Cloud App Development in Australia

Cloud-based software or cloud application is an internet-based program where data processing is managed by a combination of on-premise and cloud computing solutions. The cloud application servers are present in a remote datacenter and can be accessed via a web browser or mobile application with an uninterrupted internet connection.

Enterprises rely on cloud-based software to reduce infrastructure costs, scale as per demand, improve data security, enhance accessibility, simplify operations, and get to market quickly.

Cloud computing services can be classified based on the location or type of service offered.
Based on location, the cloud can be classified into public, private, hybrid or community cloud.

Public cloud: When a cloud is termed public, it means that the entire cloud computing infrastructure is away from the customer and located on the premises of a third-party cloud computing company. Public cloud offers exceptional performance but is prone to attacks and vulnerabilities.

Private Cloud: When a cloud is termed private, it means that the customer is employing a private and dedicated server that is not shared with others. It can be remotely located or maintained on-premise. Private cloud offers the highest level of security and control, but is an expensive option.

Hybrid Cloud: This uses a combination of private and public clouds, as per the purpose. Critical applications are hosted on a private cloud to ensure data security, while secondary applications are hosted on a public cloud to bring down costs.

Community Cloud: A community cloud is shared between organizations or governments that are united by a common purpose. It can be on or off-premise.

Based on the type of service offered, cloud computing services can be:

SaaS: Software-as-a-Service is a method of availing fully-developed software applications over the internet on a subscription basis while resting the responsibilities of maintenance, support, and operations with the cloud provider. Mostly available through web browsers, SaaS apps eliminate the need for installations or downloads, and can be used by customers as and when they need them.

IaaS: Infrastructure-as-a-Service allows companies to rent out a completely virtualized computing infrastructure from a cloud provider, and fully customize it as per their specific needs. These virtualized resources include servers, virtual machines, networks, operating systems, and storage space. IaaS helps start-ups and small companies scale as per the demand, thereby slashing their infrastructure costs.

PaaS: Platform-as-a-Service provides developers the frameworks and tools to build and host their software applications, without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure or costs associated with purchasing each one of them. Available over the internet, PaaS helps developers access the assets remotely, speed up development, and get to market faster than their competitors.

The primary benefits of cloud computing include:

Reduced costs: Employing cloud resources brings down the costs of system upgrades, energy consumption costs, hardware costs, capital expenditure, and wages.

Scalability: You can seamlessly scale up or cut down your cloud storage capacity and operation as per your business demands, without having to invest in expensive physical IT infrastructure.

Mobility: Through cloud computing, you can access your corporate data 24×7 through smartphones and other mobile devices, to keep tabs on your work even while away from your desk.

Collaboration: Cloud applications permit secure file sharing and real-time collaboration for effective knowledge transfer and discussion of out-of-the-box ideas among diverse groups.

Control: Cloud lets you have absolute control over your confidential data through role-based access and centralized file storage.

Disaster Recovery: Unlike the traditional on-premise approach where a fault in your local device results in a complete data wipe-out, cloud-based services recover your data in all kinds of emergency scenarios, from natural disasters to power outages.

A hybrid cloud refers to a computing environment where public and private clouds are used in unison by sharing data and apps between them. It gives businesses the agility to employ a public cloud for improved computing power and flexibility, while keeping sensitive workloads hosted on a private cloud, behind a firewall. This approach helps companies leverage the best of both worlds.

Hybrid clouds are used when enterprises have to deal with dynamic workloads, plan to move to the cloud incrementally, desire to leverage big data analytics, and are working towards adopting a flexible approach for the future.

Cloud-based service is the practice of using a host of remote servers over the internet to store, manage, and compute data on an on-demand basis. Companies offering these computing services are called cloud providers and typically charge for cloud computing services based on usage.

Users typically subscribe to cloud services on a monthly subscription basis, making it an operational expense. The key traits of cloud services are self-provisioning and elasticity.
The various types of cloud-based services include Software-as-a-Service (Saas), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).

Cloud computing is defined as the usage of hardware and software to deliver computing services such as networking, software, databases and more, over the internet. Contrary to storing data in a hard drive, in cloud computing, you need to access your data and programs online.

By leveraging cloud, you can bring down your operating costs, scale your resources as per the business demands, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and innovate at a faster pace. It basically is a metaphor for the internet.