Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information, are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like the electricity grid.
It is a paradigm shift following the shift from mainframe to client–server that preceded it in the early 1980s. Details are abstracted from the users who no longer have need of expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure "in the cloud" that supports them. Cloud computing describes a new supplement, consumption and delivery model for IT services based on the Internet, and it typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet. It is a byproduct and consequence of the ease-of-access to remote computing sites provided by the Internet.
The term "cloud" is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used in the past to represent the telephone network, and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents. Typical cloud computing providers deliver common business applications online which are accessed from another web service or software like a web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers.
Most cloud computing infrastructure consists of reliable services delivered through data centers and built on servers. Clouds often appear as single points of access for all consumers' computing needs. Commercial offerings are generally expected to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements of customers and typically offer SLAs. The major cloud-only service providers include Salesforce, Amazon and Google.Scope
Cloud computing actually works very well for the 'unconnected'. They can use any manner of small applications/ programmes/ software to edit images, video, power points, excel sheets, etc which might not be available on local machines (either cyber cafes or desktops in schools etc).
Opposite to what is believed by criticisers that Cloud Computing is limited by the availability of internet, it’s very useful for remote areas. People can use all sorts of computer applications and manage data without being shifted to metros. It can be even in a small town.
Career Opportunities
This implies that in the near future there would be a requirement for professionals in this field. India is a huge potential market for cloud computing. As companies increasingly depend more on blogs/ online document storage or other web based applications, enterprising youngsters can actually set up a business to help people set-up these applications. Thus while there would be bigger players like Amazon, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Yahoo, who would need such professionals in the field of cloud computing, the smaller players too would need fresh talent. While these companies invest heavily to make cloud computing mainstream, it is the nimble startups like Nivio who rush to take advantage to ever cheaper cloud computing infrastructure to deliver innovative applications.
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