Cloud computing

Introduction to Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a computing paradigm that enables on-demand access to shared computing
resources such as servers, storage, applications, and services over the internet. It follows a pay-as-you-go
model and provides scalability, flexibility, and efficiency.

Benefits of Cloud Computing

• Cost Efficiency: Reduces upfront infrastructure costs by providing a pay-per-use model.

• Scalability: Allows businesses to scale resources as needed.
• Flexibility & Accessibility: Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.
• Automatic Updates & Maintenance: Managed by cloud providers.
• Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery: Provides backup solutions and redundancy.

Limitations of Cloud Computing

• Security Risks: Data privacy concerns due to third-party control.

• Downtime & Reliability: Dependency on internet connectivity and provider uptime.
• Limited Control & Customization: Restricted configurations due to provider policies.

Historical developments
Distributed systems
A distributed system is a collection of independent computers that appears to its users as a single
coherent system. Distributed systems often exhibit other properties such as heterogeneity,
openness, scalability, transparency, concurrency, continuous availability, and independent failures.
Three major milestones have led to cloud computing: mainframe computing, cluster computing, and
grid computing
Mainframe computing: These were the first examples of large computational facilities leveraging
multiple processing units. Mainframes were powerful, highly reliable computers specialized for large
data movement and massive input/output (I/O) operations. They were mostly used by large
organizations for bulk data processing tasks such as online transactions, enterprise resource
planning, and other operations involving the processing of significant amounts of data.

Introduced in the 1950s.Centralized computing where users accessed resources via terminals.

Cluster computing: Uses a set of connected computers that work together as a single system.
Focuses on high performance computing. started as a low-cost alternative to the use of mainframes
and supercomputers.
Grid computing: Emerged in the 1990s. Enabled distributed resource sharing across multiple
locations. grid computing proposed a new approach to access large computational power, huge
storage facilities, and a variety of services. Grid Computing refers to distributed computing, in which
a group of computers from multiple locations are connected with each other to achieve a common
objective. These computer resources are heterogeneous and geographically dispersed. Grid
Computing breaks complex task into smaller pieces, which are distributed to CPUs that reside within
the grid.
Virtualisation
Virtualization is technology that you can use to create virtual representations of servers, storage,
networks, and other physical machines. Virtual software mimics the functions of physical hardware
to run multiple virtual machines simultaneously on a single physical machine. Examples: VMware,
Hyper-V, Xen.

Service-Oriented Computing (SOC)

Service-Oriented Computing is a way of designing software where different parts of an application work as
separate services that communicate with each other. These services can be reused in different
applications and work independently.

Key Features:

• Independent Services: Each service does one job (like booking, payment, or login).
• Works on Any Platform: Services can talk to each other, even if built with different technologies.
• Easily Found & Used: Services can be searched and connected when needed.

Example:

A hotel booking system can have:

• A Booking Service (handles reservations)

• A Payment Service (manages payments)
• A User Login Service (handles accounts)
Each service works separately but connects to form the full system.

Utility-Oriented Computing (UOC)

Utility-Oriented Computing is like paying for electricity—you only pay for the computing resources you
use instead of buying expensive hardware.

Key Features:

• On-Demand Usage: Get computing power, storage, or internet speed whenever needed.
 • Pay-as-You-Go: No upfront cost; pay based on usage.
• Cloud-Based: Often used in cloud computing (AWS, Google Cloud, etc.).

Example:

If your hotel booking system runs on AWS, you don’t need to buy servers. Instead, you rent space and
power from the cloud and pay only for what you use.

Difference Between SOC and UOC

Service-Oriented Utility-Oriented
Feature Computing Computing
(SOC) (UOC)

Builds software Provides computing

What it
from small power as a
does
services service

How it Uses web services Uses cloud-based

works (like APIs) resources

A system with
separate Renting a cloud
Example booking, server instead
payment, and of buying one
login services

Cloud Computing Platforms & Technologies

1. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• Largest cloud platform with over 200 services.

• Popular services: EC2 (virtual machines), S3 (storage), RDS (databases), Lambda (serverless
computing).
• Used for hosting, AI/ML, big data, and enterprise applications.

2. Microsoft Azure

• Microsoft's cloud solution with strong integration for Windows-based systems.

