【Table of contents】
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1. What is cloud?
The cloud (cloud computing) is a system that allows cloud service providers to use a variety of IT resources, including computing, databases, storage and applications, via the Internet from a cloud service platform provided on the Web.
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2. Overview of the cloud: Easy explanation for beginners
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a) Difference between the cloud and on-premises
Here's the difference between "cloud" and "non-cloud" services.
The cloud (cloud computing) is a service that allows the user of a service to use the service when it is needed and in the amount needed without the need for infrastructure or software, such as servers and networks.
You pay a fee for the services you use, but only for the period of time you need them. There's no need for long-term lump-sum contracts or complicated licensing agreements. You just pay for what you use.
Conversely, if you use a service that is not "cloud", you have to build the server yourself, buy the software yourself, and do all the configuration and security measures yourself to make it available. As the years go by and you no longer use the servers and software you have purchased, you will still need to manage and dispose of your purchases. It is possible to achieve a detailed configuration for each user, but it requires a lot of specialized knowledge, skills, and a place to set up the server.
Owning your own information system and operating it with your own equipment is called on-premise and is often compared to the cloud.
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b) Advantages and disadvantages of the cloud
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the cloud.
・ Advantages
The advantage of using the cloud is that it eliminates the need to spend a lot of manpower and money on tedious tasks. In the case of the on-premise system introduced earlier, the initial investment will cost a lot of money. It can cost tens of millions of yen to procure servers and purchase software on a case-by-case basis. On the other hand, there are some cloud services that do not require any initial cost.・ Disadvantages
The cloud has its disadvantages, too. It's less customizable than on-premises. Compared to on-premises, where you build everything by yourself, the cloud relies on the services provided by the operator, limiting the extent to which you can customize it. -
c) Major cloud services
Currently, there are three major cloud services.
- Amazon Web Service (AWS)
It is a cloud service provided by Amazon Web Services.
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
It is a cloud service provided by Google.
- Microsoft Azure
It is a cloud service provided by Microsoft.Every service is provided by a well-known IT company.
As of FY 2018, AWS has the highest share, followed by Azure.
Now let's take a closer look at AWS.About AWS
AWS (Amazon Web Service), which stands for "Amazon Web Services," is a cloud computing service provided by Amazon Web Services, Inc. AWS is a service launched in 2006 and currently has more than 1 million monthly active customers.
There are five major advantages of AWS.(i) Security and Regulatory Compliance
AWS meets the requirements of global security standards such as ISO 27001, SOC and PCI DSS. It also addresses compliance and security in the medical and financial industries. It is a service that meets strict standards, so I think you can use it with confidence.※ISO 27001: A standard for establishing and operating an information security management system and continuously improving it.
※SOC: Abbreviation for Service Organization Control
To objectively verify the effectiveness of internal controls from a third party's perspective.※PCI DSS...Information security standards for the credit card industry that aim to protect the information of credit card members.
(ii) Providing new services and improving functions by reflecting user feedback
AWS has delivered more than 3,000 new services and improved functions to date.
95% of these have been developed based on user feedback. By quickly reflecting and providing user requests for services and features, businesses can take advantage of the latest features that are in high demand.(iii) Ongoing price reductions are taking place
AWS has lowered the price of its services more than 60 times as of 2017. Some of those services have been reduced in price by more than 90% since the beginning.(iv) Fault tolerance and High availability
Fault tolerance refers to being prepared to keep things running without limiting their functionality or performance when problems arise.
High availability means minimizing system downtime in the event of a failure.In AWS, there are mechanisms called "regions", "availability zones" and "transit centers".
A "region" is a separate area where the data center is located for the cloud service. An "availability zone" is a data center that resides in each AWS region. A "transit center" is one that connects the availability zone to the Internet. Regions, transit centers, and availability zones are independent of each other, so that even if a failure occurs in one place, there is no impact on the other, resulting in fault tolerance and high availability.(v) User base and ecosystems
AWS has developed an ecosystem called the "AWS Partner Network". An "ecosystem" is a form of collaboration in which developers and vendors benefit equally. The "AWS Partner Network" includes hundreds of companies in Japan alone, and you can consult with them about providing services, operating software, and building systems using the AWS cloud. In addition, AWS Marketplace provides a number of software.As a user base, JAWS-UG, a nationwide user community, holds various information exchange and events related to AWS Cloud.
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3. Conclusion
We've introduced you to the cloud, the major cloud services and AWS.
Why not try using a cloud service that allows you to use many services at once while reducing costs?
