How does cloud computing work?
Have you ever wondered where and when one of the trendiest buzzwords in technology; ‘cloud computing’ had its origin? It marks a historic shift in the IT industry as more computer memory, processing power, and apps are hosted in remote data centres, or the ‘cloud’, yet its definitive origin is seldom mentioned. Some attribute its coining to network-based computing in the 1960s, but many believe the first use of the term in its modern context was when then Google CEO Eric Schmidt introduced the term at an industry conference.
In its early development, the Cloud was used to portray the empty space between the end user and the provider and is viewed as a metaphor for the Internet. In the days of flowcharts and presentations, the Internet was depicted as a floating white cumulus cloud, making connections and giving information.
In simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive. Cloud computing is thus accessing a network of remote servers on the Internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer. Storing data on or running programs from your hard drive is called local storage and computing. Working off your hard drive means everything is physically in close proximity, and accessing your data is fast and easy from one computer, or others on the local network.
Cloud computing means accessing synchronised data or programs over the Internet, or over the Web. Because the cloud is part of almost everything on our computers these days, the boundaries between local computing and cloud computing is blurry. Microsoft Office 365 (Microsoft OneDrive) represents a form of cloud computing for storage. Google’s Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Maps services could be considered cloud computing. The essence of cloud computing is that with an online connection, most things can be done anywhere, anytime.
Cloud computing and fibre optic broadband
The efficiency and performance of Cloud computing is contingent upon your Internet connection. Without enough bandwidth, cloud computing would be near to impossible. When migrating to cloud computing infrastructure, businesses need to ensure their Internet connection has the right commercial Internet service provider able to deliver the type of fibre Wide Area Network that is suited for this architecture. It is equally important to ensure your service backup is vigorous in the event of line failure. Thus, Internet connections need to be high-speed, reliable and flexible in order to allow computer resources to be easily distributed. Therefore, optical fibre is essential in the new network architectures as bandwidth requirements increase.
What role do Fibre Optics play in Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing allows the centralisation and synchronisation of systems so employees can access and use information more efficiently. The Internet of Things (IoT) and Cloud Computing open opportunities in the Fibre Optic market since increasing mobile usage contributes to rising bandwidth needs. Optical fibre meets these needs. Fibre optics can help businesses streamline their workflow in new, powerful ways to
ensure getting the most out of cloud computing. Accessing information in the cloud requires an Internet connection that doesn’t suffer from periodic interruptions or downtime. Fibre optic cables have high bandwidth capacity, making it an ideal solution for any business that has collaborative or remote work situations.
Fibre optics have the following advantages:
- faster and easier access to the cloud
- increased endurance of connectivity
- better protection from cybersecurity threats
- cutting costs in the long run
- improves your flexibility to changes
- mobile access
- quicker disaster recovery
- prevents data loss
- gives you a competitive edge
Cloud security
We live in an age where data leaks or hacking attempts seem to be a daily occurrence and consequently, concerns about privacy and security in cloud computing often surface. Cloud computing security or, simply, cloud security, includes a broad set of policies, technologies, applications, and controls utilised to protect virtualised IP, data, applications, services, and the associated infrastructure of cloud computing. Security concerns associated with cloud computing fall into two broad categories: security issues faced by cloud providers and security issues faced by their customers (companies or organisations who host applications or store data on the cloud). Physical access to the servers hosting its information is lost when an organisation chooses to store data or host applications on the public cloud. As a result, potentially sensitive data is at risk from insider attacks. The Cloud Security Alliance reports that insider attacks are the sixth biggest threat in cloud computing. Consequently, thorough background checks should be conducted on employees who have physical access to the servers in the data centres of cloud service providers. Data centres must be frequently monitored for suspicious activity. Issues related to cloud security include, among others, identity management, physical and personnel security and privacy.
