AWS: Traditional IT vs Cloud Computing

What is a server composed of?

  • Compute: CPU
  • Memory: RAM
  • Storage: Data
  • Database: Store data in a structured way
  • Network: Routers, switch, DNS server
    • Network: cables, routers and servers connected with each other
    • Router: A networking device that forwards data packets between computer networks. They know where to send your packets on the internet
    • Switch: Takes a packet and send it to the correct server / client on your network

Problems with traditional IT approach

  • Pay for the rent for the data center
  • Pay for the power supply, cooling, maintenance
  • Adding and replacing hardware takes time
  • Scaling is limited
  • Hire 24/7 team to monitor the infrastructure
  • How to deal with disasters? (earthquake, power shutdown, fire…)

What is Cloud Computing?

  • Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computer power, datebase storage, applications, and other IT resources
  • Through a cloud services platform with pay-as-you-go pricing
  • You can provision exactly the right type and size of computing resources you need
  • You can access as many resources as you need, almost instantly
  • Simple way to access servers, storage, databases and a set of application services
  • Amazon Web Services owns and maintains the network-connected hardware required for these application services, while you provision and use what you need via a web application.

Five Characteristics of Cloud Computing

  • On-demand self service:
    • Users can provision resources and use them without human interaction from the service provider
  • Broad network access:
    • Resources available over the network, and can be accessed by diverse client platforms
  • Multi-tenancy and resource pooling:
    • Multiple customers can share the same infrastructure and applications with security and privacy
    • Multiple customers are served from the same physical resources
  • Rapid elasticity and scalability:
    • Automatically and quickly acquire and dispose resources when needed
    • Quickly and easily scale based on demand
  • Measured service:
    • Usage is measured, users pay correctly for what they have used

Six Advantages of Cloud Computing

  • Trade capital expense(CAPEX) for operational expense(OPEX)
    • Pay On-Demand: don’t own hardware
    • Reduced Total Cost of Ownership(TCO) & Operational Expense(OPEX)
  • Benefit from massive economies of scale
    • Prices are reduced as AWS is more efficient due to large scale
  • Stop guessing capacity
    • Scale based on actual measured usage
  • Increase speed and agility
  • Stop spending money running and maintaining data centers
  • Go global in minutes: leverage the AWS global infrastructure

Type of Cloud Computing

  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
    • Provides building blocks for cloud IT
    • Provides networking, computers, data storage space
    • Highest level of flexibility
    • Easy parallel with traditional on-premises IT
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS)
    • Removes the need for your organization to manage the underlying infrastructure
    • Focus on the deployment and management of your applications
  • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Completed product that is run and managed by the service provider