Business owner’s guide to cloud technical terms

When it comes to computing, the cloud is the tech du jour. With the terminology surrounding it expanding at a rapid pace, it’s easy to fall behind. Don’t fret — here is a quick glossary you can use to catch up immediately.
 
Cloud application – A software program that is accessed by the end user via the internet and runs in the computers of a service provider, i.e., thecloud.
 
Cloud backup – The process of creating and keeping a copy of data in a cloud-based server.
 
Cloud computing – The delivery of IT services such as data storage, data delivery, and data processing over a network, usually the internet. Much like how a utility company owns the processing facilities for the water or electricity it distributes to consumers, a cloud service providerowns the IT infrastructure and systems it uses to provide IT services to clients. In other words, cloud computing is the usage of the IT resources of a third party instead of one’s own. There are three main cloud computing models, namely software as a service, platform as a service, and infrastructure as a service.
 
Cloud migration – The process of transferring a company’s data, applications, and/or services from on-site resources to the cloud.
 
Cloud service provider (CSP) – A third-party vendor that provides cloud computingservices to clients.
 
Cloud storage – The warehousing of data in facilities managed by a CSP. Assuming a user has access rights, they can remotely access the data via a network.
 
Hybrid cloud – An IT environment that combines cloud-based and on-premiseIT solutions. This setup is implemented by companies that want to maximize the use of existing in-house resources while also taking advantage of the cost efficiencies cloud technology brings.
 
Infrastructure – The entirety of hardware, software, and other virtual resources that comprises the IT environment of an organization.
 
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) – A cloud computing model in which a vendor provides networking, storage, and computing resources to clients via the internet.
 
Multi-cloud strategy – The concurrent use of different cloud service providersfor disparate infrastructure, platform, or software needs. Beyond helping an enterprise deal with diverse workloads and partners, this approach also prevents over-reliance on one CSP, which can turn into a single point of failure.
 
On-demand self-service – Similar in concept to self-service gas stations, this cloud computing service model allows clients to use an online control panel to obtain additional cloud resources on demand without having to involve the service provider.
 
On-premise – Describes an IT infrastructurethat is within the physical location of the organization using it. PCs in cubicles and the software installed on those machines are on-premise IT resources. By contrast, cloud programs like the ones included in Office365 are located remotely and are accessed and run online.
 
Platform – If a software program or application is a theatrical production, then a computing platform is the stage. And similar to how a stage can be used as a venue for developing and rehearsing a play, a platform is also the base upon which programs and applications are built. Given these particular functions, a platform can be:
 
●     Hardware, wherein software operates hardware directly, without an OS
●     An operating systemthat houses a plethora of programs installed on a computer
●     A web browserthat runs web-based programs
●     An application programming interfacesuch as a spreadsheet capable of running macros
●     A development environmentwhere software products are created.
 
Platform as a service (PaaS) – A cloud computing model in which a vendor provides the hardware and software tools needed to build, deploy, and manage applications. PaaS allows parties to develop and launch applications without having to purchase, configure, and maintain the resources required for these.
 
Private cloud – Infrastructure that is provisioned by a CSPfor exclusive use by a single organization.
 
Public cloud – Infrastructure that is made available by a CSPto the public via the internet.
 
Software as a service (SaaS) – A cloud computing model in which a vendor hostsapplications that are made available to clients over the internet. Unlike lifetime-license software that are installed on PCs and use the computing power of those machines to run, SaaS applications are licensed on a subscription basis and use the infrastructureof the vendor to operate.
 
Here’s hoping this short glossary helps you for when you come across cloud jargon. And to truly leverage everything that the cloud has to offer, contact SimplyClouds. We have the experience and technical expertise you need to take your business to unprecedented levels of success.