• Popular services: Azure Virtual Machines, Blob Storage, Azure AI, SQL Database.
• Great for businesses using Microsoft tools like Office 365 and Active Directory.

3. Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Best for AI, ML, and data analytics.

• Popular services: Google Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, Vertex AI.
• Used by companies like Spotify and Snapchat.

4. Hadoop

Hadoop is an open-source framework for processing and storing large datasets across distributed
computer clusters.
5. Force.com and Salesforce.com

Force.com is a PaaS offering from Salesforce, allowing businesses to develop applications within the
Salesforce ecosystem.

6. Manjrasoft Aneka

Aneka is a cloud computing platform designed for building and managing applications using a hybrid cloud
approach.

Case Studies of Cloud Computing Platforms

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)

• Use Case: Processing large-scale machine learning models for self-driving cars.
• Benefit: Offers scalable TensorFlow processing on Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE).

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

• Use Case: Netflix runs its global streaming service on AWS infrastructure.
• Benefit: Provides elastic scalability and cost efficiency through auto-scaling and content delivery via
AWS CloudFront.

Microsoft Azure

• Use Case: Healthcare organizations use Azure AI for medical image analysis.
• Benefit: Enables fast, accurate diagnostics using cloud-powered AI models.

Hadoop

Case Study: Facebook uses Hadoop to analyze massive amounts of user data, optimizing news
feed algorithms and targeted advertising based on user interactions.

Force.com and Salesforce.com

Case Study: Coca-Cola uses Salesforce to enhance its customer relationship management (CRM)
by providing real-time data on sales, inventory, and customer interactions.

Manjrasoft Aneka

Case Study: Researchers in universities have used Aneka to perform large-scale simulations in
fields such as bioinformatics and climate modeling by leveraging distributed computing resources
efficiently.

Parallel and Distributed Computing: Parallel v/s. Distributed Computing

Parallel Computing

Parallel computing is when multiple processors (or cores) work together on a single problem by dividing
the task into smaller parts that run simultaneously.

Key Features:

-Uses multiple cores or processors within a single machine.

-Shared memory (all processors access the same memory).
-Faster execution for tasks that can be broken down.
-Used for high-performance computing (HPC), AI, simulations, and gaming.

Example:

• A multi-core processor in a laptop running a heavy AI model where different cores handle different
calculations at the same time.
• Graphics rendering in video games, where multiple GPU cores work together to generate images
quickly.

Distributed Computing

Distributed computing is when multiple independent computers work together over a network to complete
a task. Each computer (or node) processes its own part and communicates with others.

Key Features:

✅ Uses multiple machines (nodes) connected via a network.

✅ Each node has its own memory and CPU (no shared memory).
✅ Can scale horizontally (add more computers as needed).
✅ Used for cloud computing, big data processing, blockchain, and web applications.

Example:

• Google Search Engine runs on thousands of distributed servers, each handling different web
pages.
• Bitcoin mining uses a decentralized network of computers working together.
• Netflix streaming distributes video content across data centers worldwide.
🔹 Conclusion

• Parallel Computing is best for fast, high-performance tasks on a single machine.

• Distributed Computing is best for scalable, networked applications across many devices.

Elements of Parallel Computing

What is parallel processing?

Parallel processing is a computational technique where multiple tasks are executed simultaneously.
It helps to:

• Increase efficiency by utilizing multiple processors.

• Reduce execution time for large-scale computations.
• Enable real-time processing in applications like weather forecasting and AI.

Elements of Distributed Computing

Distributed computing is a model where multiple independent computers work together to perform a task.
Cloud computing is a key example of distributed computing.

2.4.1 General Concepts and Definitions

• Distributed System: A collection of independent computers that appear as a single system.

• Transparency: Users do not see the complexity of the system (location, access, replication).
• Scalability: Systems can expand without performance loss.

2.4.2 Components of a Distributed System

1. Nodes: Individual computers in the system.

2. Communication Network: Connects nodes using the internet, LAN, or WAN.
3. Middleware: Software layer that manages resources (e.g., Apache Kafka).
4. Replication Manager: Ensures data consistency across nodes.

Architectural Styles for Distributed Computing

1. Client-Server Architecture

• A central server provides services to multiple clients.

• Clients send requests, and the server processes and responds.
• Example: Web applications (browsers as clients, web servers as backends).

2. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Architecture

• Each node acts as both a client and a server.

• Decentralized, reducing reliance on a central authority.
• Example: File-sharing networks like BitTorrent.

3. Multi-Tier Architecture (N-Tier)

• Divides an application into layers (e.g., presentation, logic, and data).

• Typically includes three tiers: UI, business logic, and database.
• Example: Enterprise applications with separate front-end, middleware, and database servers.

4. Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)

• Services communicate over a network using standardized protocols.

• Allows reusability, scalability, and interoperability.
• Example: Web services using SOAP or REST APIs.

5. Microservices Architecture

• Application is broken into small, loosely coupled services.

• Each microservice handles a specific business function and communicates via APIs.
• Example: Netflix and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

8. Shared-Nothing Architecture

• Each node operates independently without shared memory or storage.

• Ensures high scalability and fault tolerance.
• Example: NoSQL databases like Apache Cassandra.

9. Shared-Memory Architecture

• Multiple processes share a common memory space.

• Offers faster data exchange but requires synchronization mechanisms.
• Example: High-performance computing (HPC) systems.
Virtualisation

Definition

Virtualization is a core technology in cloud computing that allows the creation of secure, customizable, and
isolated execution environments. It enables the running of applications or operating systems independently
of the underlying hardware.

Importance of Virtualization in Cloud Computing

Virtualization is essential for delivering Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions in cloud computing. It

provides a way to share and optimize resources efficiently, reducing costs and improving scalability.

Evolution of Virtualization

• Initially developed in the mainframe era (IBM CP/CMS systems)

• Widely adopted after Java Virtual Machine (JVM) (1995) and .NET Framework (2002)
• Recent advances in hypervisors and containerization have driven its growth in cloud
environments

Characteristics of Virtualized Environments

A virtualized environment consists of three major components:

1. Guest: The virtual system that interacts with the virtualization layer
2. Host: The physical environment providing resources
3. Virtualization Layer: The software or hardware abstraction managing virtualization

Key Features of Virtualization

• Security: Provides controlled execution by isolating guest environments

• Resource Sharing: Multiple virtual environments can share the same physical hardware
• Aggregation: Several systems can be combined into a unified virtual system
• Emulation: A different computing environment can be created for compatibility
• Isolation: Guest environments operate independently from the host
• Portability: Virtual machines can be easily migrated between hosts

Types of Virtualization

Virtualization is categorized based on its purpose and implementation:

Execution Virtualization

• Hardware-Level Virtualization: Runs an entire OS on virtual hardware (e.g., VMware, VirtualBox,

KVM, Hyper-V)
• Operating System-Level Virtualization: Uses a single OS kernel for multiple users (e.g., Docker,
LXC, OpenVZ)
• Programming-Language Virtualization: Executes bytecode for platform independence (e.g., JVM,
.NET CLR)
• Application Virtualization: Runs applications in isolated environments (e.g., Wine, VMware
ThinApp)

Storage Virtualization

• Abstracts physical storage into a logical view

• Enables features like RAID, Storage Area Networks (SAN), and Cloud Storage
Network Virtualization

• Combines multiple physical networks into a virtual network (e.g., VLAN, VPN)
• Enhances network efficiency and security in cloud environments

Desktop Virtualization

• Remote desktop access to a virtual machine or a cloud-hosted desktop

• Examples: Citrix XenDesktop, Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Application-Server Virtualization

• Runs applications in distributed environments for scalability

• Examples: AWS Lambda, Google App Engine

Virtualization Techniques and Models

Hypervisors (Virtual Machine Managers - VMMs)

Hypervisors are used in hardware virtualization to manage virtual machines.

