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Cloud Computing - What is Cloud Storage?

All people talk about the cloud, many people even "live" in the cloud. Admittedly, the term "cloud" is opaque. Clouds come and go, we cannot grasp them and often they annoy us because they cover the sun. Reason enough to explain what the cloud is all about.

What is Cloud Computing?


All people talk about the cloud, many people even "live" in the cloud. Admittedly, the term "cloud" is opaque. Clouds come and go, we cannot grasp them and often they annoy us because they cover the sun. Reason enough to explain what the cloud is all about.

Cloud computing is the provision of computing resources (servers, storage, databases, network components, software, etc.). via the Internet - the cloud. You can use these resources to achieve faster innovation, flexible resources and economies of scale. Users pay only for the cloud services they actually use.

Basically, you have access to software without having to install it on your computer.

However, the cloud does not only offer software - a distinction can be made on the basis of the cloud computing architecture. It consists of three layers: The infrastructure, the platform and the application.

Graphical representation: A pyramid is divided into three parts. The base is the cloud infrastructure. In the middle is the cloud platform. The top is the cloud application

Cloud Infrastructure - Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

The infrastructure describes a business model in which no complete solution (hardware and software application) is offered, but only the hardware necessary to implement certain applications. This is located in data centers and is also supported there. They have access to virtualized components for data processing, data transport and data storage and can therefore use and install any application programs and operating systems.

Simply put: You rent IT infrastructure and maintenance.

Cloud Platforms - Platform as a Service (SaaS)

With the platform the IT administrator is less in demand than the software developer. Platform as a Service is a service, which enables the developer to develop and execute own programs on the offered infrastructure by means of interfaces. For this purpose, the PaaS provider provides development environments in the form of frameworks. It provides specifications for the programming languages and interfaces to be used, data storage, networks and data processing systems. (However, the developer does not have the ability to access the infrastructure used to provide the service administrative or controlling access. He can only control the programs and data he has brought in himself.)

Cloud Applications - Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service is a business model in which you do not buy the software application, but receive it as a service for a fee. Software and IT infrastructure are therefore operated by an external service provider. In most cases, only an Internet-enabled device and an internet browser is required to run the software. This allows you to use low-cost hardware in your company, but at the same time to benefit from full computer power and storage capacity of a data center.

Simply put: Software is not licensed and installed on your own hardware, but only "rented" as a service and can be used anywhere with any Internet browser.

What is a Cloud Storage?

A cloud storage has features from the IaaS and SaaS area. It represents a virtual hard disk on the Internet that you can access at any time. For example, you can store photos centrally and view them in different locations. It is also possible to synchronize the cloud with a folder on the local computer. If you add a new file there, it is also loaded directly into your cloud. Depending on the provider, cloud storage also offers other functions, such as a web office. This allows text documents, spreadsheets or presentations to be created directly online and stored on the cloud storage.

The size of a storage system can usually be adjusted to the data storage needs of an individual or a company. The storage is accessible from any location and is not tied to an application - so it can be accessed from any device.

What are the types of cloud services?

In three clouds are the terms public cloud, hybrid cloud and private cloud

Cloud services can be provided in different ways depending on who offers the services. Depending on whom the services are offered by and the target group they are aimed at, they are referred to as:

  • Public Clouds
  • Private Clouds
  • Hybrid Clouds

Public Cloud

To describe a cloud environment as a public cloud, it must meet various criteria. Access to the cloud should be possible for a large number of users via public network structures such as the Internet. The resources should be made available to users according to their needs and should adapt flexibly to changing requirements. Cloud services are characterized by their good and fast scalability. Services are billed on a usage basis. Customers only pay for the services provided by the provider that they actually use. It is necessary for this, that the use of computing power, bandwidth, storage space or applications is measurable for the provider and customer.

Ideally, users can book or cancel services directly and pay online. They are not bound to long-term contracts. Self-service interfaces are available for customers for booking and adjusting the required services. It is particularly important in a public cloud that the shared resources of different customers are hermetically shielded and separated from each other. Customer data must not be available across the board and must be protected from unauthorized access. At the same time, the service provider must ensure that neither the availability nor the performance of the individual environments influence each other.

Private Cloud

A private cloud environment promises a high level of control and security: In contrast to the public cloud, the private cloud is not accessible to the general public via the Internet. It is operated exclusively for individual organisations such as companies or public authorities. Depending on its nature, it can be hosted on its own computers or on servers from external providers. Cloud services can be accessed either via a separate intranet or via a closed Virtual Private Network (VPN).

For instance, a private cloud is an internal, organizational cloud that makes its applications available only to authorized users. Access can be secured by firewalls, for example. Other terms for the private cloud are corporate cloud or corporate cloud. The private cloud acts as an internal service provider for users. Like the public cloud, the private cloud relies on virtualization and distributed computing.

Since this form of cloud computing does not have to be shared with other users, it offers a high level of security, control and flexibility. The applications can be scaled according to the individual requirements of the organization and can be used very efficiently. Computer, storage and network capacities depend on individual needs and are not subject to the restrictions of the public cloud.

The private cloud allows the rapid adaptation of computing power and the user-dependent billing of the services used. This is especially true for organizations that have to comply with strict regulations regarding data security and data processing, or are subject to state regulation, the private cloud represents an ideal solution. Due to the special architecture of cloud services considerable savings potentials arise compared to conventional IT infrastructures. In some areas, the private cloud comes together with the public cloud in the form of a so-called hybrid cloud. It combines the advantages of both worlds to create its own cloud model.

Hybrid Cloud

The advantages of the private and the public cloud - united in the hybrid cloud: The hybrid cloud consists of parts of a private cloud and a public cloud. It combines the advantages of both worlds in a common cloud concept and is very versatile. The requirements of data protection-critical applications or legally regulated companies can be fulfilled and at the same time the flexibility of publicly accessible cloud solutions is available. Business processes can be differentiated between critical and non-critical data protection processes and assigned to the appropriate cloud structure. The public cloud offers full flexibility for non-critical applications. It is operated by an external service provider and can be reached via the public Internet. There are no investment costs for the hardware for the organization. The services used are billed according to actual use or according to a precisely defined tariff model.

Data protection-critical business processes are mapped on the abstract private cloud, which is operated exclusively for the organization. The private cloud portions of the hybrid cloud can be hosted by themselves or by a third party. Depending on the requirements, the organization selects the public or private cloud shares of the hybrid cloud for its processes. Classic models based on their own data centers can be combined with the easily scalable cloud services of public cloud operators. In this way, short-term resource requirements can be obtained from the public cloud without having to upgrade one's own infrastructure.

luckycloud and cloud computing

luckycloud is an end-to-end encrypted Sync and Share platform according to German security standards, which supports the storage services of the Public Cloud (luckycloud Storage), the Private Cloud (luckycloudBox ) and the Hybrid Cloud (luckycloud Storage + luckycloudBox). In addition to the Weboffice feature, our cloud storage also includes an email service (luckyMail), that allows you to manage emails, contacts and your calendar.

Autor: Christina Gluch

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