What Is Cloud Computing? How the Cloud Works

 

This cloud-based technology allows users to take advantage of computing resources such as storage, software, and servers over the internet rather than from their local systems or personal devices. These resources are hosted by remote data centres maintained by cloud providers. It allows students and professionals alike to store files, run applications, and collaborate in real-time without having powerful hardware, as everything happens through the cloud. 

In this blog, we are going to tell you everything there is to know about cloud computing: how it works, its types, its service models, its advantages, and its challenges, especially for university students in the UK. And if your assignments get difficult, the Locus Assignments UK Assignment Helper team will always be there to help you with that.

Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud environments may not be out there for everyone, but each type of cloud environment is unique, and there are different deployment models to suit different needs. Understanding these different types will provide you with a much clearer picture of how it is utilised by various types of organisations.

Public Cloud : 

This is the most prevalent model of cloud services. In this model, a third-party cloud provider owns and operates the cloud service and delivers those services using the public internet. A public cloud can be best understood by describing it as analogous to using a shared apartment block. Many tenants - businesses, or individuals - share the same infrastructure, but each tenant's data remains isolated and secure. Microsoft's Azure cloud service, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google's Cloud Platform product are all best described as it forms. It is very scalable, cost-effective and offers a level of flexibility that is appealing to many businesses, from a small start-up to a large enterprise.

Private Cloud: 

Unlike the public model, a private cloud is only for a single organisation within which it exists. Either the business operates it via its own on-site data centre, or it is hosted by a third-party service provider. A private cloud generally offers more control and security because the resources are not shared with anyone else. A private cloud is considerably more expensive to set up and manage than a public cloud. Many organisations want/need a private cloud because of the required regulatory compliance or sensitivity of the data. A private cloud is like having your dedicated server room with cloud benefits (automation and virtualisation), but the risk is greater since you cannot share and find efficiencies as in a public cloud.

Hybrid Cloud: 

As the name implies, it is a model which utilises aspects of both a public cloud and a private cloud. It facilitates the sharing and transfer of data and applications between both public and private environments. It offers the best of both worlds with the security and control of a private cloud for critical applications and sensitive data, as well as the scalability and cost benefit associated with a public cloud for transient usage and less sensitive workloads. 

Cloud Computing Service Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)

In addition to deployment types, cloud services can also be distinguished based on the level of responsibility and management, often referred to as "as-a-Service". Understanding these will allow you to see how the different service models differentiate cloud offerings and allow users the freedom of choice.

Here is an overview of the three primary service models:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): 

This is the fundamental category of cloud services. IaaS allows you to essentially rent from your cloud provider the minimal IT infrastructure that includes virtualised computers (servers), storage, networks, and operating systems, or, in the way I prefer to think of it, rent the building blocks of IT infrastructure. You, the user, will install and manage your applications, data, runtime, middleware, and operating system. It is akin to renting an unfurnished flat. When you rent the flat, the landlord provides the walls, roof, and plumbing for you to use and has little to no control over what you decorate the flat with. 

Platform as a Service (PaaS): 

PaaS provides a complete development and deployment environment in the cloud. It includes everything you need to develop, run and manage applications, with no complexity of building or maintaining underlying infrastructure. The cloud provider will manage the operating system, server hardware, networking and delivery tools; you just need to focus on your application code and data. Think of it like renting a furnished flat with a fully stocked kitchen - you can get cooking right away with no need to buy appliances or set up utilities. PaaS is very appealing to developers who want to streamline their workflow in order to deploy applications quickly and focus on innovation instead of managing infrastructure.

Software as a Service (SaaS): 

SaaS represents the most common type of cloud computing used by everyday people. SaaS provides software applications on the Internet on demand, usually paid for by subscription. The cloud provider manages and hosts the software application, which includes infrastructure, middleware, and the application data. You can simply access the software application with a web browser or mobile app - you don't have to install, manage or update anything at your location. One way that might help you think about SaaS is to look at it the same way you utilise a taxi service. You use the car to get where you need to go, but you do not own the car, maintain the car, or drive the car yourself. Examples include Gmail, Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel online), Dropbox, and Zoom. SaaS offers tremendous convenience and accessibility; powerful software is just waiting for you at your disposal for anyone who has an internet connection.

