Introduction to Cloud Computing

This white paper is an introduction to the terms, characteristics,

and services associated with internet-based computing,
commonly referred to as cloud computing. Characteristics, such
as infrastructure, provisioning, network access, and managed
metering are presented.

The primary business service models being deployed (such as
software, platform, and infrastructure as a service) and common
deployment models employed by service providers and users to
use and maintain the cloud services (such as the private, public,
community, and hybrid clouds) are discussed.

Also introduced are the benefits and challenges associated with
cloud computing, and for those seeking to use communications
services in the cloud, briefly presented are different ways of
determining the interfaces needed to use these
communications services.
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services
over the Internet. Cloud services allow individuals and businesses
to use software and hardware that are managed by third parties at
remote locations. Examples of cloud services include online file
storage, social networking sites, webmail, and online business
applications. The cloud computing model allows access to
information and computer resources from anywhere that a
network connection is available. Cloud computing provides a
shared pool of resources, including data storage space, networks,
computer processing power, and specialized corporate and user
applications.




















The following definition of cloud computing has been developed
by the U.S. National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand
network access to a shared pool of configurable computing
resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and
services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal
management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model
promotes availability and is composed of five essential
characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models


Characteristics

Cloud computing has a variety of characteristics, with the main
ones being:

Shared Infrastructure Uses a virtualized software model,
enabling the sharing of physical services, storage, and networking
capabilities. The cloud infrastructure, regardless of deployment
model, seeks to make the most of the available infrastructure
across a number of users.
Dynamic Provisioning Allows for the provision of services based
on current demand requirements. This is done automatically
using software automation,




Enabling the expansion and contraction of service capability, as
needed. This dynamic scaling needs to be done while
maintaining high levels of reliability and security.

Network Access Needs to be accessed across the internet
from a broad range of devices such as PCs, laptops, and mobile
devices, using standards-based APIs (for example, ones based
on HTTP). Deployments of services in the cloud include
everything from using business applications to the latest
application on the newest smart phones.
Managed Metering Uses metering for managing and
optimizing the service and to provide reporting and billing
information. In this way, consumers are billed for services
according to how much they have actually used during the billing
period.

In short, cloud computing allows for the sharing and scalable
deployment of services, as needed, from almost any location,
and for which the customer can be billed based on actual usage.



Service Models

Once a cloud is established, how its cloud computing services are
deployed in terms of business models can differ depending on
requirements. The primary service models being deployed (see
Figure 1) are commonly known as:

Software as a Service (SaaS) Consumers purchase the ability
to access and use an application or service that is hosted in the
cloud. A benchmark example of this is Salesforce.com, as
discussed previously, where necessary information for the
interaction between the consumer and the service is hosted as
part of the service in the cloud.

Also, Microsoft is expanding its involvement in this area, and as
part of the cloud computing option for Microsoft

Office 2010, its
Office Web Apps are available to Office volume licensing
customers and Office Web App subscriptions through its cloud-
based Online Services.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) Consumers purchase access to
the platforms, enabling them to deploy their own software and
applications in the cloud. The operating systems and network
access are not managed by the consumer, and there might be
constraints as to which applications can be deployed.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Consumers control and
manage the systems in terms of the operating systems,
applications, storage, and network connectivity, but do not
themselves control the cloud infrastructure.

Also known are the various subsets of these models that may be
related to a particular industry or market. Communications as a
Service (CaaS) is one such subset model used to describe hosted
IP telephony services. Along with the move to CaaS is a shift to
more IP-centric communications and more SIP trunking
deployments. With IP and SIP in place, it can be as easy to have
the PBX in the cloud as it is to have it on the premise. In this
context, CaaS could be seen as a subset of SaaS.







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Deployment Models
Deploying cloud computing can differ depending on requirements, and the
following four deployment models have been identified, each with specific
characteristics that support the needs of the services and users of the clouds in
particular ways (see Figure 2).

Private Cloud The cloud infrastructure has been deployed, and is
maintained and operated for a specific organization. The operation may be in-
house or with a third party on the premises.
Community Cloud The cloud infrastructure is shared among a number of
organizations with similar interests and requirements. This may help limit the
capital expenditure costs for its establishment as the costs are shared among
the organizations. The operation may be in-house or with a third party on the
premises.
Public Cloud The cloud infrastructure is available to the public on a
commercial basis by a cloud service provider. This enables a consumer to
develop and deploy a service in the cloud with very little financial outlay
compared to the capital expenditure requirements normally associated with
other deployment options.
Hybrid Cloud The cloud infrastructure consists of a number of clouds of
any type, but the clouds have the ability through their interfaces to allow data
and/or applications to be moved from one cloud to another. This can be a
combination of private and public clouds that support the requirement to
retain some data in an organization, and also the need to offer services in the
cloud.