Cloud Technologies or computing is the provision of different services such as data storage, servers, databases, network communication, software over the internet. Instead of keeping their files or data on the local storage device, companies can save it on a remote server or database with cloud-based storage. As long as the devices have access to the web, they can access and act on them.

These services allow users to work remotely without having to be in a specific location to gain access.

Also, companies don't have to invest in new hardware or software. Instead, they pay cloud providers a subscription fee or simply for the resources they use.

Recently, cloud technologies have become a popular option among companies for reasons such as cost savings, productivity, speed, efficiency, performance and security.

While it is still a new service, it is used by many different customers, from large, medium or small companies, various organizations, government agencies and even individual consumers.

What are Cloud Models?

We can say that cloud models are divided into three as public, private and hybrid.

In the public cloud model, the service provider manages all services and supporting infrastructure over the internet and is shared among multiple users. Users subscribe with an individual account but all access the same services over the internet. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure are the best examples.

The private cloud model, on the other hand, can provide services over a private network other than the Internet. Instead of multiple users, as the public cloud model does, the private cloud model usually has a single user. All data is protected behind a firewall. This provides more customization and security. This is also a popular choice for many businesses. IBM Red Hat, Microsoft OpenStack, and Dell EMC are good examples of the private cloud model.

The recently popular hybrid cloud model partially combines both public and private cloud elements. Although the system operates independently, clouds in a hybrid environment communicate over an encrypted connection, allowing portability of data.

What are Cloud Service Types?

In general, there are four types of cloud services.

IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

It is the most comprehensive and flexible cloud service available. It provides a fully virtualized computing infrastructure delivered and managed over the Internet. It manages the infrastructure (servers, database...) in a data center providing the service and allows its customers to fully customize these resources according to their specific needs. Companies only pay for the infrastructure they use. Thus, companies eliminate the cost of infrastructure. IaaS is a great option for small companies and startups. Google Compute Engine (GCE), Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are the most well-known examples of Iaas service types.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS is the most well-known form of cloud computing technologies. It is a fully developed software solution ready for purchase and use over the internet with a subscription service. Many SaaS applications run directly from web browsers, eliminating the need for download or installation. It enables companies to get up and running quickly and manage their operations quickly. There is no need to purchase or maintain the hardware and software used to deliver business services. Microsoft Office 365, Salesforce is one of the most well-known SaaS services.

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

PaaS provides the environment for building, managing, updating and testing software products. Although it uses the same core infrastructure as IaaS, it also includes the operating systems, development tools, and database management systems needed to build applications. PaaS is extremely useful for companies that develop applications. Companies can access the development tools they need to develop and test applications across multiple platforms (computers, mobile devices, etc.) when they need them, without having to purchase them directly. Apache Stratos, Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure are good examples of PaaS service

FaaS (Function as a Service)

It is a cloud service that functions to develop and manage serverless applications. In the FaaS model, users do not bother to manage their own servers. It allows developers to functionally build, compute, run and manage application packages without having to maintain their own infrastructure. AWS Lambdas, Azure Functions. Google Cloud Functions are the most well-known examples of FaaS services.