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Advantages of Cloud Computing for Students and Organisations

The rise of cloud computing represents more than just another technology trend. It represents a fundamental change in how all businesses operate, along with the potential benefits it has for organisations and individuals, from a student at any university or college to a multinational corporation. Understanding these benefits is important for your assignments.

Here are some of the main benefits:

Cost Savings: 

For both students and organisations, cloud services reduce the capital expenditure associated with hardware purchases and maintenance. Rather than spending capital on purchasing hardware or physical servers, students have access to a robust piece of software, a substantial amount of storage, or even both. Organisations can even change their IT cost model from a capital expense (CAPEX) model to an operational expense (OPEX) model, where they only pay for what they use. Rather than a large capital expenditure for hardware or software licenses plus ongoing maintenance costs, cloud computing organisations free up significant funds for other key priorities and spending. The capital expense and engaging in long-term maintenance activities are eliminated, avoiding a significant upfront capital expense and providing a model with a lot of flexibility. Even students who are capital-constrained have access to a pay-as-you-go model for sophisticated IT infrastructure.

Scalability and Flexibility: 

One key advantage of cloud-based solutions is accessibility is its built-in scalability. If a student needs storage for a large research project or a business experiences a spike in website traffic, cloud resources can, in many cases, be automatically and instantly scaled up or down. This elasticity gives you confidence that your resources will match demand, avoid performance bottlenecks during busy times, and save you money during slow times. This adaptability is something traditional on-premise infrastructure can never provide.

Accessibility: 

Cloud services can be accessed from anywhere that has an internet connection, like a laptop or mobile device, on almost any device. For a UK Assignment Helper actively collaborating with their classmates on a group project, they would be able to access shared documents and applications, whether in their dorm room, in the university library, or even when travelling abroad. Businesses are able to have a fully remote-working workforce while still creating continuity of operations and service, regardless of where. This accessibility across the globe enables collaboration and productivity with no geographical limits.

Reliability and Disaster Recovery: 

Cloud providers tout reliable infrastructure, redundancy, and disaster recovery procedures, allowing users to rely on their data and applications being available and protected from hardware failures and local disasters. For students, this ensures confident assignment file retention. For businesses, this promotes business continuity and significantly reduces downtime while mitigating data loss or disruption in operations, essential at any modern organisation.

Whether you're writing a report or a case study on how cloud computing benefits businesses or students, our UK assignment helpers can help you apply these insights academically and practically. 

Challenges or Limitations of Cloud Computing

It has many benefits for students, but it's also important that students have an understanding of the challenges and/or limitations of it. If students understand these challenges and/or limitations, potentially use the cloud more effectively and have a better assignment.

Security: While many companies may provide great security, users need to ensure things like strong passwords, access controls and encryption, especially with public cloud computing. Security is a shared responsibility between the cloud provider and the user.

Reliance on the Internet: It requires access to the Internet to fully utilise the service. If access to the internet is lost, especially while submitting an assignment, there could be a major problem.

Vendor Lock-in: Once someone starts to use a cloud provider, it becomes more difficult and very costly to migrate to another cloud provider. This is where hybrid cloud can benefit the user with a little more flexibility in accessing the cloud.

Cost Management: While a pay-as-you-go is often an attractive idea, without proper monitoring of usage, costs can add up quickly. Although this could be more of a business concern, students should monitor their usage and avoid over-provisioning unnecessarily.

Conclusion

We hope this UK Assignment Helper's guide has helped you establish a clear and complete understanding of cloud computing, including its basic definition, types, service models, and the benefits and challenges. The technology is no longer just a buzzword but is arguably the backbone of modern digital infrastructure, and it will inevitably be a major aspect of your academic and professional life. 

If you ever find yourself asking, "I need help with my assignment in the UK" or looking for a professional assignment writer in the UK to help you with you assignments, remember: Locus Assignments is a source to support your academic journey. We exist to bring you success and help lessen the burden and load of difficult assignments.