Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computing services over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis.
The Core Concept
In traditional IT, if a developer wanted to launch a web application, they had to physically purchase a server machine, configure the operating system, set up static IP routing, and ensure the building had a backup power generator.
With cloud computing, that entire physical layer is abstracted away.
The Three Main Service Models
Cloud computing is split into three main categories depending on how much control you want to retain versus how much you want the provider to manage:
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): The provider gives you raw networking, storage, and blank virtual servers.
You manage the operating system, runtime, security configurations, and applications. Examples: AWS EC2, Google Compute Engine, Microsoft Azure VMs.
PaaS (Platform as a Service): The provider manages the operating system, hardware, database engines, and software runtimes. You only provide the application code.
Examples: Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Vercel, Render.
SaaS (Software as a Service):
A complete, fully functional software product run and managed by the service provider. You simply use it via a web browser or app interface. Examples: Gmail, Slack, Salesforce, Google Drive.
The Four Deployment Models
Organizations deploy their applications using different cloud configurations based on security, cost, and legal compliance needs:
Public Cloud: All infrastructure is owned and operated by a third-party cloud provider (like Amazon or Google) and shared with other customers over the public internet.
Private Cloud: The cloud infrastructure is used exclusively by one single business or organization. It can be physically located at the company’s on-site data center or hosted by a third-party service.
Hybrid Cloud: This combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
A company might store highly sensitive customer data on a private server but run its public web application on a public cloud. Multi-Cloud: The practice of using independent cloud services from multiple public cloud providers (e.g., using AWS for compute power and Google Cloud for specialized AI tools) to prevent vendor lock-in.
The Big Three Market Leaders
The global public cloud infrastructure market is dominated by three primary hyperscalers, which collectively command over 60 percent of the total market share:
Key Benefits for Engineering Teams
Elastic Scalability: Resources can scale up or down automatically based on traffic spikes, meaning you do not pay for idle servers during low-traffic hours.
Global Footprint: You can deploy an application to data centers in Mumbai, North Virginia, or Frankfurt with a single command, ensuring low latency for worldwide users.
Financial Flexibility: Shifts infrastructure costs from capital expenditure (buying physical assets upfront) to operational expenditure (paying smaller monthly utility bills based on precise usage).