UNIT 1

CLOUD ECOSYSTEM

In nature, an ecosystem is composed of living and non-living things that are

connected and work together. The term "cloud ecosystem" refers to the
interconnected set of services, technologies, and platforms that make up the
cloud computing environment. A cloud ecosystem will be a complex system
of interdependent components working together to enable cloud services.

There are different roles within the cloud ecosystem, which are illustrated in
the figure below.

Cloud Consumer :

A Cloud Consumer is a party who uses services offered by Cloud Providers,

Cloud Brokers, and Cloud Carriers during the business. Before actually using
a service, a cloud Consumer browses the cloud Provider's or cloud Broker's
catalogue of available services, requests the desired service (s), and negotiates
the terms of the service contract with the cloud Provider (directly or via a cloud
Broker).

Cloud Carrier:

A cloud Carrier is an organisation that uses infrastructures like the internet

and telecommunications to link end users with cloud service providers. Cloud
consumers, for instance, can access cloud services via networked gadgets like
desktops, notebooks, smartphones, tablets, etc. Network and
communications Carriers, or transport agent, typically handle the
dissemination of cloud services; a transport agent is a company that facilitates
the physical delivery of storage media like high-capacity hard drives. Providers
may ask cloud service providers to set up private, encrypted connections
between themselves and their customers (s). Keep in mind that a cloud
provider will negotiate SLAs with a cloud Carrier to ensure that cloud
Consumers receive a service level commensurate with the requirements stated
in SLAs.

Cloud Provider or Cloud Service Provider (CSP):

A cloud Provider is an entity responsible for making a service available to

cloud Consumers (either directly or indirectly via a Broker). It is the
responsibility of the cloud provider to acquire and maintain the necessary
computing infrastructure, to operate the cloud software that provides the
services (at least for SaaS and PaaS service deployments), and to arrange for
the delivery of the cloud services to the cloud Consumers via network access.

There are two types of CSPs:

the Primary Cloud Service Provider and the Intermediary Cloud Service,
Provider.

a) Primary Cloud Service Provider:

Services provided by a Primary Provider are hosted by the company itself.

Unlike Secondary Providers, Primary Providers do not outsource the
production of their services to third parties (such as Brokers or Intermediary
Providers) to make them available to their respective Consumers.

b) Intermediary Cloud Service provider:

A cloud Intermediary Provider can communicate with other providers without

disclosing information about the Primary Provider (s). An Intermediary
Provider integrates the services of one or more Primary Providers into the
service it offers to customers. Cloud Broker: A Cloud Broker is an organisation
that controls the use, performance, and delivery of cloud services and
negotiates partnerships between Cloud Providers and Cloud Consumers.
Brokers in the cloud often offer three types of services: aggregation, arbitrage,
and intermediation.

Cloud Auditor:

A cloud auditor is a third party that evaluates cloud services independently

and provides an opinion based on those findings. A cloud auditor can assess
the services provided by a cloud provider in terms of security, privacy,
performance, and other metrics. Compliance with guidelines (whether they be
from regulations, service contracts, or established best practises) can be
confirmed by audits by examining observable.
 The Essential Characteristics

Essential characteristics are the unique features that cloud computing can
offer, for which it has gained massive acceptance and adoption as an integral
part of digital transformation.

There are five core attributes commonly known. Lately, more have been added
to this list, such as automatics, security, availability etc.

On-Demand – This is one of the most important and valuable features of cloud
computing. The cloud service consumer can adjust their need in self-service
mode. They can consume storage and server time as required without
intervening with the service provider.

Organisations can use a "Self-Service" portal to control their usage, add or

delete services, etc.

Cloud service providers providing on-demand self-services include Amazon

Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, Google, IBM and Salesforce.com. New York
Times and NASDAQ are examples of companies using AWS (NIST).

Broad Network – In simplicity, it means cloud computing capabilities are

available over a more comprehensive network, e.g. you can use resources on
the cloud by using any digital device such as mobile phones, tablets or laptops
from anywhere in the world where there is the internet.

You don't need to have your device physically connected to the network with
a cable; for example, to watch a movie on Netflix, you can do that on-air using
the internet to access the resources stationed in the cloud.

In general, the connections are fast, there is no latency, and the quality of
service (QoS) is excellent.

Resource Pooling – The term "resource pooling" refers to serving several

consumers with a shared set of material assets.

The cloud's resources were developed to serve several users simultaneously.

Multiple users can share the same hardware or software with multi-tenancy
with- out compromising their individual data security.

It's not unlike how apartment dwellers share common areas like laundry
rooms and hallways but maintain individual space and privacy within the
confines of a larger building. Such is the operation of multi-tenancy in the
cloud.
Rapid Elasticity – This is one of the critical characteristics of cloud
computing. Finished are the days when you had to pay for a bigger capacity
of servers but use only a fraction of it.

With elasticity, you can scale cloud computing resources as per your need.
Cloud computing can quickly provision resources in the cloud as
organisations need them and just pay for that portion of consumption.

One of the defining characteristics of cloud computing is the ability to supply

swiftly and de-provision resources. Rapid provisioning and de- provisioning
could be used for anything from storage to virtual machines to the customers'
software.

Measured service – This is another essential function since it is connected

to payments.

The manufacturing company is charged on a "pay as you go" basis, meaning

that the amount owed fluctuates depending on how much resource it really
uses.

Through the use of this metering capability at a service-specific abstraction

level, cloud computing may automatically regulate and optimise resource
utilisation (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth and active user accounts.
 CLOUD SERVICE MODELS:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):

Description: IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet.

