Types of Cloud Computing

Types of Cloud Computing: A Complete Guide

An internet-based computing in which a shared pool of resources is accessible through wide network access. These resources can be allocated or released with little management work or service provider contact. Cloud computing is further subdivided into service models and deployment models. Service models include IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and FaaS. The deployment models are Public Cloud as shared infrastructure, Private Cloud for personal usage, Hybrid Cloud as an integrated model, and Community Cloud for group users. Additional types include Multi-Cloud and Distributed Cloud, targeted to different business needs such as flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing represents a technology that offers via the Internet computing services which include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—so called "the cloud." Thanks to the ability of this technology to offer scale-up, adaptable computer resources through the Internet, cloud computing has now become a new source for making changes in company operations. This is because companies have managed to access information, programmes, and services irrespective of the time and the geographical location, thus promoting efficiency while curbing costs. Cloud computing allows organizations to focus on innovation and growth rather than maintaining systems as it does away with any on-premises infrastructure.

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Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is broadly categorized under various types based on the service models and deployment models. Here is a nutshell view:

Service Models

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

• Delivers virtualized computing resources over the internet.
• Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Compute Engine.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

• Provides platforms for the development, running, and managing applications without managing underlying infrastructure.
• Example: Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure PaaS, Heroku.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

• Delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis.
• Example: Google Workspace, Salesforce, Microsoft 365.

Deployment Models

1. Public Cloud

• Third-party providers host and make available over the internet.
• Example: AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure.

2. Private Cloud

• Is dedicated to a single organization to have control and security over it.
• Example: VMware, OpenStack.

3. Hybrid Cloud

• Public and private clouds are combined to share data and applications between them.
• Example: IBM Hybrid Cloud, Microsoft Azure Stack.

4. Community Cloud

• Shared infrastructure for specific communities who have common interests or requirements.
• Example: CERN Cloud Infrastructure.

5. Multi-Cloud

• Using multiple public clouds of different providers for specific services.
• Example: A mix of AWS and Azure services.

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Types of Cloud Computing by Service Models

1. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

• It offers scalable and virtualized computing resources, including servers, storage, and networking, over the internet.
• Here, the users can enjoy the fully controlling rights on infrastructure through accessing virtual machines, storage, and networking components, with the option of customizing and managing them.

2. PaaS (Platform as a Service)

• It provides a platform along with an environment for the developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without going for underlying infrastructures.
• It provides development frameworks, databases, and middleware for tools and services that facilitate the application development lifecycle.

3. SaaS (Software as a Service)

• It's a kind of subscription service to SaaS through which software applications can be accessed over the internet. So, users will not require to install and maintain their software locally nor update the software.
• This service allows the users to access the applications from any device connected to the internet, hence flexibility and accessibility.

4. Serverless Computing

• Serverless computing provides abstracts for server management, so developers can concentrate solely on writing and deploying code without managing the servers.
• It automatically scales the resources based on demand. This in turn helps to reduce the operational overhead as well as the cost and supports the rapid application development and deployment.

Difference Between All the Service Models:

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Types of Cloud Computing by Deployment Models

1. Public Cloud

• Public clouds are third-party-managed services that provide cloud services to the general public over the internet, which is usually offered on a pay-as-you-go basis. This helps reduce the cost of IT infrastructure and is quite suitable for peak loads. Public clouds are often the ideal choice for small businesses, as they need not invest heavily in large upfront operations. These clouds are multitenant and serve multiple users, each in an isolated virtual environment.
• Examples: Amazon EC2, IBM Cloud, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

Advantages of Public Cloud

• Scalability
• Cost-efficient

 Disadvantages of Public Cloud

• Security issues
• Less control
• Transparency

2. Private Cloud

• Private clouds are operated on dedicated infrastructure and provide dynamic provisioning of computing resources. They may not be using the pay-as-you-go model; they may be using internal billing or other schemes. They are managed by organizations like HP, Microsoft, and others.
• Examples: VMware vCloud Suite, OpenStack, Cisco Secure Cloud, Dell Cloud Solutions, HP Helion Eucalyptyus.

Advantages of Private Cloud

• Data stays in a private infrastructure; this is an advancement in security.
• Offers such services as clustering, data replication, and disaster recovery.
• It is easier to come up with third-party regulatory compliance.

Disadvantages of Private Cloud

• It only becomes accessible in a limited geographical location.
• Requires skilled personnel

3. Hybrid Cloud

• Hybrid cloud is the composition of elements of both public and private clouds so that the organization can benefit from both. It overcomes some limitations of the private cloud in terms of scalability through utilization of public cloud resources.
• Examples: AWS Outposts, Azure Stack, Google Anthos, IBM Cloud Satellite, Oracle Cloud at Customer

Hybrid Cloud Advantages  

• Cost-effective 
• Less Complexity
• Management challenges

4. Community Cloud

• Community clouds are shared infrastructures meant to serve specific communities, industries, or sectors. The responsibility is shared among organizations, but managing them is not easy.
• Examples: CloudSigma, Nextcloud, Synology C2, OwnCloud, Stratoscale

Community Cloud Advantages

• Cost-effective
• Scalability and flexibility
• Community Cloud Disadvantages
• Lack of applicability
• Sharing of responsibilities

• Community Cloud Applications
• Media Industry
• Healthcare Industry
• Energy and Core Industry
• Scientific Research

5. Multicloud

• Multicloud involves taking services from more than one provider, so that an organization can choose the best for its requirements and at the same time avoid getting stuck with one vendor. The business can, therefore, leverage every provider's specific strengths. 
• Examples: Cloud Foundry, Kubernetes, Apache Mesos, Red Hat OpenShift, Docker Swarm

Advantages of Multicloud

• Flexibility
• Cost-efficiency
• High Performance

Limitations of Multicloud

• Managing different providers with their respective services will require knowledge of managing these.
• Higher costs
• Interoperability problems
• Less interoperable

Differences Between All the Deployment Models: