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What is Cloud Computing Architecture?

August 19, 2022
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Cloud Computing is one of the most in demand  technologies today, providing on-demand virtualised resources and allowing organisations to leverage the many benefits that come with cloud adoption.

From small startups to large organisations, many companies use cloud computing services to store information with easy accessibility and the highest form of security. While transparency, limitless scalability, security, and intelligent monitoring, are just some of the factors involved in cloud computing, it’s crucial that users understand what cloud computing architecture is.

As technology continues to evolve, more research in the cloud infrastructure sector helps find new features and strategies for the cloud infrastructure with a great capability of providing more advanced cloud solutions. Cloud technology allows users to remotely access cloud-based applications or platforms with a standard Internet connection. A cloud computing architecture provides higher bandwidth to its users, allowing them to access remotely-stored data on the cloud from anywhere in the world.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud architecture is the way technological components combine to create the cloud platform, where virtualisation technology will pool resources, allowing multiple users to share them across a virtual network. The cloud architecture includes a frontend platform, a backend platform, a cloud-based delivery model, and a virtual network. When these components combine, they create a cloud computing architecture that allows applications to run, allowing end-users to leverage the power of virtual cloud resources.

It is a combination of both EDA (Event Driven Architecture) and SOA (Service Oriented Architecture). Many other components of cloud computing architecture include client infrastructure, runtime cloud, storage, applications, services, management, and security.

Front End

The client uses this component of the cloud infrastructure, which consists of a client-side interface and application and is crucial for access to the cloud computing platform. The front end includes the web servers, clients, and devices. Client infrastructure includes a GUI (Graphic User Interface) that allows users to interact with the cloud.

Back End

This refers to the cloud, which will be used solely by the service provider. It consists of all the resources, management of these resources, and security measures for the cloud platform. It also includes storage, virtual applications, servers, deployment models, etc.

Components

  • Application in the backend is typically the software or platform the client can access. The backend will provide the resources in accordance with the client’s requirements.
  • Service in the backend is typically the cloud-based services in cloud computing technology. It includes Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service(PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). It provides utility in cloud architecture, and the backend manages these services in accordance with the client’s requirements.
  • Runtime cloud in the backend provides the execution and runtime platform to the virtual machines.
  • Storage in the backend provides flexibility and scalability in the services and management of stored data on the cloud. Its capacity will vary depending upon the service provider.

Infrastructure and security in the backend

  • Infrastructure in the backend is typically the hardware and software components of the cloud, including storage, servers, network devices, virtualisation software, and other resources that are crucial to developing the cloud computing model. It offers cloud services on a host, network, and application levels.
  • Management in the backend refers to managing various backend components such as application, runtime cloud, service, storage, infrastructure, and other security measures. It’s responsible for the distribution of specific resources for specific tasks while performing various functions of the virtual cloud environment, establishing coordination between the multiple components.
  • Security in the backend refers to the implementation of the different security measures for secure cloud resources, files, systems, and infrastructure to end-users. It also includes security management to the cloud server with virtual firewalls that prevent data loss or compromise.
  • Internet connection is typically the medium between frontend and backend. It establishes the interaction and communication between the frontend and backend components

Fundamental components of cloud architecture

Virtualisation

Clouds are typically built upon virtual servers, storage, and network. All these virtualised resources are software-based or virtual and represent physical resources managed by cloud vendors. The abstraction layer allows multiple applications to access the same physical resources, thereby maximising the efficiency of servers, storage, and network, while also using them at an optimal capacity.

The hypervisor is a virtual machine monitor delivering Virtual Operating Platforms to every end-user while managing guest operating systems in the cloud. It runs a separate virtual machine on the backend, which also consists of the hardware and software, and is responsible for the distribution and allocation of resources.

Management and Automation software

Management involves tools that continuously monitor a cloud environment’s capacity and performance. IT teams can track usage, deploy apps, integrate data, and implement disaster recovery plans etc from a single console. 

