The tech world is abuzz with mentions of cloud computing. It is being hailed as the harbinger of seamless communications and business. This article introduces the reader to the idea of cloud computing and the promise that it holds for businesses.

What is Cloud Computing?
Imagine an electricity grid. It works by supplying electricity to houses whenever they demand it. House owners don’t have to worry about the technical aspects of demand and supply. Similarly, cloud computing is a new approach to computing in which the end-user demands information and receives it without working out the network and infrastructure details.

How does cloud computing work?
The data generated by the end-user is stored on a server instead of on a local computer. Hence, the end-user can access the data anywhere on the earth by requesting it from the server on which it was stored. The requested data is then delivered via the cloud and can be accessed by the end-user through web-based applications.

Why Cloud Computing?
This approach to computing weeds out the dependency on localized machines. In a way, it is like dissolving all system-imposed boundaries so that data can flow freely. With it, data can be shared seamlessly with a large number of people belonging to a particular organization. For example, Gmail, which supports cloud computing allows the user to access mails from any device. However, software like MS Outlook, which don’t support this approach to computing restrict their usability as a subject to a single machine. This means that wherever you go and whatever computing device you use (mobile, laptop, workstation, and internet tablet) your office suite is just a click away. Making integrated information available to the members of an organization, through a cloud, can help facilitate IT services and even day-to-day functioning of offices.
Cloud computing is regarded by many as an improved version of grid computing. In the latter, computers are connected to a grid and information exchange takes place through demands and supply between the end-user and the server. If a node located on the grid fails, all nodes after that will fail too. Pretty much like bulbs connected in a series connection. On the contrast, in cloud computing, failure of one node doesn’t hamper the connection to the other nodes, just like a number of bulbs connected in a parallel connection.

Challenges faced by Cloud Computing
One thing that can be said about Cloud computing with near certainty is that it holds considerable promise for businesses. However, its value can be compromised by the fact that the end-user’s information is relayed to a third-party, who may compromise it to outsiders. Private clouds, which are smaller and allow greater levels of security, are the answer to this concern. Clouds of smaller organizations are less prone to outside attacks. However, organizations with larger clouds must take extra measures to stay safe.

This approach to computing, though popular, is still in its elemental stages. APIs are gaining ground for running applications in multitasking clouds. At present, Apple MobileMe, Google Apps. and Gmail are the most popular mainstream applications of cloud computing.

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