Cloud Servers: Redefining Data Storage & Processing

THE ENDLESS CLOUD TECH:
Before diving deep into cloud servers, let's first understand what cloud computing is through an example…

Ex: Joe has come up with a game called “Farm-Frenzy” and he desperately wants to share that with his friend Jack. He thinks of transferring it from his hard drive to Jack's PC.
But Jack knew exactly what to do! Why don’t you move your application to the cloud?
Cloud computing is the practice of using internet-based servers where you can easily store your data instead of storing it on your local computer.
Note: Internet-based servers can easily store, process, and share data, files, and software.

But why should Joe do this?
Of course, to have immediate access to such a large bulk of data from anywhere in the world.
Developers can have immediate access to so much data on larger servers without needing their own large computers. The servers pull and store data from various sites. A basic advantage is that you can easily increase your storage in the cloud as per your needs without increasing your system’s RAM.
Yeah!!! Joe looks really happy with this cloud idea. He can easily access his files now from anywhere. This is the beauty of the cloud.
Now comes a bit of a conundrum which cloud service provider to choose from??

Note: A cloud service provider is a third-party company that offers various cloud-based services like infrastructure, applications, and platforms to deploy or store services. There are multiple Cloud service providers in the market like AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud Service, Google Cloud Platform, Adobe Creative Cloud, ServerSpace, etc.
Different cloud systems have different great features with different trade-offs.
Cloud servers let users and developers see traffic data like where people are viewing, what they are viewing, at what times of the day, and for how long. Companies use the cloud to analyze the data, determine improvements to current products or sites, and add new features according to their user choices.
The factors to be considered while opting for cloud computing systems are-

Flexible Infrastructure

It means to easily increase or decrease storage and compute services based on the data and storage needs while maximizing performance, simplicity, scalability, and agility.

Speed

A faster server may cost more, but at the same time, it allows more people to access your digital items faster, increasing their global reach.

Flexible Coding

Through flexible coding, the systems like AWS or Azure can speak various coding languages, allowing them to interact with any internet system around the world.

Pay As You Go

It is a payment method in cloud computing based that charges based on usage of services. Pay for as much storage as you need. You can easily up and downgrade with a simple click- anytime or anywhere. This is highly cost-effective and extremely scalable.

Finally, Joe has found the best service provider for his application.So let’s dive into a bit more about Cloud Servers.

What Are Cloud Servers?

In order to provide quicker innovation, adaptable resources, and scale economies, the use of cloud computing is the distribution of computer services over the Internet ('the cloud'), including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence.A cloud server is an internet infrastructure that offers customers remote access to computing capabilities. Consider a cloud server as an individual computer that you can configure and manage similarly to an on-premises laptop or desktop.
We can define this evolution of Cloud servers into 3 phases

• Traditional Servers: Traditionally, businesses kept physical servers on their property. The management of these systems required a lot of resources and was expensive.

• Virtualization: The development of virtualization technology has made it possible for businesses to set up several virtual computers on a single physical server. Although resource usage was increased, on-premises hardware was still needed.

• Cloud servers: Cloud computing has changed the game by making it possible for users to access computing resources online. Cloud servers provide cost-effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility by doing away with the requirement for physical infrastructure. The cloud computing era was ushered in by pioneering providers including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Also Read: Benefits of Virtualization in Cloud Computing

Types of Cloud Servers

Public Cloud Server

Infrastructure from cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is used to host public cloud servers. They may be accessed online and are very scalable. They are appropriate for a wide range of applications and enterprises since users may provision and manage resources on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Private Cloud Server

Private cloud servers are specialized cloud infrastructure that is only used by one company. Compared to public clouds, they provide more personalization, control, and security. Enterprises with special compliance or security concerns frequently opt for private clouds.