Users can rent these resources on a pay-as-you-go basis. IaaS typically

includes virtual machines, storage, and network resources.

Use Cases: IaaS is ideal for organizations that need flexible infrastructure
without investing in physical hardware. It's commonly used for hosting
applications, development and testing environments, and data storage.

Platform as a Service (PaaS):

Description: PaaS offers a platform and development environment that allows

developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without worrying about
the underlying infrastructure. It includes tools, libraries, and services for
application development.

Use Cases: PaaS is suitable for developers and organizations that want to
focus on coding and application development without managing
infrastructure. It's often used for web application hosting, database
management, and application scaling.
Software as a Service (SaaS):

Description: SaaS delivers software applications over the internet on a

subscription basis. Users access these applications through a web browser,
eliminating the need for local installations or maintenance.

Use Cases: SaaS is widely used for common business applications like email,
customer relationship management (CRM), office productivity tools, and
collaboration software. It's suitable for organizations looking for cost-effective,
easy-to-use software solutions.

Service The Consumer The Provider

Model
IaaS The consumer is responsible for The Cloud Service Provider
installing the OS (where (CSP) provides server, storage,
applicable) and controls networking and other
storage, database, middleware, fundamental computing
and applications. resources. Combinations of
physical servers, virtual servers
and servers with pre-installed
OSs are available
PaaS The consumer does not manage The CSP provides an
the network, storage, servers, or environment that allows
OSs, but does control the consumer-created or purchased
applications that run on it. applications to be deployed and
operated.
SaaS The consumer does not manage The software vendor provides an
or control any of the underlying environment that allows the
cloud infrastructure or the usage of the vendor's
(SaaS): maintenance of the applications running on a cloud
application. Limited
configuration changes for the
application may be available.

In addition to these three primary cloud service models, there are also
variations and combinations, such as:

Function as a Service (FaaS) or Serverless Computing:

Description: FaaS allows developers to run individual functions or code

snippets in response to events. The cloud provider manages the underlying
infrastructure, and users are charged based on the number of executions.

Use Cases: FaaS is well-suited for event-driven applications, microservices,

and tasks that require automatic scaling based on demand.
Container as a Service (CaaS):

Description: CaaS provides a platform for managing containers, such as

Docker containers. It simplifies container orchestration, scaling, and
management tasks.

Use Cases: CaaS is used for containerized application deployment and

management, particularly in microservices architectures.

Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS):

Description: iPaaS offers tools and services for integrating applications, data,
and services in the cloud and on-premises. It facilitates data and application
integration in a scalable, cloud-based environment.

Use Cases: iPaaS is used for connecting various software and services, making
it easier to exchange data and automate workflows.

These service models provide organizations with different options for

leveraging cloud computing to meet their specific needs. The choice of service
model depends on factors such as the type of applications, level of control
required, and the organization's expertise in managing infrastructure and
development. Hybrid and multi-cloud approaches can also combine these
service models to create flexible, efficient, and tailored solutions.
 CLOUD DEPLOYMENT MODELS

Private Cloud:

The cloud infrastructure built and provisioned solely for the private use of a
single organisation is called Private Cloud.

It can be owned and managed by the organisation that uses it or by a third

party and can be hosted on the owner’s or consumer’s premises. It can also
be dedicated platform in a public cloud environment for your organisation
only. Due to the upfront cost of purchasing and maintaining private clouds,
they are more expensive than public ones. On the other hand private clouds
can more effectively satisfy modern businesses’ privacy and security
concerns.

Key Characteristics: Enhanced security, control, and customization. Private

clouds are often used by organizations with strict security and compliance
requirements.

Public Cloud:

The cloud infrastructure built and provisioned for any organisation or

individual that wants to use it and agrees to the terms and conditions of use.
Any business or publicly funded organisation can own and manage a public
cloud.

Key Characteristics: Multi-tenant, highly scalable, cost-effective, and

accessible to anyone.
Hybrid Cloud:

The cloud infrastructure comprises two or more private, community and

public cloud types. Custom or standardised technology allows data and
applications to run seamlessly on a single cloud type, across cloud types, or
move from one to another. An organisation uses interconnected private and
public cloud infrastructure in a hybrid cloud. Businesses commonly employ
this technique to rapidly expand their infrastructure, such as when using
public clouds to enhance the resources of a private cloud. To run its web
applications, an e-commerce stie may turn to a public cloud during the busy
holiday shopping season, when it needs more computer power than it typically
has.

Key Characteristics: Offers flexibility and the ability to leverage the strengths
of different cloud types. Allows data and applications to move between
environments.

Community or Government Cloud:

The community or government cloud provides a private cloud environment for

a specific group of users. In most cases, only participating community
members can access its cloud environment. Users work together because they
have worries about safety, software types, laws and efficiency.

Multicloud:

Organisations that do not want to depend on a single cloud provider may use
resources from several providers to get the best benefits from each unique
service.

Key Characteristics: Ensures redundancy, mitigates vendor lock-in, and

leverages specialized services from different providers.

Distributed Cloud:
Description: Distributed cloud is an emerging concept where cloud resources
are distributed to different physical locations and data centers. These
resources are managed centrally but located closer to the end-users or IoT
devices.

Key Characteristics: Low-latency access, reduced data transfer costs, and the
ability to support edge computing use cases.

Each deployment model has its own set of advantages and considerations.

The choice of deployment model depends on an organization's specific

requirements, including data security, compliance, control, and resource
scalability.