Now a days the term Cloud Computing has become one of the biggest IT buzzwords in current scenario in information technology but do we know what the term actually means? And are we aware of the functions it encompasses and how it may impact on your work practices and IT management?

In reality the cloud computing has no single universal definition that as the term is really a catch-all or umbrella phrase. It is used to cover a multitude of trends related to the internet and work processes for business purpose over the network. It is most commonly used to describe the act of sharing data, files and software over the internet to users in remote locations in their business area. Generally organizations needs cloud computing services in order to conflict against network issues. As well as help them to obtain top quality of Information Technology services along with improved and better functionality. With cloud computing Apps we won't face any issues related to infrastructure, software and personnel. It has good amount of control over the world of internet. Besides, businesses are now operating in a cloud environment thus, providing exceptional solutions to clients and customers all over the world.

The other feature of cloud computing is that cloud can be public or private. In private cloud is a proprietary network or data center that only provides hosted services to a limited number of users and in public cloud helps n number of users on the Internet.

It also gives the Cloud IT services that enable to businesses enterprises and customers to use applications without even installing them. They can also access their personal files over the internet. Hiring a provider of these services helps in centralizing storage, bandwidth, processing and memory. Therefore, customers can do computing in the cloud environment with increased efficiency. Web mail service is the most usual example of this facility.

Elan Emerging Technologies provide Cloud Application Development in professionally with high clients satisfaction rate by Cloud Developers that designed to provide rapid access to security-rich as well as provides Silverlight Application Development

Cloud computing has aligned with market needs today. The demand is pretty high and hence the demand for service vendors is on all-time high.

As various business clients are fighting with issues of extreme cost, complexity in logic and need for increasing speed, cloud technologies are looked upon as a vehicle for change. Today, implementing new applications requires a specific budget especially for processes required including designing, building and testing. Also, there are no upfront infrastructure costs which help small and medium companies to settle and do business.Application development is dependent on hardware, storage along with strong network availability. Project schedules face lagging due to different dependencies.

The cloud is one of the primary platforms for many organizations and aids application development of varying periods. It has recently become the biggest focus in the IT community. For decades, there was no solution for companies who required more data and computation capacity, since they had to invest in hardware or increase the efficiency of IT operations.

This put an additional burden on the finances. Nowadays, cloud computing has offered an affordable approach to IT delivery with the leasing option of processing capacity from different interconnected, shared computing systems which are maintained by several cloud service providers. Cloud computing benefits are many including agility; elasticity and cost-efficiency. One can scale resource allocation schemes as and when wanted from different cloud services providers.

It is necessary though that the software of the cloud services need to be engineered specifically. Many organizations find it better to migrate their existing applications to well-known, efficient cloud platforms. Migration sorts out differences between different programming models along with data storage and differences in processes including quality assurance, different development methods and platforms, software implementation approaches, security, and varied deployment options. Each of them need to be addressed while implementing practical cloud-based services and solutions, especially if the solutions are required for an industrial setup.

A new cloud platform architecture has taken birth recently called Data Protection as a Service which aims to reduce the per-application development effort which is required essentially for data protection while allowing maintenance operations. To analyze the cloud dependability, one can assess the services provided by Amazon Web Services. The performance variability of cloud services is assessed and researched for effectiveness for large-scale applications.

There is a huge challenge to enterprise adoption since cloud technologies do not grant visibility into the effort and cost of migration. One can alternatively opt for an approach to generate test methods for simulating the behaviour of real-time environment. One can test cloud applications hosted on the cloud and then offer support for cloud development processes, automated software engineering techniques for the cloud.

There are tools which support decision-making especially during the migration process of IT systems to the cloud. The modelling tool establishes the cost of IaaS. It helps in comparing the cost of a plethora of cloud providers and varied deployment options. The second tool delineates the benefits and risks of making use of IaaS from the enterprise perspective and provides the early peep into risk assessment. The cloud services providers assist many organizations in more ways than one and deliver what they do best, by offering cost-effective scalable resources for everyone.

Several big-shot players have started ruling the cloud space. Here is how they differentiate their services from each other.

