. This is built to use the internet to the end users and the end users normally use browsers and the internet to access this service. This component is the ultimate front-end for end users. Some of the applications are Salesforce, Gmail, Google calendar and so on.


Figure 5: Application-as-a-Service

Platform-as-a-Service: This is the component where the app is being developed and the database is being created, implemented, stored and tested. In recent times this component allows creation of enterprise-level applications easily and is cost-effective.


Figure 6: Platform-as-a-Service

Integration-as-a-Service: Integration-as-a-Service deals with the components of an application that has been built but must be integrated with other applications. It helps in medaiting between the remote servers with the local machines. Stacks from the cloud are fetched and communicated with local machines. For example salesforce has recently integrated Google maps into it.


Figure 7: Integration-as-a-Service

Security-as-a-Service: This is the main component many customers require. Whoever goes for a cloud environment needs security features a lot since all the data and operations are handled remotely.There are three-dimensional securities found in cloud platforms.


Figure 8: Security-as-a-Service

Management-as-a-service: This is a component that is mainly useful for management of the clouds, like resource utilisation, virtualisation and server up and down time management. This will be like a small role like an admin point of view.


Figure 9: Management-as-a-service

Testing-as-a-Service: Testing-as-a-Service refers to the testing of the applications that are hosted remotely, whether there is a requirement to design a working database and there is enough security for the applications and so on. This will be tested even with two or three cross clouds. This will also be a component in the development of cloud products.


Figure 10: Testing-as-a-Service

Infrastructute-as-a-Service: This is called as nearly as possible the taking of all the hardware, software, servers and networking that is completely virtual. This is where all the processes and purchases of resources will take place in the cloud. Our processes will happen but we can't see what's happening at the backend. This avoids the running of multiple servers, heat, cold, temperature and so on.


Figure 11: Infrastructute-as-a-Service

Thus the following:

  • Storage-as-a-Service
  • Database-as-a-Service
  • Information-as-a-Service
  • Process-as-a-Service
  • Application-as-a-Service
  • Platform-as-a-Service
  • Integration-as-a-Service
  • Security-as-a-Service
  • Management-as-a-service
  • Testing-as-a-Service
  • Infrastructure-as-a-Service

Plays a major vital role in the cloud computing components.

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