Another important factor in the history of cloud technology is virtualisation. Users need digital systems that are not tied to specific hardware and can be started and stopped at any time. The concept was first experimented with in 1966, and a commercial version was introduced by IBM in 1972.
Virtualisation is a technology that allows multiple operating systems to run on a single physical server. They operate independently of each other. Virtualisation technology allows the provider to divide the cloud into components on which virtual machines are deployed. The main benefit of virtualisation is the reduction in the cost of supporting the IT infrastructure. This is because you save on physical resources: there is no need to buy and maintain additional servers.
Each of us comes into contact with cloud technologies on a daily basis, for example when we visit websites, use email services, upload photos from our mobile phones to virtual storage, etc.
Cloud services are one of the benefits of modern civilisation. They allow you to store information on remote servers, share data and perform calculations without having to install additional software on your computer. These servers can be accessed from any computer or mobile device connected to the Internet.
Magenta Favorita Unipessoal LDA talks about the features and benefits of using cloud services.
Important factors in the development of cloud technology The idea of cloud technology has a long history. It originated in the 1950s. At that time, computers were few and expensive. It was impossible to buy computers for all employees. So engineers came up with the idea of allowing multiple people to access a shared processor. The idea appeared in 1954, implementation began in 1959, and the first commercially successful solution was released in 1964.
An important factor in the development of cloud services was the ability to connect to the global network. This is a fundamental principle of the technology: users should be able to access services from anywhere in the world.
PaaS (Platform as a Service). Cloud service providers offer pre-built tools, platforms for different tasks. They are typically used by application developers to reduce development costs and time.
PaaS eliminates the need to manage the underlying infrastructure (hardware and operating system). The provider takes care of its optimal configuration and relieves you of the need to keep track of configuration updates, scaling and security. You only have access to the interfaces of the platform itself. This allows you to focus on deploying and managing your applications. Examples - AWS Elastic Beanstalk, OpenShift.
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). The provider makes a pre-configured data centre infrastructure available to the customer. The infrastructure includes computing resources: virtual servers, databases, storage, networks. The service provider has already bought and assembled everything, so all you have to do is pay for it, plug it in and use it for your own purposes. You do the configuration yourself and install the software you need on the server. This model of cloud services is typically used by network engineers. Examples include Microsoft Azure and Google Compute Engine.
Cloud technology models SaaS (Software as a Service). It is a fully configured and ready to use programme that performs specific functions. The cloud provider develops and maintains applications, programmes, places them in the cloud and makes them available to the user.
SaaS solutions are most often thought of as end-user applications. These are familiar online services and applications such as Microsoft 365, TikTok, Gmail, YouTube.
The business benefits of cloud technology Every business has unique needs. Some are looking to save money, some have security as a key concern, others are focused on optimising operations. However, certain benefits of using cloud technology will be common to all types of businesses.
Savings. Renting cloud resources eliminates the need to buy hardware and reduces capital expenditure. There is no need to maintain equipment, hire a team of engineers to maintain the infrastructure, or spend on electricity.
Cloud storage is not limited to the capacity of a physical device. You can increase the amount of data you store and don't have to worry about adding more storage.
24/7 access from any device. Any user of the company's IT system can access information in the cloud, regardless of geographical location or time of day. They can use a computer, tablet or smartphone.
Mobility. Employees can hold online meetings, work remotely, receive and update information, solve urgent problems while travelling or on holiday.
Flexibility. The cloud allows you to increase or decrease the amount of RAM, virtual machines, discs, etc. as needed. This means the customer does not overpay for extra capacity.
The use of cloud technology in business depends on the business segment, its size, strategy and organisational structure. Magenta Favorita IT company's specialists are ready to choose the best option and develop cloud software for it to create a quality product in the shortest possible time.