Types of Hypervisors

• Type I (Bare-Metal Hypervisor): Runs directly on hardware (e.g., VMware ESXi, Xen, Microsoft
Hyper-V)
• Type II (Hosted Hypervisor): Runs within an OS (e.g., VMware Workstation, VirtualBox, Parallels)

Virtualization Methods

• Full Virtualization: Complete emulation of hardware (e.g., VMware, VirtualBox)

• Paravirtualization: Requires modified OS for better performance (e.g., Xen, KVM)
• Hardware-Assisted Virtualization: Uses CPU extensions like Intel VT and AMD-V
• Partial Virtualization: Only certain components are virtualized (e.g., memory, storage)

Virtualization and Cloud Computing

Virtualization enables cloud computing by providing:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Virtualized servers and storage

• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Development environments (e.g., Google App Engine)
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Cloud-hosted applications (e.g., Google Workspace)

Server Consolidation and Virtual Machine Migration

• Server Consolidation: Reducing the number of physical servers by hosting multiple VMs
• Virtual Machine Migration: Moving VMs between servers for load balancing and fault tolerance
o Live Migration: Moves running VMs without downtime

Pros and Cons of Virtualization

Advantages

• Cost Savings: Reduces hardware and maintenance costs

• Scalability: Easily scales up or down based on demand
• Energy Efficiency: Reduces power consumption via server consolidation
• Disaster Recovery: VMs can be backed up and restored quickly
• Improved Security: Isolated environments prevent system-wide failures
Disadvantages

• Performance Overhead: Virtualization introduces additional processing layers

• Security Risks: Malware targeting hypervisors (e.g., BluePill, SubVirt)
• Complex Management: Requires advanced configuration and monitoring
• Hardware Limitations: Some virtualization features require modern CPU support

Software as a Service(SaaS)
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is a way of delivering services and applications over the Internet. Instead of
installing and maintaining software, we simply access it via the Internet, freeing ourselves from the complex
software and hardware management. It removes the need to install and run applications on our own
computers or in the data centers eliminating the expenses of hardware as well as software maintenance.
SaaS provides a complete software solution that you purchase on a pay-as-you-go basis from a cloud
service provider. Most SaaS applications can be run directly from a web browser without any downloads or
installations required. The SaaS applications are sometimes called Web-based software, on-demand
software, or hosted software.
Advantages of SaaS
Cost-Effective: Pay only for what you use.
Reduced time: Users can run most SaaS apps directly from their web browser without needing to download
and install any software. This reduces the time spent in installation and configuration and can reduce the
issues that can get in the way of the software deployment.
Accessibility: We can Access app data from anywhere.
Automatic updates: Rather than purchasing new software, customers rely on a SaaS provider to
automatically perform the updates.
Scalability: It allows the users to access the services and features on-demand.
Disadvantages of SaaS
Limited customization: SaaS solutions are typically not as customizable as on-premises software, meaning
that users may have to work within the constraints of the SaaS provider’s platform and may not be able to
tailor the software to their specific needs.
Dependence on internet connectivity: SaaS solutions are typically cloud-based, which means that they
require a stable internet connection to function properly. This can be problematic for users in areas with
poor connectivity or for those who need to access the software in offline environments.
Security concerns: SaaS providers are responsible for maintaining the security of the data stored on their
servers, but there is still a risk of data breaches or other security incidents.
Limited control over data: SaaS providers may have access to a user’s data, which can be a concern for
organizations that need to maintain strict control over their data for regulatory or other reasons.

Platform as a Service
PaaS is a category of cloud computing that provides a platform and environment to allow developers to
build applications and services over the internet. PaaS services are hosted in the cloud and accessed by
users simply via their web browser.
A PaaS provider hosts the hardware and software on its own infrastructure. As a result, PaaS frees users
from having to install in-house hardware and software to develop or run a new application. Thus, the
development and deployment of the application take place independent of the hardware.
The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers,
operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly configuration
settings for the application-hosting environment. To make it simple, take the example of an annual day
function, you will have two options either to create a venue or to rent a venue but the function is the same.
Advantages of PaaS
Simple and convenient for users: It provides much of the infrastructure and other IT services, which users
can access anywhere via a web browser.
Cost-Effective: It charges for the services provided on a per-use basis thus eliminating the expenses one
may have for on-premises hardware and software.
Efficiently managing the lifecycle: It is designed to support the complete web application lifecycle: building,
testing, deploying, managing, and updating.
Efficiency: It allows for higher-level programming with reduced complexity thus, the overall development of
the application can be more effective.
Disadvantages of PaaS
Limited control over infrastructure: PaaS providers typically manage the underlying infrastructure and take
care of maintenance and updates, but this can also mean that users have less control over the environment
and may not be able to make certain customizations.
Dependence on the provider: Users are dependent on the PaaS provider for the availability, scalability, and
reliability of the platform, which can be a risk if the provider experiences outages or other issues.
Limited flexibility: PaaS solutions may not be able to accommodate certain types of workloads or
applications, which can limit the value of the solution for certain organizations.

