Cloud computing shifts the heavy lifting of analyzing data away from the device you work on and puts it in huge computer clusters far away in cyberspace. You can connect to these massive computers through the Internet. This lets you access files as well as applications and development tools from any location. This lets you perform more efficiently on your laptop while on an overcrowded train, or on your smartphone on a conference table.
It also means that in the event that the power goes out in your office and you are not working, your work will be waiting for you when it comes back on since the cloud keeps a backup of all your information and applications. This is the reason why many of the world’s biggest companies have made the switch to cloud and have thoroughly tested its performance and protections.
There are several different types of cloud services and deployment models. They are typically categorized into four service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Serverless/Function-as-a-Service (FaaS). Cloud computing and “cloud” are often used interchangeably. However it is essential to know the differences between IaaS, PaaS, and FaaS to decide which cloud deployment model is best suited to your needs.
With IaaS you are renting a whole array of hardware – firewalls, servers, virtual machines and storage–from a cloud service provider. This is a great choice for companies who create special-purpose or proprietary applications that require servers to be managed and maintained but don’t want to spend time or money on page purchasing, storing, and setting up their equipment.
