When talking about the different innovations that have shaped the modern world into its existing form, cloud computing emerges as one of the most pivotal. It is defined as a means to send and receive different IT services over the internet. Cloud computing can be scaled, up or down, based on how much of it is needed. Cloud computing features a variety of different functions including common examples such as infrastructure-as-a-service, software-as-a-service, and platform-as-a-service. These are examples of different ways that an organization can essentially rent out resources, on-demand storage, and software. The user only pays for as much as they need, nothing more or nothing less. 

The term cloud computing first appeared in the 90s as a derivative of the concept of ‘virtualization’ that first appeared in the 70s. This essentially meant that there would be a virtual computer or machine that would operate similarly to a real computer. Fast forward a few decades and we have cloud computing as a result. In its modern form, cloud computing is more than storing pictures and documents in a cloud drive. While that is one use for it, there is a plethora of other ways it is used. 

Let us now dive into the details and expound on what cloud computing is and the impact it has had. 

Cloud Computing – Defined 

There are three main types of cloud computing:

• Private 

A private cloud network is one where access is only granted to a select group of people. The owner of this network may be an organization, educational institution, or individual. Access to a private cloud is granted by the owner and often monitored. However, a private cloud network does not have to be on-premises. The beauty of cloud computing is that it allows you to set up a cloud computing infrastructure by renting out digital space on a cloud-providers server. 

• Public 

A public cloud has been created as part of an IT infrastructure owned by a cloud provider. The end user does not own the cloud themselves and instead pays to use a part of it. Public clouds are typically run from a data center that houses the servers used to power this infrastructure. A key aspect of public clouds is the fact that they are used by multiple users that must gain access to them. 

Common examples of this include Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. Depending on the provider, you get free or different tiers of paid storage. With such strong competition in this space, the prices for these tiers are often very reasonable. Naturally, the more space you take up, the more you need to pay  

• Hybrid

As the name suggests, these are cloud networks that use both private and public clouds. Hybrid cloud infrastructures use a variety of different tools and services to create a tailor-made network. For example, a large corporation could have an internal private cloud that is only accessible to students and faculty. At the same time, they can also have a public cloud that is used by stakeholders. 

A key distinction in this regard is the fact that these two could work in tandem or independently of each other. Furthermore, the number of integrations is based on usage. A medium-sized school may have a different hybrid cloud compared to that of a multinational organization. 

Impact of Cloud Computing On Internet Services

When we talk about cloud computing and the impact it has on internet services, there are a few key areas where this is evident. 

• Efficiency 

With cloud computing, you have on-demand access to your resources. First, it eliminates the need for having manual records such as filing cabinets and storage rooms. You no longer need to devote space to them or use resources to maintain them. Since all of it is on-demand, you can quickly access resources needed or allocate them in a single moment. All you need is a computer and an internet connection to make it happen. Using one from Spectrum will make this process effortless thanks to their smooth, stable, and reliable connections. To make the most of their high-speed internet connections, click here to join the family.  

• Costs 

By using the cloud, an organization can bring down the cost of operations. Since many cloud providers only charge for as much as you use, you will only pay based on how much you use. This will bring down capital expenditures owing to the fact that you don’t need to pay for maintaining infrastructure or upgrading it. This responsibility falls on the cloud provider that the user pays.

• Scalability 

For any business, scaling operations is pivotal. It is one of the most important aspects of owning a business and cloud computing makes it incredibly easy for the business. Since cloud computing only requires you to use as much as you need, you are not tasked with allotting unused resources. Many cloud computing providers allow for auto-scaling which makes it easier to add or remove resources. This makes it easy to deal with dips or spikes in demand, business growth, and traffic.  

Applications of Cloud Computing In Internet Services

Let us shed light on how cloud computing is being used in the real world. While there are many different uses for cloud computing out there, the most prevalent ones include:

• Website Hosting

By using cloud computing, you gain access to on-demand and scalable resources that accommodate website hosting. Since you can auto-scale with cloud computing, websites can manage any level of load that might visit the website. 

• Big Data

Cloud computing in tandem with the internet of things allows organizations to generate data in real time. This data is then kept in cloud storage to be used almost instantly. Part of the reason why big data has grown at the scale it did is because of cloud computing.

• Software-as-a-service (SaaS)

Emails, customer service management (CRM), and other collaboration tools use the cloud to manage operations. 

• Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS)

Cloud computing is an example of IaaS since it offers services such as servers and databases on a pay-as-you-go basis 

Conclusion

Cloud computing is a major tool used in a variety of ways across different industries. Thanks to it, a wide array of possibilities are opened up which paves the way for different functionality. In the realm of internet services, cloud computing has given new life to the different services mentioned above and many others. Cloud computing has entirely changed the way that different internet services are made and delivered. 

Using the cloud, we have been able to boost efficiency, accessibility, and the ability to scale at will. Everyone from a teenager to multinational corporations is using the cloud for everything from storing their data to developing software and much more. Naturally, there are challenges with it such as security and privacy but this is often offset by the immense potential and room for growth that comes with cloud computing. 

The best part? Anyone can use the cloud to their benefit. You need a supported device like a phone or laptop and an internet connection. The good people at Xfinity have several wonderful high-speed internet offerings. If smooth, reliable, and swift internet connectivity is your goal, click here to learn more about Xfinity internet and its different offerings!