Explanatory Writing (Essay Sample)

Explanatory Writing: How Cloud Computing Works Students’ Name Department, School Course Date Explanatory Writing: How Cloud Computing Works Imagine the cost benefits attributed to renting information technology services that are highly reliable and scalable instead of investing heavily in purchasing hardware, software, and databases! More than 53 percent of medium organizations were reported to use cloud computing services in 2021, an increase from 46 percent of usage recorded in the previous year (AlTwaijiry, 2021). Technology has taken huge milestones over the past decades, leading to the development of more sophisticated products and services that have rapidly transformed work and lives. Among the novel technological advancements are the mechanisms for storing and accessing digital data and information. According to Quasim et al. (2019), data storage and access have shifted from floppy discs and external hard drives to virtual storage, enhancing access, security, and data usage. Cloud computing has been lauded for providing secure, scalable, and reliable services and is among the latest advancements that have offered a breakthrough for the success of many enterprises and organizations. Ashraf (2014) states that cloud computing providers deliver different information technology services through the internet and the major services offered are software, database, storage, and servers. Thus, understanding how cloud computing works is critical for coping with current technological trends and utilizing cloud computing resources to enhance security and improve access to data. This paper will discuss the various components of cloud computing, the uses of cloud computing services, and the various cloud service providers. Components of Cloud Computing For cloud computing to work, there should be front-end and backend components. Generally, the front-end component refers to the users' mobile or computer device and the app that enables users to access the cloud computing services (Ashraf, 2014). Often the app involved in accessing cloud computing services is a web browser, but some users use other specialized applications to access cloud computing services. The front-end layer allows users to access information and data. For example, Gmail is one of the commonly used cloud services by millions of users (AlTwaijiry, 2021). The front-end architecture of the Gmail web application is the web app that allows users to access cloud services through the browser. The Gmail application provides users the opportunity to access various cloud services offered. The front-end layer of cloud computing services contains the client infrastructure, which includes interfaces used by clients to access the cloud services (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2017). In other words, the client infrastructure allows users to interact with the cloud by inserting, making edits and updating. On the other hand, the backend involves cloud infrastructure or resources that are owned by cloud service providers. The backend resources can include storage devices, operating systems, computers, and servers (Ashraf, 2014). Each application connected to the cloud has a server. However, the cloud also has a central server for monitoring client demands and traffic to ensure all operations work normally. Cloud computing also works by having a key component called the network layer. The network layer facilitates the connection of both backend and front end layers. Clients and users access cloud services through connection (Srivastava & Khan, 2018). The network layer connects the front end and back end components to allow clients to access resources. Besides, the network layer helps manage the cloud servers, which are specialized computers for processing client requests. Most importantly, the network layer forwards data from the client to the destination across servers and routers in a network (Ashraf, 2014). The internet protocol handles all data to and from the cloud. Ideally, understanding how the network layer bridges the seven layers defines the connection between the front end and back end layers that computer systems use to communicate with each other over the network. The first layer is the physical layer which allows transmission of raw bit stream over a physical medium which includes a network cad (Srivastava & Khan, 2018). On the other hand, the data link layers allow data to move within the network, and the network layer allows and decides which path the data should follow. Consequently, the transport layer enables data movement through protocols such as the transport control protocol (Ashraf, 2014). The other layers include the session layer that maintains connections and controls sessions and ports, the presentation layer that converts data into a usable format and allows encryption, and the application layer that allows users to interact and access network services from the cloud servers. Based on the above analysis, it is evident that the major cloud computing components include the front end, back end and network layers. Having discussed the various components of cloud computing, we will now move to the various uses of cloud computing at individual and enterprise level such as infrastructure as a service and platform as a service and use in big data and in recovery during disasters. Uses of Cloud Computing Cloud computing is used almost in every industry, and among its major uses include infrastructure as a service and platform as a service. The infrastructure as a service allows users to rent cloud services, including the storage systems and servers from various cloud providers (AlTwaijiry). The users then pay for the infrastructure services as agreed in the payment scheme. The infrastructure services are usually already installed by the cloud computing providers, and they are configured to serve the various client demands (AlTwaijiry, 2021). Virtualized interfaces are used for the installation and configuration of cloud infrastructure services. Often the infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is used when clients want to manage the development or hosting environments. Evidence shows that IaaS offers significant benefits to users, including reducing the cost and expenditure of acquiring information technology resources such as storage and servers. The payment of IaaS depends on the services clients consume, and users can regulate the storage volumes depending on their needs (Ashraf, 2014). Consequently, the platform as a service (PaaS) offers a solution stack to users, and users access a graphical user interface that allows them to access cloud computing services. Through the provider interface, clients access the cloud services regularly, and at any time they need them. The PaaS allows clients to test, manage and deploy their software applications using the environment and the infrastructure of the cloud provider (Srivastava & Khan, 2018). Overall, both PaaS and IaaS help clients and organizations overcome the high costs of purchasing information technology equipment and maintaining computer resources. Cloud computing use has also gained momentum in big data analytics and data recovery. Rittinghouse and Ransome (2017) suggest that the public cloud, which allows renting of services and sharing of infrastructure and computing services using the public internet, is increasingly being used in big data. Generally, big data involves the collection and transmission of large and complex data sets (Quasim et al., 2019). Cloud computing allows clients to store and processes large amounts of data collected by big data devices, hence, promoting the efficiency and safety of the technology. Most organizations that embrace big data often rent infrastructure and storage services because they are affordable and accessible, and they are easier to implement (Quasim et al., 2019). Similarly, cloud computing can be used in data recovery as it provides larger storage for backup and saving content. Also, cloud computing services have automated automatic saving, which allows clients to access data during emergencies or potential system breaches (Quasim et al., 2019). Cloud computing provides cost-effective and fastest recovery options in case of any disaster. In summary, cloud computing offers SaaS and PaaS services, big data services and data recovery during disaster. Now that we have discussed the various uses of cloud computing, we will discuss the various providers of cloud computing services including Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. Cloud Service Providers While cloud computing services have...