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Cloud Services

▾ 5 MINUTE READ — CLOSE

There are multiple providers offering cloud services and solutions in different industries.

Leading cloud computing vendors include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, the Google Cloud Platform, Alibaba, IBM Cloud, DigitalOcean, Packet, and the Oracle Cloud. These providers offer a wide range of computing, storage, messaging, processing, and other cloud services, all consumed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Types of Cloud Platforms
Cloud computing refers to services run and accessed over the internet. There are different types of cloud platforms, created with a mix of technologies that enable cloud computing. These offerings might differ in terms of location, ownership, and use, among many other factors.

Here are the four different types of clouds:
Public Cloud
These are clouds created from infrastructure that is not owned by the end-user. Traditionally, public clouds ran off-premises, but recent public clouds offer cloud services on clients’ premises.
Private Cloud
These cloud environments are created for a given group of users, usually running within the users’ firewall.
Hybrid Cloud
This cloud combines public and private clouds connected through a specified network.
Multicloud
This is a cloud approach that includes multiple cloud vendors and services. While all hybrid clouds are multiclouds, not all multiclouds are hybrid clouds.
What Are Cloud Services?
Cloud services are web-based services that allow organizations to control and monitor their data by using scalable, reliable, virtual resources. Cloud services have been divided into three major categories: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Are Cloud-Native and Cloud-Based Software the Same?
Although both have many similarities, cloud-native and cloud-based software are different.

Cloud-native software is architected in the cloud and built to run in public clouds like Azure, AWS, and other cloud technologies. Cloud-native applications are flexible and backed by microservices architecture, enabling parts of an app to be upgraded without total disruption.

Cloud-based software is architected in traditional servers but is moved to a cloud provider so that its local components can work with cloud structures. Cloud-based software leverages the scalability and availability of cloud-native applications. When applications are transferred to a cloud provider, organizations are no longer responsible for managing the resources needed to run the application. This feature eliminates the need to maintain servers and manage backups.

Cloud Service Types
Cloud services are generally divided into three categories:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
IaaS is one of the first cloud computing services that comprise security tools, networking, storage, and computing. IaaS tools allow organizations to manage and configure software while maintaining maximum hardware and software stack control.

IaaS providers create the infrastructure, and companies provide the remaining tools needed for their internal networks. With these infrastructure services, organizations can reduce the cost of capital needed to create their internal infrastructure. Infrastructure-as-a-service examples include Rackspace, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Compute Engine (GCE).
Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
PaaS is a development environment in the cloud that provides resources for delivering operating systems through the web without requiring installation or constant downloads.

Platforms-as-a-service solutions maintain the basic infrastructure of many IaaS tools. It also has development tools, database management systems, middleware, and operating systems needed to build software applications. PaaS is best suited for companies that develop software and web applications, as it allows developers to access development tools when needed without buying them directly. PaaS solutions include Microsoft Azure, Google App Engine, and Apache Stratos.
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
SaaS is an advanced software solution that comes in web-based software applications. The cloud provider maintains the operating system, middleware, data, and infrastructure needed to run the software in specific SaaS solutions. The provider also ensures that the software application is available when needed.

Software-as-a-service solutions are best suited to users who want to avoid overhead costs as there is no significant capital required for use. Many SaaS offerings come in the form of subscriptions or installment payments. Some SaaS examples are LaunchDarkly, Mirantis, Aqua Security, and Salesforce.
Benefits of Cloud Technologies
Cloud technology, also known as cloud computing, uses networks to access digital resources stored on the cloud. Cloud technologies allow organizations to scale up and down when needed.

Here are some benefits of cloud technologies:

Storage. Cloud storage is not limited in capacity like some physical devices may be. Cloud storage is unlimited and accessible to everyone who can afford it.
Collaboration. Cloud computing enhances communication and resource sharing between team members in remote locations. This capability has been invaluable since remote and hybrid work became prominent.
Affordability. Many cloud technologies allow organizations that cannot afford the overhead costs — or initial capital required to build internal technologies — to access vital technologies on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Recovery. Cloud technologies allow organizations to develop disaster recovery solutions and implement backups swiftly.

Challenges Surrounding Cloud Solution Services
Cloud-based services are applications or software that provide information technology (IT) as-a-service over a specified network or the internet. Delivery of cloud-based services is on-demand, and users make payments based on usage.

Cloud services have numerous capabilities that have improved software development, deployment, and service delivery, to name a few. But they have drawbacks, too.

Here are some challenges associated with cloud-based platforms:

Lock-in. An organization may get too dependent on a set of services from a single provider, making it challenging to move operations to another cloud if they find the current provider no longer suitable.
Cost. Cloud computing often saves businesses money. Still, the scalable features and on-demand use of cloud-based platforms make it difficult to anticipate cloud software costs, which may be very expensive.
Compliance. As industry standards and policies are updated, organizations that use cloud storage and backups often face compliance issues whenever they want to move data from their internal storage to the cloud.

