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Cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to
maintain data and applications. Cloud computing allows consumers and businesses to
use applications without installation and access their personal files at any computer
with internet access. This technology allows for much more efficient computing by
centralizing storage, memory, processing and bandwidth.
When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections:
the front end and the back end.
The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The front end includes the client's
computer (or computer network) and the application required to access the cloud computing system.
On the back end of the system are the various computers, servers and data storage systems that create
the "cloud" of computing services. In theory, a cloud computing system could include practically any computer
program you can imagine, from data processing to video games. Usually each application will have its own dedicated server.
Clients would be able to access their applications and data from
anywhere at any time. They could access the cloud computing system using any computer linked to the internet. Data wouldn't be confined to a hard drive on one user's computer or even a
corporation's internal network.
It could bring hardware costs down by reducing the need for
advanced hardware on the client side. You wouldn't need to buy the fastest computer with the most memory, because the cloud system would take care of those needs for you.
Servers and digital storage devices take up space. Cloud computing allows companies that rent server space the option of storing data on someone else's hardware, removing the need for physical space.
Cloud computing systems give organizations company-wide access to computer applications. Companies don't have to buy a set of software or software licenses for every employee. Instead, the
company could pay a metered fee to a cloud computing company.
Perhaps the biggest concerns about cloud computing are security and privacy.
Security: The idea of handing over important data to another company worries some people. Corporate executives might hesitate to take advantage of a cloud computing system because they can't keep their company's information under lock and key. The counterargument to this position is that the companies offering cloud computing services live and die by their reputations. It benefits these companies to have reliable security measures in place. Otherwise, the service would lose all its clients. It's in their interest to employ the most advanced techniques to protect their clients' data.
Privacy: If a client can log in from any location to access data and applications, it's possible the client's privacy could be compromised. Cloud computing companies will need to find ways to protect client privacy. One way is to use authentication techniques such as user names and passwords. Another is to employ an authorization format—each user can access only the data and applications relevant to his or her job.
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