Home
Computers & Networking
Cloud Computing
How Cloud computing works

Cloud Computing : How It Works, Cloud Computing Architecture

2. Cloud Computing

2.1. How does Cloud Computing work?

The cloud is basically a decentralized place to share information through satellite networks. Every cloud application has a host, and the hosting company is responsible for maintaining the massive data centers that provide the security, storage capacity and computing power needed to maintain all of the information users send to the cloud.

The most prominent companies hosting the cloud are major players like Amazon (Amazon Web Services), Microsoft (Azure), Apple (iCloud) and Google (Google Drive), but there's also a plethora of other players, large and small. These hosting companies can sell the rights to use their clouds and store data on their networks, while also offering the end user an ecosystem that can communicate between devices and programs.

The cloud has to be divided into different layers. These layers are the front-end and back-end layers. The Front-end layer is that part of the cloud with which users can interact with.

Cloud uses a network layer to connect different devices to provide access to resources residing in the centralized data center of the cloud. Cloud technology users can use the data center through the company's network or internet facilities. This technology provides various advantages; users can access the cloud from anywhere at any time, but the network bandwidth should have to be more. This technology not only facilitates desktop and laptop users, but mobile users can also access their business systems based on their demand.

In the Cloud computing system architecture, there is another mechanism of shifting the workload. Local machines don't have to perform massive lifting operations when it comes to run applications. Cloud technology can handle those heavy loaded tasks automatically, easily, and efficiently. This brings down the hardware & software demands. The only thing that the users have to think of is the system's cloud computing interface software, which works merely as a web-browser at the front end of the user.

The cloud's network takes care of the rest along with the back-end. The back-end is connected through a virtual network or internet. Other than that, there are few more components such as Middleware, cloud resources, etc. that include cloud computing architecture. The backend is used by service providers that include various servers, computers, virtual machines & data storage facilities combined to form the cloud technology. Its dedicated server handles each application in the system. The front end includes the cloud computing system or network used to access the cloud computing system. The cloud computing systems' interface varies from cloud to cloud.

The back-end has two principal responsibilities:

Provides traffic control mechanisms, security postures & governing the protocols.
To employ those internet protocols that are connected to the networked computer for communication.

One central server is used to manage the entire cloud system architecture. The server is solely responsible for handling the smoothness of traffic without disruption. Middleware is a particular type of software that is used to perform processes & also connects networked computers. Depending on the client/user's demand, the storage is provided by the cloud technology's service provider.

Cloud Computing Architecture

The cloud infrastructure is closely related to its architecture and comprises many cloud components that are loosely connected.

Front-end
Back-end

Front-end: The cloud technology architecture also consists of front-end platforms (as read in the early chapters) called the cloud client, which comprises servers, thin & fat clients, tablets & mobile devices. The interaction is done through middleware or via web-browser or virtual sessions. Cloud architecture is a combination of both services-oriented architecture & event-driven architecture. So cloud architecture encompasses all elements of the cloud environment.

Back-end: It is the back-end responsibility to provide data security for cloud users and the traffic control mechanism. The server also provides the middleware, which helps to connect devices and communicate with each other.