Find the Latest News on Cloud Computing at The New Stack
At The New Stack, we keep track of the wealth of technologies, tools, and services that will help organizations make the most of their cloud services. Here is also the place to find out the best practices on setting up hybrid clouds, resilient and secure multicloud systems, and other cloud platforms.

Specifically, we explore issues such as costing, cloud migration, cross-cloud Kubernetes support, application deployment, cloud application performance, and monitoring. Learn more about these concepts in the cloud services category.


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Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Containers / Kubernetes
AWS Joins the Cloud Native Computing Foundation, Boosting Kubernetes Momentum
9 Aug 2017 8:34am, by Joab Jackson
Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services
CNCF, Packet Provide Free Infrastructure for Cloud Developers
8 Aug 2017 12:31pm, by Susan Hall
Cloud Services / Containers / Culture / IoT Edge Computing / Kubernetes / Serverless
Azure Container Instances: Proof Microsoft Is Innovating with Containers
1 Aug 2017 6:00am, by Janakiram MSV
Cloud Services / Containers / Kubernetes
Azure Container Instances Promises Cheaper, More Agile Container Tools
28 Jul 2017 2:00am, by Mary Branscombe
Cloud Services / Software Development
Amazon AppStream 2.0 Deploys GPUs to Speed Cloud-Based Desktop Apps
27 Jul 2017 8:00am, by Agam Shah
Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Containers / DevOps / Kubernetes / Sponsored / Contributed
Containership.io: Why We Added Kubernetes Support
26 Jul 2017 12:48pm, by Phil Dougherty
CI/CD / Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Culture / Contributed
How Allstate Unleashes Developer Creativity Globally
24 Jul 2017 9:00am, by Abby Kearns
Cloud Services / Storage
Scality Zenko: An Open Source Multi-Cloud Storage Controller
21 Jul 2017 2:00am, by Maxwell Cooter
Cloud Services / Machine Learning / Security
IBM Brings Scalable Machine Learning to Its New Z14 Mainframe
19 Jul 2017 2:00am, by Agam Shah
Cloud Services / Containers / Culture / IoT Edge Computing / Kubernetes
IBM’s Cloud CTO: We Needed a Developer-First Mindset
17 Jul 2017 3:00am, by Alex Handy
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Cloud Services / Data Science / Kubernetes / Serverless / Sponsored
Cloud Custodian and Capital One Ask, What’s in Your Amazon Cloud?
14 Jul 2017 11:55am, by Alex Williams
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Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Containers / DevOps / Kubernetes / Open Source / Security / Serverless / Software Development
Assessing the Current State of Serverless Security
13 Jul 2017 2:00pm, by Benjamin Ball
Cloud Services / Containers / Kubernetes
Red Hat OpenShift Online Now Offers Multitenancy
13 Jul 2017 1:46pm, by Susan Hall
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Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Microservices / Sponsored
SAP: Microservices Drove the Need for Cloud Foundry
12 Jul 2017 3:00pm, by Scott M. Fulton III
Cloud Services
DigitalOcean Debuts High CPU Droplets Using Intel Xeon Scalable Processors
11 Jul 2017 12:30pm, by TC Currie
CI/CD / Cloud Services / Data Science / Machine Learning / Software Development
Qubole Harnesses Automation to Provide Data Self-Service
11 Jul 2017 2:00am, by Susan Hall
API Management / Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Security / Contributed
Reinforcing the Trust Factor for Cloud Foundry
10 Jul 2017 9:00am, by Chip Childers
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Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Software Development
How Mendix Takes Cloud Foundry from an Apps Platform to ‘Business Engineering’
7 Jul 2017 2:00pm, by Alex Williams
Cloud Services / Containers / Microservices
Oracle Releases an OCI-Based Container Runtime
5 Jul 2017 11:49am, by Alex Handy
Cloud Services / Containers / DevOps / Observability / Sponsored / Contributed
Leveraging Cloud Services to Make In-House Ops Teams More Competitive
23 Jun 2017 12:15pm, by Peter Waterhouse
Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Containers / Data Science
Redis Enterprise Comes to the Cloud Foundry Platform
23 Jun 2017 6:00am, by Alex Handy
Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Containers / DevOps / Contributed
Wal-Mart Kicks Partners Off Amazon’s Cloud: The Implications for Organizations
22 Jun 2017 9:41am, by Phil Dougherty
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Cloud Services / DevOps / Serverless / Software Development / Tools
The Need for Infrastructure Tooling in the Serverless Ecosystem
19 Jun 2017 2:00pm, by Benjamin Ball
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Cloud Native Ecosystem / Cloud Services / Observability / Serverless
OpenWhisk, Bluemix, and Event-Driven Architectures in the Cloud
16 Jun 2017 11:19am, by Benjamin Ball
Cloud Services / Data Science / Machine Learning / Open Source / Serverless / Software Development
Open Source Leaders: Matei Zaharia, Apache Spark
13 Jun 2017 6:00am, by Alex Handy
CI/CD / Cloud Services / Machine Learning / Software Development / Tools
Conversica’s AI-Based Virtual Assistant Can Help Go after Better Sales Leads
9 Jun 2017 10:50am, by Kimberley Mok
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