Cloud Architecture

Cloud architecture is a mechanism technological components integrate to build a cloud through which computing resources are pooled by employing virtualization technology and shared across networks. The components of a cloud architecture include a front-end platform, a back-end platform, a cloud-based delivery models, and a network infrastructure. These technological advancements create a cloud computing architecture on which application can run to provide end users with the capability to leverage the power of cloud computing resources. Cloud computing architecture enables organizations to minimize or eliminate their reliance on-premise datacenters, storage, and network infrastructure.

Organizations adopting cloud architecture often shift computing resources to the public cloud computing architecture that eliminate the need for on-premises servers and storage, and minimizing the need for local datacenter facility requirements such as building, cooling systems, power systems and replacing them with periodic on-pay-as-use paradigm. This shift from capital expenditure (CAPEX) to operational expenditure (OPEX) is a significant reason for the popularity of cloud computing architecture.

Moreover, there are three major service delivery models of cloud architecture that are enabling organizations to move to the cloud.

• Software as a service (SaaS)
• Platform as a service (PaaS)
• Infrastructure as service (IaaS)

There are four main deployment models in cloud architecture, namely:

• Public Cloud
• Private Cloud
• Community Cloud
• Hybrid Cloud:

The fundamental components of cloud architecture include the following:

• Virtualization
• Infrastructure
• Management
• Platform
• Automation