Infrastructure as a Service
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a service model that delivers computer infrastructure on an outsourced
basis to support various operations. Typically IaaS is a service where infrastructure is provided as
outsourcing to enterprises such as networking equipment, devices, database, and web servers.
It is also known as Hardware as a Service (HaaS). IaaS customers pay on a per-user basis, typically by the
hour, week, or month. Some providers also charge customers based on the amount of virtual machine
space they use.
It simply provides the underlying operating systems, security, networking, and servers for developing such
applications, and services, and deploying development tools, databases, etc.
Advantages of IaaS
Cost-Effective: Eliminates capital expense and reduces ongoing cost and IaaS customers pay on a per-
user basis, typically by the hour, week, or month.
Website hosting: Running websites using IaaS can be less expensive than traditional web hosting.
Security: The IaaS Cloud Provider may provide better security than your existing software.
Maintenance: There is no need to manage the underlying data center or the introduction of new releases of
the development or underlying software. This is all handled by the IaaS Cloud Provider.
Disadvantages of laaS
Limited control over infrastructure: IaaS providers typically manage the underlying infrastructure and take
care of maintenance and updates, but this can also mean that users have less control over the environment
and may not be able to make certain customizations.
Security concerns: Users are responsible for securing their own data and applications, which can be a
significant undertaking.
Limited access: Cloud computing may not be accessible in certain regions and countries due to legal
policies.

Types of clouds
1. Public Cloud
Public clouds are managed by third parties which provide cloud services over the internet to the public,
these services are available as pay-as-you-go billing models.
They offer solutions for minimizing IT infrastructure costs and become a good option for handling peak
loads on the local infrastructure. Public clouds are the go-to option for small enterprises, which can start
their businesses without large upfront investments by completely relying on public infrastructure for their IT
needs.
The fundamental characteristics of public clouds are multitenancy. A public cloud is meant to serve multiple
users, not a single customer. A user requires a virtual computing environment that is separated, and most
likely isolated, from other users.
Examples: Amazon EC2, IBM, Azure, GCP
Advantages of Public Cloud
The following are the advantages of public cloud:
Public cloud is easily able to scale up and down resources as per the demand of traffic and workload. It
facilitates with performance optimization and cost efficiency.
It works on pay-as-you-go cloud model and helps in resolving the investments needs in hardware and
infrastructure reducing overall costs.
Disadvantages of using Public Cloud
The following are the disadvantages of Public Cloud:
It is difficult to trust and maintain data to a third-party provider may raise concerns about control and
ownership
The shared infrastructure of public cloud resources increases the risk of data breaches and unauthorized
access. It raises security and privacy concerns.
Public cloud comes with limited transparency about the underlying infrastructure which may make it
challenging to monitor and manage performance effectively.

2. Private cloud
Private clouds are distributed systems that work on private infrastructure and provide the users with
dynamic provisioning of computing resources. Instead of a pay-as-you-go model in private clouds, there
could be other schemes that manage the usage of the cloud and proportionally billing of the different
departments or sections of an enterprise. Private cloud providers are HP Data Centers, Ubuntu, Elastic-
Private cloud, Microsoft, etc.
Examples: VMware vCloud Suite, OpenStack, Cisco Secure Cloud, Dell Cloud Solutions, HP Helion
Eucalyptus
Advantages Of Private Cloud
Customer information protection: In the private cloud security concerns are less since customer data and
other sensitive information do not flow out of private infrastructure.
Infrastructure ensuring SLAs: Private cloud provides specific operations such as appropriate clustering,
data replication, system monitoring, and maintenance, disaster recovery, and other uptime services.
Compliance with standard procedures and operations: Specific procedures have to be put in place when
deploying and executing applications according to third-party compliance standards. This is not possible in
the case of the public cloud.
Disadvantages Of Private Cloud
The restricted area of operations: Private cloud is accessible within a particular area. So the area of
accessibility is restricted.
Expertise requires: In the private cloud security concerns are less since customer data and other sensitive
information do not flow out of private infrastructure. Hence skilled people are required to manage & operate
cloud services.