Hybrid Cloud Server

Environments that use hybrid clouds incorporate aspects of both public and private clouds. Hybrid cloud servers are used by businesses to combine on-premises infrastructure with resources from public or private clouds. This strategy offers flexibility and enables businesses to take advantage of cloud computing while keeping some data or apps under their control.
NOTE: Public cloud servers, private cloud servers, and hybrid cloud servers are particular instances or resources within the public, private, and hybrid clouds, which are overarching cloud deployment types. Hybrid cloud servers can be spread across both public and private clouds to provide a unified and adaptable IT infrastructure, whereas public and private cloud servers are housed within their own cloud environments.

Cloud Service Providers

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

The cloud computing sector is led by AWS, without a doubt. In addition to processing power, storage, databases, machine learning, analytics, and other services, it also offers a full range of cloud services. Because of its dependability and scalability, AWS is renowned for having a broad global network of data centers.
Some of its popular services are-

• Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud): Provides scalable virtual servers in the cloud.

• Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service): Object storage for data storage and retrieval.

• AWS Lambda: It is a serverless computing service for running code without managing servers.

Microsoft Azure

Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform, offering a wide range of services and deep integration with Microsoft products. It is known for its hybrid cloud capabilities and extensive developer tools.
Some of its popular services are-

• Azure Virtual Machines: Scalable virtual servers

• Azure Blob Storage: Object storage for unstructured data

• Azure Functions: Serverless Computing Platform

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

The highly recognized and reliable cloud computing platform provided by Google is called Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Globally recognized for its superior data analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities, GCP has grown in appeal among companies and developers. GCP offers a full range of cloud services that make it simple and effective for businesses to create, launch, and expand applications.
Some of its popular services are-

• Compute Engine: VMs with custom performance.

• Cloud Storage: Object Storage

• Cloud Functions: Serverless Computing

IBM Cloud

The IBM Cloud has a focus on multi- and hybrid cloud solutions. With a significant focus on enterprise clients, it offers a variety of cloud services, such as data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Some of its popular services are-

• IBM Virtual Servers: Scalable cloud-based virtual machines

• IBM Cloud Object Storage: Scalable and durable object storage

• IBM Cloud Functions: Serverless compute platform

Alibaba Cloud

As part of the Alibaba Group, Alibaba Cloud offers cloud computing services globally. It provides a wide range of cloud services, such as computing, storage, and artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. Alibaba Cloud is the go-to option for companies wishing to scale and develop in the cloud because of its rapid expansion and Asia-Pacific presence.
Some of its popular services are-

• Elastic Compute Service (ECS): Virtual servers with various instance types.

• Object Storage Service (OSS): Scalable object storage.

• Function Compute: Serverless computing platform.

Digital Ocean

A popular cloud service provider for developers, startups, and small to medium-sized companies is DigitalOcean. It distinguishes itself through simplicity, open pricing, and rapid server deployment. It's a top choice for hassle-free cloud computing, especially in web hosting and app development, thanks to a vibrant community and features like managed databases and Kubernetes.
Some of its popular services are-

• Droplets: Virtual private servers.

• Kubernetes: Managed Kubernetes service.

• Managed Databases: Services for PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis

Why Opt for Cloud Servers?

• Cost Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go pricing and lower capital expenditures are examples of cost-effectiveness.

• Scalability: Resources can be easily scaled up or down as necessary.

• Speed and Agility: Speed and agility include fast deployment and adaptation.

• Security: Disaster recovery, security services, and encryption all pertain to security.

• Flexibility: Design infrastructure to meet particular requirements.

• Global Accessibility: Easily accessible from any location.

• Maintenance: Managed services and automatic updates for upkeep

Conclusion

Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend cloud computing service providers while thinking about cloud servers. These service providers provide the infrastructure, equipment, and services required to establish, oversee, and maximize cloud server resources in accordance with your particular needs. Whether you use public, private, or hybrid cloud servers, the performance, scalability, and general success of your cloud computing endeavors will be greatly influenced by the service provider you choose.