Cloud Infrastructure Services: Benefits, Types, and Challenges Unlocked

With the advent of technology, the way businesses used to work have changed a lot. From internal operations to customer expectations, businesses have gone through an immense transformation in recent times. And one of the main challenges that entrepreneurs often faced was of data security and cloud computing solutions were just a game-changer in this department. These smart solutions are now known to offer businesses with more security, agility, and the ability to deliver converged experiences to their customers. In the past, enterprises used to spend a lot on building their IT capabilities, but now things have changed. A lot more can be achieved in a limited budget. Cloud infrastructure acts as a silver bullet here and has provided the benefits of storage, virtualization, computing capabilities to the enterprises that too on reduced cost. 

In this article, we are going to read more in-depth about cloud infrastructure, its type, and some of its benefits.

What is Cloud Infrastructure

Cloud infrastructure is the tool needed to build a cloud. It virtualizes the resources and presents it to the users through application program interfaces. Now, companies can rent cloud infrastructure from service providers like Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure and need to invest much in developing their on-premise IT infrastructure. Networking equipment, servers, and data storage are the main physical components of cloud infrastructure. It typically uses locally attached storage, both solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs), instead of shared disk arrays on a storage area network. 

Types of Cloud Infrastructure

Based on the architecture and the services offered, there are various types of cloud computing solutions. Let’s know them in detail:

Cloud Infrastructure: Architecture Model

Private cloud architecture model

You can create a private cloud yourself with your resources. It is solely dedicated to a single user with completely isolated access. If a company’s business revolves around an application and its data, private cloud architecture offers the services on-premises and in-house. It provides the highest security though can be a bit expensive. These are also called internal clouds or corporate clouds.

Public cloud architecture model

In the public cloud architecture model, the complete computing infrastructure is located on the premises of a cloud computing company that offers the cloud service. Alibaba Cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure are a few of the largest public cloud service providers. It is cost-effective as the cloud provider is responsible for the creation and maintenance of the resources. A user can simply purchase resources on an hourly basis and work with the resources available in the cloud provider’s premises.

Hybrid Cloud architecture model

This uses both public and private clouds depending on the requirement and purpose. Organizations that deal with sensitive data may choose on-site servers where data privacy can be maintained while the ones hosting fewer sensitive data can maintain on the public cloud where cost may be lower.

Cloud Infrastructure: Delivery Model

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service allows you to rent IT infrastructure- the actual servers, network, virtualization, and data storage through an internet connection. It works on pay-for-use service and is available as a public, private or hybrid infrastructure.

PaaS 

Platform as a Service is where cloud computing service providers deploy the infrastructure and software framework. Here the user can develop and handle the apps running on the platform.

SaaS

Software as a service works as per demand and on a subscription basis. It is managed from a central location and helps you maintain typically mobile or web applications that users can access via a web browser. A SaaS service provider can fully manage the applications, data, runtime, middleware, operating systems, services, storage, networking, and virtualization with the help of SaaS.

Advantages of Using Cloud Infrastructure Services

Cost

Cloud infrastructure makes a company pay only for as-needed services. Traditional desktop software costs a lot to companies in terms of finance. Cloud computing significantly lowers the IT expenses as it is available at much cheaper rates.

Storage

There is no worry about running a shortage of storage space. By opting for cloud infrastructure services, businesses can easily store and manage data on off-site file servers instead of building their own physical data centers. It gives us almost unlimited storage capacity.

Agility and flexibility

Cloud Infrastructure services are offered as self-managed where service changes can be made within minutes. The high speed lets you deploy the service quickly in a few minutes. It offers the flexibility of work from home through virtual software. Thus, offers the flexibility to access data shared on mobile devices whenever and wherever. The connection is always on as long as one has an internet connection.

Backup and recovery

Backing up and restoring the data is quite easy as all the information is stored on the cloud. This is usually a time-consuming process if done in on-premise technology. Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Storage offer manageable services along with remote-back up facilities.

Security

Cloud computing services are much secure if the right cloud security measures are in place. Cloud security offers multiple levels of control to provide continuity and protection in a network infrastructure. 24/7 monitoring and live monitoring is the best practices of cloud infrastructure security solutions.

Challenges while using Cloud Infrastructure

Data stealing

Some of the cloud services use another provider's server, hence there is a probability that the data is less secure. If the external server is shut down due to any natural disaster or financial crisis, this creates a loss to the user. Continuous Data Protection should be implemented to avoid issues with data recovery in case of a sudden attack.

Vendor overturn

The cloud is still evolving and hence rapidly fluctuates with new technologies. Also, the whole business is dependable on one infrastructure so if there is any massive overhaul, it could be a big destruction to the business.

Also Read: 7 Reasons Why You Should Choose Cloud Computing Services for Your Business

Connection reliance

A good network is what a cloud infrastructure works on. Any technical issues in the internet connection may lead the cloud server to go down. This slows down the linked data, applications, and software also.

Control

In the public cloud, the control is with the service provider and at times organizations have limited access over the data. This keeps the company restricted to the changes related to designing, implementation, testing, and deployment.

Conclusion

Cloud computing is making all the behind the scenes possible whether it is sending an email, watching movies, or editing documents. As there is more involvement in the cloud services, organizations are turning towards cloud infrastructure service providers to less-hands on with maintaining and managing their services and other storage tools. Cloud computing benefits both small and large industries and thus can scale up to massive capacities in an instant without having to invest in new infrastructure, train new personnel, or license new software. A secure and reliable IT operation with less effort and cost is all that is in line with your needs.