Source: www.pragmaticmom.com

Cloud computing has become the last word of buzz. If you a new startup or a company, you will be asked if the cloud is for you. The problem is also extremely complicated by the fact that Cloud providers vary in the services they provide and the prices they charge. In this article I shed some light on the subject.

First a little history...

The term "Cloud Computing" comes from forms of clouds used to illustrate the internet in network diagrams. Cloud computing origins in the mid-1990s, when a movement of companies appointed ASP (Application Service Providers) or hosted provider has created a new type of application, which did not need installation on site. Now rather implementation of servers and the hiring of staff, companies could pay just a monthly fee. With time, the concept stuck, but the name has changed.

In 1999 at the launch of Salesforce.com, they call an ASP; they themselves were a software as a Service (SaaS) company. Sales force has been great for businesses because it allows them to pay a per user and per month fee, for significant financial savings on a CRM server. As the concept taken, more companies in the race and followed by more innovation. Amazon in 2006 launched its Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and Gmail and Docs developed by Google for the company. 2007 has seen the introduction of Heroku and 2008 introduced the Google App Engine. All these services are different in design and purpose, and that the details which we will see now.

Cloud types

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

This type of cloud service made its best to mimic traditional data centers. You are in a position at the disposal of the individual proceedings "server". Then, these servers can be configured with the need for operating systems and software. The best vendors in this space are Amazon, Rack and IBM space. The advantage of this solution is the flexibility of the design, which allows you to create very complex systems. But, there is always a trade-off, and in this case, it is easy to use. When you use an IaaS provider, you must be knowledgeable in the administration of data center and system architecture. This is not a problem for big business, but can be a problem for a small startup with only a few individuals.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

These services go a step away from the "metal". With them, you do have to worry about the specific servers or software. In many cases, the supplier will be segment the solution in "services" such as processing, storage and caching. It is much easier to manage for people who have a background of development and not a bottom of material. However, because you are now thinking in terms of preconfigured services, you have less flexibility in design and technology. Suppliers in charge of batteries of specific software and languages and choice of a provider is most likely you block on a particular platform, which is not the case with the IaaS. Some companies well known in the field of the PAA are Heroku, dotCloud, Microsoft Azure and Google App Engine. These services are easier to use and can be less expensive for small applications. However the price exceed IaaS solutions for larger applications.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

This type of cloud provider is placed away from the "metal". The provider has built a software system, and you are just Customizing to suit your needs. Notable examples include Salesforce.com and Google Apps for businesses. You can customize the application to create a product that is more consistent with your needs, but your options are somewhat limited. On the other hand, your need for technical expertise is also limited, so you are able to do more with fewer technical resources. The pricing on these services tend to be on a per user basis and can be quite steep. However, this is compensated by the fact that you need less technical resources in support of the solution.
A few last words

There are several types of clouds and cloud providers; There is no real solution but rather a range of options. Which is good for your business? Well, it's function. You are a large or small company? Do you have technical people available? Know hardware or software better? Custom what your solution is needed and how you can exploit what is already built? There are a lot of issues, but their application is the first step.