Cloud Computing = Software as a Service (SaaS)

+ Platform as a Service (PaaS)

+ Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

1) IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service):

a. Delivers computer infrastructure, typically a platform virtualization environment as a service.

b. Cloud providers build datacenters, managing power, scale, hardware, networking, storage, distributed systems, etc…

c. Rather than purchasing servers, software, data center space or network equipment, clients instead buy those resources as a fully outsourced service.

d. Eg: Amazon Web Services(AWS), Rackspace Hosting, VMWare, Citrix, Azure, Google Cloud

2) PaaS (Platform as a Service):

a. Provides developer’s necessary tools to create, test, host and maintain created applications.

b. Cloud providers offer an Internet-based platform to developers who create services but don’t want to build their own cloud.

c. Ex: Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, AWS

3) SaaS (Software as a Service):

a. SaaS is a software delivery methodology that provides licensed multi-tenant access to software and its functions remotely as a Web-based service.

b. From end user’s point of view apps are located in the cloud and it is almost always accessible through a web browser.

c. Any application hosted on a remote server that can be accessed over the Internet is considered as SaaS.

d. Usually billed based on usage and a multi-tenant environment.

e. Ex: Microsoft Azure, Gmail, Google Apps (Office like features), Sales Force CRM

The following picture neatly summarizes the functionality of the three service models of the cloud.

• Cloud is just a metaphor for the internet, when we say cloud, we are just referring to internet.
• In the simplest terms, cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of our local computer’s hard drive.

• The phrase cloud computing means “a type of Internet-based computing” where different services — such as servers, storage and applications — are delivered to an organization’s computers and devices through the Internet.
• Cloud Computing refer to a variety of services available over the Internet that deliver computing functionality on the service provider’s infrastructure.
• A cloud computing service consists of highly optimized data centers (third party data centers from the end user point of view), that provide various hardware, software and information resources (when needed).
• Cloud platform hide the complexity and details of the underlying infrastructure from users and applications by providing very simple graphical interface or API (Applications Programming Interface).
• The Cloud platform provides on demand services that are always on, anywhere, anytime and anyplace.

Why are businesses moving to cloud?

In traditional hosting, a software company has to deal with licensing costs, protection of data, frequent upgrades to latest technologies, maintenance and up gradation of hardware and most important finding the right skillsets at the right time.

Cloud Characteristics

Characteristics of Cloud computing that distinguish it from traditional hosting.

• Remotely hosted: Services or data are hosted on remote infrastructure.
• Ubiquitous: Services or data are available from anywhere through internet.
• Resiliency: Cloud providers generally mirrors solutions to multiple data centers to minimize downtime in the event of a disaster.
• On-demand self-service: A consumer can himself provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service’s provider. It is sold on demand mostly by the minutes or hours. (Pay as you go model)
• Rapid elasticity – A user can utilize as much or little of the cloud service as required. For example resources (ex: webservers) on the cloud can be scaled to meet high traffic in peak times or scaled down in times of less traffic.
• Broad network access. Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).
• Fully managed by the provider – The user is abstracted from the details of how the service is managed in the cloud. For example the user need not worry about aspects such as hardware used, software updates and patches, plug-ins, web security. There is optimum utilization of resources and as well as sharing of resources. Everything is taken care of by the provider.

Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions

Cloud Computing offers one of the most promising career opportunities for technology professionals in India.

Leading technology and consulting companies are recruiting for cloud engineers, cloud consultants, technical architects, cloud migration specialists, Cloud Dev. Ops engineers, AWS specialists, and other high-paying roles.

With organizations rapidly moving their infrastructure and services to the cloud, jobs are growing at a rapid pace, and companies are aggressively recruiting well-qualified professionals in this space.

TIME TO MOVE FROM A SMALL POND TO AN OCEAN
Break the barrier of traditional application development and adapt Cloud Computing in day-to-day application development.
Turn your idea into a new app, redesign an existing system or create a hybrid cloud application with confidence, no matter the platform or where you are on the journey to cloud computing.
The problems and hassles related to on-premise management are driving customers towards cloud also there are associated cost advantages.
In Microsoft Build conference, Microsoft shared with the world how large its cloud platform is and who is using these services. They boasted that they have more data centers than Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google’s Cloud Service combined and that 85% of Fortune 500 companies are currently using Azure in some capacity or the other

COURSE OVERVIEW
The Microsoft Azure course will enable you to design, develop, implement, automate, and monitor robust and scalable cloud solutions and most important start thinking BIG on how would be the life cycle of large scale applications. This course also focuses on the architectural considerations and decisions necessary when building a highly available solution in the cloud.

What is the focus of this complete course on Azure?
Microsoft Azure complete course, with Fundamentals and comprehensive details, provides the learner with an in-depth knowledge of the concepts of Microsoft Azure to effectively perform various tasks in the capacity of an administrator, developer, or database administrator.

During this course, students will be introduced to the principles of cloud computing and will understand how these principles have been implemented in Microsoft Azure.

Who should take this course on Microsoft Azure?
This course is intended for individuals who want to evaluate, deploy, configure, and administer services and VMs using Azure. The professionals who benefit from the course include :

Programmers/developers who wish to up-skill their talent base with most Trending technologies
Developers who want to create Azure solutions
Windows Server administrators who are looking at the migration of on-premises Active Directory services and roles to the cloud
IT professionals who want to use Azure to host websites and mobile app back-end services
Database administrators who want to evaluate the use of Azure to host SQL databases