Essential Characteristics
On-Demand Self-Service
Users can provision computing capabilities, such as processing time, network and storage, as needed, automatically without requiring human interaction from the service provider or system administrator.
Broad Network Access
Resources are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
Resource Pooling
Computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand.
Rapid Elasticity
Resources can be elastically provisioned and released, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. To the user, the resources available for provisioning may appear unlimited and can be appropriated at any time.
Measured Service
Automatic control and optimization of resource usage by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service. Usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the service.
Service Models
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where it’s possible to deploy and run software, which can include operating systems and applications. The user doesn’t manage or control the underlying infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, networking (e.g., host firewalls) and applications.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Deploy onto the cloud infrastructure applications created using programming languages, libraries, services, and tools supported by the provider. The user does not manage or control the underlying infrastructure, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly configuration settings for the application-hosting environment.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices, such as a web browser or a program interface. The user doesn’t manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.
Deployment Models
Private Cloud
The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organization comprising multiple consumers (e.g., business units). It may be owned, managed, and operated by the organization, a third party, or some combination of them, and it may exist on or off premises.
Community Cloud
The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a specific community of consumers from organizations that have shared concerns and objectives. It may be owned, managed, and operated by one or more of the organizations in the community, a third party, or some combination of them, and it may exist on or off premises.
Public Cloud
The cloud infrastructure is provisioned for open use by the general public. It may be owned, managed, and operated by a business, academic, or government organization, or some combination of them. It exists on the premises of the cloud provider.
Hybrid Cloud
The cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more distinct cloud infrastructures (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities, but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load balancing between clouds).
Workload shift from traditional to Cloud Data Centers
Cloud workloads as a percentage of total data center workloads, by year.
[Global Cloud Index]
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Cloud workloads are expected to nearly triple in total, whereas traditional data center workloads are expected to see a global decline.
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Cloud workloads are expected to nearly triple in total, whereas traditional data center workloads are expected to see a global decline.
Industries
IT Service Providers
Strengthen your existing business model by reducing human and technological costs, through the automation of your processes. Allow the self-provisioning of infrastructure by your customers.
Government
Achieve better cost efficiencies than those of public clouds, while retaining the control and regulatory benefits of private clouds. Leverage investments by supporting the cloud initiative across multiple agencies and bureaus.
Large Enterprises
Take advantage of economies of scale to enable and facilitate the adoption of the cloud paradigm. Your IT department will act as a service provider for other departments as internal clients.
Benefits
Cost Reduction
Maximize resource usage, protecting your investment in hardware. Reduce costs with human resources by automating processes and empowering end-users.
Complete Transparency
Have complete visibility over usage and costs of your entire cloud infrastructure. This information is crucial for you as a service provider and for your users.
Increased Agility
Reduce the time spent to prototype, develop and market, by simplifying the resource provisioning process. Scale up or scale down anytime, according to your business needs.
80%
cost reduction
2
more transparent
4
more agile