3. Hybrid cloud
A hybrid cloud is a heterogeneous distributed system formed by combining facilities of the public cloud and
private cloud. For this reason, they are also called heterogeneous clouds.
A major drawback of private deployments is the inability to scale on-demand and efficiently address peak
loads. Here public clouds are needed. Hence, a hybrid cloud takes advantage of both public and private
clouds.
Examples: AWS Outposts, Azure Stack, Google Anthos, IBM Cloud Satellite, Oracle Cloud at Customer
Advantages of using Hybrid cloud
The following are the advantages of using Hybrid Cloud:
Hybrid cloud is available at a cheap cost than other clouds because it is formed by a distributed system.
It works comes up with working fast with lower cost and facilitates in reducing the latency of the data
transfer process.
Most important thing is security. A hybrid cloud is totally safe and secure because it works on the
distributed system network.
Disadvantages of Using Hybrid Cloud
The following are the disadvantages of using Hybrid Cloud:
It’s possible that businesses lack the internal knowledge necessary to create such a hybrid environment.
Managing security may also be more challenging. Different access levels and security considerations may
apply in each environment.
Managing a hybrid cloud may be more difficult. With all of the alternatives and choices available today, not
to mention the new PaaS components and technologies that will be released every day going forward,
public cloud and migration to public cloud are already complicated enough. It could just feel like a step too
far to include hybrid.
4. Community Cloud
Community clouds are distributed systems created by integrating the services of different clouds to address
the specific needs of an industry, a community, or a business sector. But sharing responsibilities among the
organizations is difficult.
In the community cloud, the infrastructure is shared between organizations that have shared concerns or
tasks. An organization or a third party may manage the cloud.
Examples: CloudSigma, Nextcloud, Synology C2, OwnCloud, Stratoscale
Advantages of Using Community Cloud:
The following are the advantages of using Community Cloud:
Because the entire cloud is shared by numerous enterprises or a community, community clouds are cost-
effective.
Because it works with every user, the community cloud is adaptable and scalable. Users can alter the
documents according to their needs and requirements.
Public cloud is less secure than the community cloud, which is more secure than private cloud.
Thanks to community clouds, we may share cloud resources, infrastructure, and other capabilities between
different enterprises.
Disadvantages of using Community Cloud:
The following are the disadvantages of using Community Cloud:
Not all businesses should choose community cloud.
Gradual adoption of data
It’s challenging for corporations to share duties.

Cloud enabling technology

Cloud-enabling technologies are the foundational technologies that make cloud computing possible. They
include hardware, software, and networking components that support the deployment, scalability, and
management of cloud services.

Data Center Technology

Data center technology refers to the infrastructure, hardware, software, and management systems used to
store, process, and distribute large amounts of data. It is essential for running cloud services, enterprise
applications, and IT operations.
Key Components of Data Center Technology:

1. Servers – Powerful computers that process and store data.

2. Storage Systems – Includes SSDs, HDDs, and storage area networks (SANs) for data
management.
3. Networking Equipment – Routers, switches, and firewalls ensure data flow and security.
4. Cooling & Power Systems – Advanced cooling (liquid, air) and backup power (UPS, generators)
maintain uptime.
5. Virtualization & Cloud Platforms – Software like VMware, Hyper-V, and OpenStack enables
efficient resource use.
6. Security & Compliance – Firewalls, encryption, and monitoring tools protect data and meet
regulations.

Modern data centers use edge computing, AI-driven automation, and software-defined infrastructure
to enhance performance, scalability, and efficiency.

Containerization

Containerization is a lightweight form of virtualization that allows applications to run consistently across
different environments. Instead of using full virtual machines, applications and their dependencies are
packaged into containers that share the host operating system's kernel.

Key Features of Containerization:

1. Lightweight – Containers consume fewer resources than VMs.

2. Portable – Runs consistently across different cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments.
3. Scalable – Supports microservices architecture, making scaling easy.
4. Faster Deployment – Containers launch in seconds compared to VMs.

Popular Containerization Tools:

• Docker – A leading container platform for packaging applications.

• Kubernetes – An orchestration tool for managing large-scale container deployments.
• Podman – An alternative to Docker for running containers.

Containerization is widely used in cloud computing, DevOps, and modern software development for
improving agility and efficiency.