Learning Cloud Security

Chapter 2. Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Topics covered in this chapter include:

• Cloud definition

• Underlying technologies

• Cloud models

• Roles and responsibilities

• Pros and cons of cloud adoption

Everyone knows what the cloud is, right? After all, you are probably using it every day. You may not even know you are using it when you are using it. It’s one of the great things about adopting cloud providers to support your information infrastructure. In most cases, it should be entirely transparent and just work the way your users are used to working. Of course, one of the reasons they are used to working with the cloud is because it’s become so ubiquitous. Cloud providers and the ways they deliver services have enabled businesses to be fast and likely offer more and better services than they did before they moved to the cloud.

However, can you define what the cloud means? Do you know what the different technologies that go into cloud services are or the different delivery mechanisms? This chapter will provide a clear definition of cloud computing. This includes all the underlying technologies that make cloud delivery possible, helping to reduce costs and make consumption of resources easier. Once you understand the delivery mechanisms and features that define cloud computing, we can talk about the different styles of cloud computing. After all, there are different levels, depending on how much control you want to have, meaning how much work you want to take on. This includes ...