Automation software is the delivery of critical IT services that can significantly reduce IT workloads, streamline application delivery, and cut down significant IT costs. It offers scalability of system resources to respond to the fluctuating market demand while ensuring governance across the cloud environment.

Deployment Software

Deployment software  consists of all the combined necessary installations and configurations service providers need to run a cloud environment. Deployment software is responsible for deploying the three different models of cloud services – Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS).

While SaaS hosts and manages applications for the end-user, PaaS allows developers to build, develop, test, and manage applications. IaaS offers services on a pay-as-you-go pricing model so organisations can pay only for the services they use, with no idle resources.

Network

The network  connects the frontend and backend, allowing users to access the virtual resources on the cloud. The network is typically a virtual server on the cloud computing platform that’s highly flexible and secure.

Benefits of Cloud Computing Architecture

Cloud  enables organisations to reduce or eliminate their reliance on on-premises servers, storage, and networking infrastructure. Many organisations on their cloud adoption journey start by shifting  their existing IT resources to the cloud, eliminating the need for any on-site infrastructure and reducing the need for on-site data centres, electricity costs, IT staff/skills, and maintenance costs. The shift from capital expenditure to operating expenses is one of the key drivers for cloud adoption in organisations today.

Cloud computing architecture simplifies the overall cloud computing model and enhances data processing. Security is one of the major concerns in an IT-related environment. With exceptional security measures and disaster recovery plans in place, cloud computing architecture offers higher security with a more modularised cloud model. It also provides quick and easy user access while reducing significant IT operating costs.

Various factors are responsible for the switch to the cloud, but most of them account for leveraging the cloud architecture to accelerate digital transformation. Cloud computing architecture can also accelerate the delivery of new apps, ensuring compliance with the latest regulations, faster provision of resources, and greater transparency of used  resources. Hence, it’s cost-effective, mitigates  data breaches, and offers real-time scalability to support variable  workloads.  Underpinned by strong security, cloud can also  support organisations operating with sensitive data.

Best practices of Cloud Computing Architecture

A well-architected framework for the cloud isn’t just a technological necessity but also a way for organisations to significantly lower their IT costs and develop high-performing applications to meet market and consumer demands. Some of the best cloud architecture practices to maximise value from your cloud investments include up-front planning, security measures, geo-resilience, and use of automation and orchestration.

It is crucial that cloud providers understand capacity needs when designing cloud architecture and continuously test performance to avoid any limitations on meeting demand, dynamically. Automated disaster recovery plans minimise downtime,  assure business continuity and  ensure rapid recovery of data and services.  . It also maximises performance, helps cost management and accuracy and allows organisations to manage resources to meet fluctuating business demands – instantaneously.

It is crucial in IT environments, to focus on security measures and protect sensitive data. A well-built cloud architecture protects the cloud environment from hackers and unauthorised access by protecting each layer within the cloud infrastructure. The security measures include data encryption, strict policies, and patch management. Zero-trust and sovereign security models are undoubtedly, one of the safest options with the highest levels of security.

A highly available architecture is crucial for many organisations – cloud architectures provide this capability – managing demand as required, mitigating security risks and significantly improving  business performance.

It’s time to shift to the cloud today

As more organisations migrate to the cloud to leverage the increasing benefits of cloud computing technology, they’re also searching for secure, quick, and seamless ways to shift heavy workloads of sensitive data. VMware provides a unified platform to build, manage, and run applications, allowing seamless and secure migration for organisations.

With real-time visibility into cloud security and consistent monitoring of cloud resource configuration, AUCloud, the first VMware Sovereign Cloud Partner in Australia, offers scalable, secure, and agile Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) that meets the different industry standards and cloud computing security architecture requirements.

Accelerate your digital transformation today and start your cloud journey with AUCloud.

Contact one of your team representatives today on 1800 282 568 or email us at sales@aucloud.com.au.

Cloud computing architectureCloud ServicesCritical InfrastructureCyber SecurityData CenterGovernmentSovereign Resilience
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