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An Introduction to Cloud Computing UKOLN: Supporting The Cultural Heritage Sector
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is an umbrella term used to refer to Internet based development and services. The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. A number of characteristics define cloud data, applications services and infrastructure:
1 Remotely hosted: Services or data are hosted on someone else’s infrastructure.
2 Ubiquitous: Services or data are available from anywhere.
3 Commodified: The result is a utility computing model similar to traditional that of traditional utilities, like gas and electricity. You pay for what you would like.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS is a model of software deployment where an application is hosted as a service provided to customers across the Internet. SaaS is generally used to refer to business software rather than consumer software, which falls under Web 2.0. By removing the need to install and run an application on a user’s own computer it is seen as a way for businesses to get the same benefits as commercial software with smaller cost outlay. Saas also alleviates the burden of software maintenance and support but users relinquish control over software versions and requirements. The other terms that are used in this sphere include Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Cloud Storage
Several large Web companies (such as Amazon and Google) are now exploiting the fact that they have data storage capacity which can be hired out to others. This approach, known as ‘cloud storage’ allows data stored remotely to be temporarily cached on desktop computers, mobile phones or other Internet-linked devices. Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Simple Storage Solution (S3) are well known examples.
Data Cloud
Cloud Services can also be used to hold structured data. There has been some discussion of this being a potentially useful notion possibly aligned with the Semantic Web [2], though concerns,
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is an umbrella term used to refer to Internet based development and services. The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. A number of characteristics define cloud data, applications services and infrastructure:
1 Remotely hosted: Services or data are hosted on someone else’s infrastructure.
2 Ubiquitous: Services or data are available from anywhere.
3 Commodified: The result is a utility computing model similar to traditional that of traditional utilities, like gas and electricity. You pay for what you would like.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS is a model of software deployment where an application is hosted as a service provided to customers across the Internet. SaaS is generally used to refer to business software rather than consumer software, which falls under Web 2.0. By removing the need to install and run an application on a user’s own computer it is seen as a way for businesses to get the same benefits as commercial software with smaller cost outlay. Saas also alleviates the burden of software maintenance and support but users relinquish control over software versions and requirements. The other terms that are used in this sphere include Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
Cloud Storage
Several large Web companies (such as Amazon and Google) are now exploiting the fact that they have data storage capacity which can be hired out to others. This approach, known as ‘cloud storage’ allows data stored remotely to be temporarily cached on desktop computers, mobile phones or other Internet-linked devices. Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Simple Storage Solution (S3) are well known examples.
Data Cloud
Cloud Services can also be used to hold structured data. There has been some discussion of this being a potentially useful notion possibly aligned with the Semantic Web [2], though concerns,
References: 1. Wikipedia: Software as a service, Wikipedia, 2. Welcome to the Data Cloud, The Semantic Web blog, 6 Oct 2008, 3. Any any any old data, Paul Walk’s blog, 7 Oct 2008,