How Does It Work?

Most websites and server-based applications run on hardware based computers. What differentiates the cloud from the typical servers we see in our offices and comms rooms, is that the cloud utilizes the resources from computers as a collective “virtual computer”, where applications can run independently from particular computer or server configurations.

We are Cloud encompasses a vast array of technologies.  Resources are delivered to your computers and other devices (smart-phones, tablets, laptops etc) over the Internet.  With Internet access now readily available, the need to have software installed on your computer is less essential. A large amount of software used by businesses today is completely web-based.

The cloud leverages this to provide flexible, scalable services directly to you, the client.

To understand how does cloud computing works, imagine that the cloud consists of layers — mostly the back-end layers and the front-end or user-end layers. The front-end layers are the ones you see and interact with. When you access your email on Gmail for example, you are using software running on the front-end of a cloud. The same is true when you access your Facebook account. The back-end consists of the hardware and the software architecture that fuels the interface you see on the front end.

Because the computers are set up to work together, the applications can take advantage of all that computing power as if they were running on one particular machine. We are Cloud also allows for a lot of flexibility. Depending on the demand, you can increase how much of the cloud resources you use without the need for assigning specific hardware for the job, or just reduce the amount of resources assigned to you when they are not necessary.

Next step: Cloud Design