Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Laying the Groundwork

Did you know that the world is generating 2.5 quintillion bytes of data per day?

The amount of data continues to grow by the minute as more and more people connect to the internet and even more electronic devices are made available in the market.

We know what it entails: huge amounts of data mean huge amounts of data storage. And the problem with it? Hardware is expensive to buy and maintain.

That’s not all.

It also requires round-the-clock physical and technological monitoring and security. This, therefore, leads to a big and important question.

What is the easiest and most affordable way to handle massive loads of data?

The simple answer is to invest in cloud computing, or more specifically, cloud infrastructure as a service.

Spending in the cloud infrastructure market is growing fast at 16% between 2016 and 2026.

You may want to keep an eye on this trend. Read on to discover what exactly cloud infrastructure is and how it can benefit you and your data.

What is Cloud Infrastructure as a Service?

Let us start with the basics.

Cloud infrastructure as a service is essentially the foundation of cloud computing. It involves renting space from a virtual data centre, as opposed to purchasing your own hardware or physical data centre.

This virtual space can be accessed by you or anyone you allow to through the use of the internet. As the buyer of this virtual space, you do not control the physical infrastructure of it.

So, what are you in control of?

Instead, you do have control over the operating system, application, and storage. In some cases, you also have limited control over select networking components.

This virtual space includes both the hardware or the operating system at the provider’s facility and the software or the applications that automate it.

A good quality cloud provider will not only allow their users to rent these virtual storage spaces and services, but also create networks to tie them all together.

Types of Cloud Infrastructure

There are a number of ways that cloud infrastructure as a service can be utilised and operated. We have listed below the four types of cloud infrastructure:

1. Private Cloud

This type of cloud infrastructure is operated solely for the use of an organisation. The lessee manages it in most cases, however, it can also be managed by a third party.

There is some flexibility on where the cloud may be physically situated. A private cloud may exist on the premise of the organisation or outside.

2. Community Cloud

This cloud infrastructure, unlike a private cloud, is shared by several different organisations at once.  Community cloud is often used to support specific communities with similar concerns. For example, they may be used for a mission statement, security requirements, or shared policies.

Like a private cloud, a community cloud can be managed either by the organisations involved or a third party. It can also be off-premise or on-premise.

3. Public Cloud

This is a certain type of cloud infrastructure that is open to a large group of people, such as the general public or even a large industry group. Public cloud is owned and operated by an organisation which sells cloud services.

4. Hybrid Cloud

As the name suggests, hybrid cloud infrastructure is a combination of two or more clouds (private, community, or public). Each cloud stands apart as a unique entity yet they are also bound together by the technology used.

The advantage of this setup? It enables application and data portability. For example, cloud bursting which allows load balancing among clouds can be supported.

You might be asking, how popular is this platform?

According to statistics, around 82% of surveyed companies use hybrid cloud platforms, and is continuing to increase.

Hybrid platform is being quickly adopted by many organisations globally. It works by keeping more recent data on-site, while older data is moved to the public cloud.

Benefits of Cloud Infrastructure as a Service

Users of cloud infrastructure enjoy several benefits, including the ones we’ve compiled.

1. Self-Service on Demand

With the use of cloud infrastructure, there is no need for human interaction with each service’s provider.

How is this possible?

Basically, you can independently provide computing capabilities, including computing time, storage, and network connectivity whenever you need to.

It also means that you only have to pay for the resources that you actually use. Cloud infrastructure as a service provides you the basic raw materials of IT, but you only need to pay for those necessary for you and your company.

This can include, but is not limited to, RAM, hard disk or storage space, CPU cores, and data transfer. Essentially, you end up using resources more efficiently.

2. Resource Pooling

The computing resources of the cloud that are supplied by the provider are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model. This means that different physical and virtual resources are assigned according to your demands.

Some of these computing sources may include computer processing, storage, network bandwidth, memory, and even virtual machines.

Although you have no control over the exact location of the resources that you have been provided with, you will still be able to specify a location that is a bit broader, such as the country, state, or data centre.

3. Expanding Data Capability

If you find yourself running out of space for your data, cloud infrastructure as a service is there to help you. With just a quick purchase, you can rapidly and almost instantaneously expand your capabilities in an instant.

What does this mean for you and your organisation?

Simple. No need to buy more hardware.

All you have to do is contact your provider and it can be done in a snap.

On the flip side, if you need to quickly scale your data limits for any reason, that can be achieved easily, too.

So are there limits to how much space can be purchased?

No. The good news is that these capabilities are essentially unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity whenever you need it.

4. Easily Measured Services

Cloud infrastructure systems are measured services. Meaning, they can be automatically controlled through a meter.

This allows resource usage to be monitored, controlled, and reported for optimum effectiveness.

Not only that, a metered service also provides transparency for both the provider of the cloud system and you as the consumer of the service. This means that rarely will you find yourself in a situation where you are charged for what you never essentially used.

5. Scalability

The best part about using a cloud infrastructure system is that the resources you need are available when you need them.

There are no delays in expanding capacity, nor is there any wastage of unused capability.

6. Easy Access Anywhere

Cloud infrastructure as a service can be accessed anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. This makes it highly convenient to use no matter where you work.

All you have to do is ensure that the security protocol of the cloud service lets you in, which you can easily check with your provider.

7. Excellent Physical Security

According to data gathered by experts, around 18% of files uploaded to a cloud-based service contain sensitive data. This may include confidential reports, payment information, emails, and even protected health information.

When you use cloud infrastructure as a service, you will be provided with plenty of security measures. This could be either through a service available on a public cloud or a private cloud that is hosted externally by a cloud provider.

8. Reliable Service

Cloud infrastructure as a service is one of the most reliable ways to store sensitive and important data. Even if one aspect of the service fails, other areas of the infrastructure won’t be affected.

This is thanks to the multitude of hardware resources provided by service providers.

9. Cheaper Option

If you want to create your own physical data centre, there are a number of aspects you need to worry about.

Firstly, you need to purchase land or lease space. On top of that, you will need labour to build your data centre and resources. Setting all this up can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and we’re not yet talking about upgrades and maintenance.

Meanwhile, when you buy from a cloud provider, you are simply renting space in a virtual data centre. This space, which exists essentially nowhere, costs much lower with lesser to no upkeep expenses at all.

Ready to Move?

If you want to keep your data safe and easier to manage, moving to the cloud is your best option.

To help you get started with this innovative data storage system, consider consulting with a highly trained IT specialist. 

Book your consult with us today.