The term cloud hosting or cloud computing consists of Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software
and information technology resources are provided to computers and Internet servers on demand, a bit similar to the
power grid that we use everyday and that we tend to take for granted, until the next power outage happens.
Cloud hosting and cloud computing is a paradigm shift following the major transition from large and costly mainframe
computers to nimble and lower cost client–server technology in the early '80s. Details are abstracted from the users,
who no longer have need for expertise in, or control over, the technology infrastructure "in the cloud" that supports
them.
The term cloud hosting can be summarized in two short sentences: You host a Web-based application or resource
somewhere on a server in a data center. You don't need to know where that server is located or how it works, as
long as it works. End of the story. Cloud hosting describes a new information delivery model for IT services based on the Internet, and it typically
involves over-the-Web provisioning of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources.
Ask for your free Cloud Hosting and Colo White Paper.
Sun Hosting now offers Ubuntu 10.10, a Linux distribution that was specifically
optimized for cloud hosting and cloud computing.
It will be available in early January 2011.
Cloud hosting is a byproduct and consequence of the ease-of-access to remote servers provided by the Internet. This frequently takes the form of
Internet-based software or end-user applications that people can access and use through a Web browser as if it were a
program directly installed locally on their own computer.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides a somewhat more objective and specific definition
of cloud hosting. The term "cloud" is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used in the past
to represent a telephone network, and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of
the underlying infrastructure it represents.
Typical cloud hosting providers such as Sun Hosting deliver common business applications online that are accessed
from another Web service or software like a Web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers. A key
element of cloud computing is dynamic customization and the creation of a user-defined experience.
Most cloud computing infrastructures consist of services delivered through common data centers and built on servers.
Clouds often appear as single points of access for consumers' computing needs. Commercial offerings are generally
expected to meet quality of service (QoS) requirements of customers, and typically include service level agreements
(SLAs).
Cloud computing customers do not own the physical infrastructure, instead avoiding capital expenditure by renting
usage from a third-party provider such as Sun Hosting. They consume resources as a service and pay only for resources
that they use. Many cloud-computing offerings employ the utility computing model, which is analogous to how traditional
utility services such as electricity are consumed, whereas others bill on a subscription basis.
Sharing perishable and intangible computing power among multiple tenants can improve utilization rates, as servers
are not unnecessarily left idle, which can reduce costs significantly while increasing the speed of application development.
A side-effect of this approach is that overall computer usage rises dramatically, as customers do not have to engineer for
peak load limits. Additionally, increased high-speed bandwidth makes it possible to receive the same data and at the same
time.
The cloud is becoming increasingly associated with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as in many cases they cannot
justify or afford the large capital expenditure of traditional IT resources. SMEs also typically have less existing
infrastructure, less bureaucracy, more flexibility and smaller capital budgets for purchasing in-house technology.
Similarly, SMEs in emerging markets are typically unburdened by established legacy infrastructures, thus reducing the
complexity of deploying cloud solutions.
Cloud computing users avoid capital expenditure (CapEx) on hardware, software and IT services when they pay a provider
only for what they use. Consumption is usually billed on a utility (resources consumed, like electricity) or
subscription (time-based, like a newspaper) basis with little or no upfront cost. Other benefits of this approach are
low barriers to entry, shared infrastructure and costs, low management overhead and immediate access to a much broader
range of applications.
Users can usually terminate their contract at any time, thereby avoiding return on investment risk and uncertainty,
and the IT services are often covered by service level agreements (SLAs).
The strategic importance of information technology is diminishing as it becomes standardized and less expensive.
The cloud computing paradigm shift is similar to the displacement of electricity generators by electricity grids early
in the 20th century.
Although companies might be able to save on upfront capital expenditures, they might not save much and might actually
pay more for operating expenses. In situations where the capital expense would be relatively small, or where the
organization has more flexibility in their capital budget than their operating budget, the cloud model might not make
great economic sense.
Other factors impacting the scale of any potential cost savings include the efficiency of a company's data center
as compared to the cloud vendor's, the company's existing operating costs, the level of adoption of cloud computing and
the type of functionality being hosted in the cloud.
Sun Hosting strongly believes that Cloud Hosting and Cloud Computing is here to stay, and that rapidly-advancing
Internet technology will simply accelerate cloud hosting services even more going forward.
Sun Hosting offers professional Cloud Hosting services in Canada and the U.S., and can help your company cut down
on IT infrastructure costs and still provide the same level of services to your users. Simply contact us for
an appointment and a Sun Hosting professional consultant will be in touch with you.
RESOURCES
Premium Search Engine Optimization by professionals
Interested in server colocation? Then you might be interested in reading this:
Testimonials from Sun Hosting's Customers
Sun Hosting's Special Deal of the Month
Need help selecting between Linux or the Windows operating system?
Important facts you should know about domain names
Why American or European organizations should host in Canada?
How to build a successful eCommerce website
How sales taxes are calculated using PayPal
Glossary of Common Windows and Linux Hosting Terms used
Copyright © Sun Hosting.
The Sun Hosting logo is a registered trademark of Sun Hosting. All content, all
photos and the Sun Hosting logo on this Web site are the property of Sun Hosting and are
protected by Canadian, U.S. and international copyright laws. The Windows logo is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corp. The Linux Logo is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Any other logos,
trademarks or service marks on this site belong to their respective owners or their companies.
