Understanding Cloud Computing (Part 1)

Lately, cloud computing is a topic that has always been the talk of the world of Information Technology (IT).
Almost every day there's always news about cloud computing, both technologically and from a business aspect.
What exactly is Cloud Computing? Is it just mere "hype", or indeed something tangible?And what is the impact for all of us?

Cloud Computing Definition
When we talk about Cloud Computing, in fact are we talking about the same thing?
Many groups provide a definition of cloud computing with differences here and there.
Wikipedia defines cloud computing as "Internet-based computing, when many servers are used together to provide resources, software and data on computers or other devices when needed, just like the electricity grid."
Gartner defines it as "a way of computing as easy IT-based services developed and supple provided as a service to customers using Internet technologies."
Forester defines it as "standard of IT skills, such as software, application platform, or infrastructure, which is provided using Internet technology in a way self-service and pay-per-use."
Simply put, Cloud Computing can we imagine such a power grid. If we need the electricity, whether we should have its own power plant? Of course not. We live contact your service provider (in this case, PLN), plug in our homes with electricity, and we are now enjoying the service. We do a monthly payment based on usage.
If electricity could be like that, why can not computing services? For example, if a company requires application of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). Why do these companies have to buy a CRM application, buying server hardware, and then must have a dedicated IT team to keep the servers and applications?
This is where cloud computing play. Cloud computing service providers like Microsoft, has provided CRM application that can be used directly by the company earlier. They live contact your service provider (in this case, Microsoft), "connecting" with the service company (in this case, via the Internet), and live to use it. Payment? Simply get paid per month (or per year, depending on contract) according to usage. No more investment in the beginning to be done.
In order to more easily imagine, please refer to the illustration in Figure 1.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing
With the rise of talk about cloud computing, more and more companies are announcing that they provide cloud computing services.
It would be very confusing for our users to ensure that the service will we get is a cloud computing or not.
For simplicity's sake, of all the existing definition, can diintisarikan ideal that cloud computing is a service that has the following five characteristics.
1. On-Demand Self-Services
A cloud computing services must be utilized by the user through supermarkets and direct mechanisms available when needed. Intervention service providers is very minimal. So, if we now need a CRM application services (as per the example at the beginning), then we should be able to register for self-service and direct service is available immediately.
2. Broad Network Access
A cloud computing services must be accessible from anywhere, anytime, by any means, provided we connect to the network service. In the example above service CRM applications, as long as we connect to the Internet, I should be able to access those services, be it through a laptop, desktop, internet cafe, mobile phones, tablets, and other devices.
3. Resource Pooling
A cloud computing services should be available centrally and can share resources efficiently. Since cloud computing is shared by many customers, service providers must be able to efficiently share the load, so the system can be utilized optimally.
4. Rapid elasticity
A cloud computing services must be able to raise (or lower) capacity as required. For example, if employees in the office increases, then we should be able to add users to the CRM applications with ease. Likewise, if the employee is reduced. Or, if we put a news website in the network cloud computing, then the case for increasing the traffic because there is important news, then the capacity must be increased quickly.
5. Measured Service
A cloud computing services must be provided in a measurable, because it will be used in the payment process. Please remember that cloud computing services are paid according to usage, so it must be measured properly.

Excess Cloud Computing
Of all the explanations above, what exactly are the advantages of cloud computing, especially for the business world? Here are some of them.
Without Initial Investment
With cloud computing, we can use a service without a significant investment in the beginning.
This is very important for business, especially business beginners (the startup). Maybe in the beginning of the business, we just need a CRM service for 2 users. Then increased to 10 users.
Without the cloud computing model, then from the beginning we've had to buy hardware that is sufficient for many years to come. With cloud computing, we just pay according to what we need.
Changing CAPEX into OPEX
Just as the excess of the first, the second excess still over money.
Without cloud computing, hardware and software investment must be made at the beginning, so we have to make capital expenditures (Capital Expenditure, or CAPEX).Meanwhile, with cloud computing, we can make operational expenditure (Operational Expenditure, or OPEX).
So, exactly the same as the cost of other utilities such as electricity or telephone when we need to pay monthly according to usage. This will really help the company financially.

Developed flexible and Easy
By leveraging the Cloud Computing, we can take advantage of business IT needs.Consider Figure 2 below to see some scenarios business needs.
Use of IT in business is usually not flat course.
In the scenario of "predictable bursting", there is a period in which the use of IT to increase sharply. Simple example is the application Human Resource (HR) that at the end of the month is increasing its use for managing employees' salaries.
For scenario "Growing Fast", the business has grown substantially so that the IT capacity must also be followed.
Example scenario "Unpredictable bursting" is when a website gets visitors who surged news because there is interesting news.
Scenario "On and Off" is the use of IT that are not sustainable. For example, a tax reporting service, which is only used at certain times each year.

Without a cloud computing service, the four scenarios will require IT planning that is very inefficient, since IT investments must be made according to the highest capacity, although it may only occur at certain moments. This is done to prevent service failure occurs when the "peak time" is.
With cloud computing, because it is flexible and easy to develop (elastic and scalable), so capacity can be increased in times of need, with the use of appropriate usage fee.
Focus on Business, not IT
Using Cloud Computing, we can focus on the company's main business, and not involved in the management of IT. This can be done because IT management by service providers, and not by our own. For example, patching, security updates, hardware upgrades, software upgrades, maintenance, and others.
If we have a team of IT, then the team can focus on IT services specific to our business, while the general things are handled by the service provider.
Conclusion
Cloud computing is already present today, including in Indonesia. Thus, cloud computing is not a hype, but has become a reality in the IT world.
Not that we all have to switch the current directly as well: in fact, cloud computing is not for everyone. There is still the type of services that had to be done through on-premise, although there are also services that become very efficient if done with cloud computing.Several types of services can even be done simultaneously (hybrid) by combining these two types of implementation.
Therefore, look for providers who can provide the right advice and best for your needs.The success of the use of cloud computing will be largely determined by the ability of service providers in providing appropriate services and the best for the customer.


Want to know more about cloud computing? Or there is the intriguing question about the discourse of this cloud?

Please ask your question to cloud.now @ infokomputer.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it. The selected questions will we fit InfoKomputer edition was published in April 2011 and get attractive prizes from InfoKomputer.
(Norman Sasono *- Contributors)
The writer is vice president of the International Association of Software Architects(IASA) IndonesiaChapter. Currently working as an Architect Advisor at MicrosoftIndonesia.

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