What is a cloud platform?
A server’s hardware and operating system are called the “cloud platform.” It enables the remote coexistence of hardware and software products. A cloud computing platform allows for the Internet deployment of many services.
Instead of keeping your contents on a specialised hard drive or a local storage device, cloud-based storage enables you to store them in a remote database. An electronic device with access to the data and the software programs will be required to run it as long as it has internet connectivity.
Cloud computing platforms are becoming increasingly popular among individuals and organisations for several factors, including cost savings, increased productivity, speed and efficiency, performance, and security.
Types of cloud platforms
Different forms and sizes of cloud platforms are available. These are only appropriate for some. They provide a range of models, types, and services. The three main types of cloud platforms are as follows:
- Public cloud: Public cloud platforms are independent firms that provide computer resources over the Internet. This is an extension of an organisation’s IT infrastructure. A public cloud is a virtualised environment that enables it to host parts of its infrastructure and services on servers located off-site and owned by a third party.
- Private cloud: A private cloud platform is exclusive to one business. It is frequently housed in a local data centre or third-party service provider. Because a private cloud is a single-tenant system, only one user can access its resources. There are various methods for managing those resources.
- Hybrid cloud: Public and private cloud technologies are combined in hybrid cloud platforms. Apps and data are seamlessly moved from one device to another. Flexibility is the hybrid cloud’s key benefit.
Top Cloud computing platforms
There are several cloud computing platforms worldwide, some of which are as follows.
- AWS Cloud.
- Microsoft Azure.
- Google Cloud.
- Red Hat Cloud.
- Oracle Cloud.
- Alibaba Cloud.
- NetApp Cloud Services.
- IBM Cloud.
Amazon Web services ( AWS Cloud)AWS is an Amazon company that offers its consumers cloud computing services on demand. Everything began in 2006 when Amazon decided to make its IT infrastructure, which houses amazon.com, available to the public. Since then, they have been updating their AWS website and adding more services. The services enable people and businesses to operate their websites and applications without worrying about the servers and data stores; they also assist in storing and analysing data utilising various Amazon services, all on a “Pay as you go” basis. Companies like Spotify, Netflix, Adobe, and Airbnb host their data on AWS because the availability and durability of many AWS services is around 99.99%.
- Microsoft Azure
Given Microsoft’s vast range of services, Azure has long been recognised as one of the best cloud service platforms. The long range of services provided is adequate to suit the needs of any business in any industry. Azure enables you to run services on the cloud or integrate them with any of your current infrastructures. Since its initial release in 2010, Microsoft Azure has shown to be a dependable option for companies looking to transform their operations digitally. Customers with an Azure subscription get access to all the services offered through the Azure site. These services allow subscribers to build cloud-based resources like databases and virtual machines. Then, it is possible to put Azure resources and services into operational environments that host workloads and store data.
Figure 03: - Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
The cloud computing service provided by Google is known as Google Cloud Platform. It utilises the same internal infrastructure Google uses for its consumer products, including Google Search and YouTube. These services are separated into three main domains: computing, Storage, and Networking.
Four service kinds are available in the computing domain: compute engine, app engine, Kubernetes engine, and cloud functions. We build up servers and configure the computing engine’s operating system. The following storage types are available in the GCP Storage Domain: Datastore, Storage, Bigtable, SQL, and Spanner. Bigtable and Datastore are both NoSQL databases. Storage is dependent on a file system. Block storage services with structured data are SQL and Spanner. VPC Network, Network Services, and Interconnect are three essential services offered by the GCP Networking domain. These are employed in networking and creating a connection between several networks.
- Oracle Cloud Platform
A public cloud called Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) is made to run business applications. These applications offer technologies that support strategic business choices and speed up current procedures for business leaders. On a single network interface, OCI platforms can occasionally provide tools and services for building new cloud-native, open-source, and mobile apps. Oracle Cloud enables you to use the same standards and technologies both on-premises and in the cloud. As a result, both environments can be seamlessly linked and managed as a hybrid cloud platform, which aids in cost savings and increases agility.
- Alibaba Cloud Platform
Alibaba Cloud provides a broad range of cloud goods and services for databases, networking, security, analytics and big data, domains and website administration, application services, media services, middleware, and more. By storing three copies of each object, Alibaba Cloud’s Object Storage Service (OSS) ensures 99.9% availability. Payment is based on actual storage space consumption, network traffic, and the number of requests executed; there is no up-front expense or long-term commitment.
- IBM Cloud Platform
On the IBM Cloud platform, Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) are merged to provide an integrated experience. Small development teams, organisations, and substantial enterprise corporations can scale and be supported by the platform. When hosting mission-critical workloads, IBM Cloud offers solutions that enable higher levels of compliance, security, and management, along with tried-and-true architecture patterns and techniques for quick delivery. You can install locally with global scalability because it is available in data centres worldwide, with multi-zone areas in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. IBM Cloud offers businesses the most open and secure public cloud with a next-generation hybrid cloud platform, cutting-edge data and AI capabilities, and deep enterprise knowledge across 20 industries.