Cloud computing relies on a unique client-server mechanism, where one provides the necessary resources from multiple internet-connected devices. Developers get access to hosted applications easily and with cloud services, one can create web applications without any interference. Here are some of the biggest players in the industry:

Google App Engine

In the field of web development, Google and Amazon are in charge. Google's App Engine has repeatedly helped several developers to build and host web apps on their own servers for quick processing, development and deployment. Google administrates its cloud services with an easy hand and the developers do not have to be aware all the time about the hardware upgrades, patches or backups that Google is affecting to its servers. Now Google manages to handle incessant traffic and huge processing loads. Hence the developers need not worry about how Google will be able to bear the workload through cloud computing. Google App Engine is scalable and flexible in terms of resources, performance and users. Working with the App Engine is free for all developers. With the free cloud service, Google provides 500 MB of storage at no cost along with a whopping 5 million page-views.

Amazon Web Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been providing cloud computing services for developers from many years now. AWS includes Amazon CloudFront which is mostly used for content delivery, Amazon Fulfillment Service which is specially used for ecommerce operations, and Amazon CloudWatch which is used for monitoring cloud service. Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is mostly used for storage while the Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is perfect for those interested in networking. AWS is free for signing up and you obtain an Access Identifier, for making web service requests.

Codeita

Here is a new and unique cloud-based development platform which is named Codeita. The cloud computing platform allows developers to perform nearly all operations from a cloud perspective, right from design, to the app publishing process. The web technologies which are running in the cloud are the same ones that control the web today. LAMP technologies are used for getting things running. The platform is free to get started and offers flexible cloud storage and in-browser FTP publishing. Developers are provided with 100 MB of space to start out. Users get access to web-based FTP which allows editing and publishing of files.

Here are some different ways, cloud computing and virtualization benefits the users:

1.Cloud Computing Provides Numerous Testing and Staging Servers
Development teams are usually restricted to having one physical server per development and even for staging and production. However but with cloud instances, once can scale the resources up and down and work on unlimited number of servers at a time. One does not have to rely on physical servers for carrying on the work.

2. Agile Development Transforms into Parallel Activity
One might experience delays in especially in getting server instances to work for them but one can provision servers for agile development teams quickly with the help of cloud services.

3. It Boosts Innovation and Experimentation

By being able to create instances as and when needed, development teams can spawn multiple instances quickly for coding purposes and then testing the code out. One does not need to wait for the next build since there are an unlimited number of servers which can be made available. Builds are faster and less painful with agile development thus encouraging developers to experiment every time.

Know the utility of cloud computing developers, especially in the area of productivity enhancement and cost reduction.The manner in which businesses work has undergone a sea change over the past few years. Optimal usage of resource and reduction of expenses are the two main factors that the entrepreneurs are taking into consideration. There is good news for them. Cloud computing has emerged as a unique know-how which can assure both these aspects.

Concept of cloud computing

Cloud computing is a concept where a network of isolated servers hosted by the Internet is used for keeping, handling, and processing information, instead of a personal computer or a local server. In this way, cloud computing has evolved the mode in which businesses were storing, disseminating, and getting data that are pertinent to their work.

This form of computing is considered as a realistic method of enhancing infrastructural effectiveness and showing cost optimization. Hence, there is rising demand for people who can work as cloud computing developers. The concept of cloud computing applies to servers, desktop computers, smartphones, laptops and tablet PCs.

Services offered by cloud computing

Cloud computing developers help in providing the following services to the users:

PaaS (Platform as a Service)

This is a platform or interface for the users or businesses for developing apps according to somebody’s particular necessities.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

This is a service where software apps are offered to businesses that are looking for it. The service is prompted by the service on demand viewpoint.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

The service provided includes database management and storing as per the requirements of the users and businesses.

Other than the abovementioned services, developers also offer storage as a service or (StaaS), data as a service or (DaaS), security as a service or (SECaaS), desktop as a service (DaaS), Test environment as a service (TEaaS) and API as a service (APIaaS).

The various advantageous aspects of cloud computing has resulted in the rising demand for hiring cloud computing developers. Now, cloud computing development services are also offered through outsourcing.

Benefits of hiring cloud computing developers

The developers who work on cloud computing platforms are professionals who have the knowledge for finding out the solution for the customer and this is always target oriented in nature. Cloud computing developers will help you save a lot of money where you don’t need to compromise on the excellence of the task.

Areas where cloud computing developers work

The developers work in the following areas and applications:

• Communication
  
  
• Finance
  
  
• Collaboration
  
  
• Content
  
  
• Monitoring
  
  
• Object Storage
  
  
• Runtime
  
  
• Identity
  
  
• Database
  
  
• Queue
  
  
• Computing
  
  
• Block storage
  
  
• Networking
  

As a whole, cloud computing has significantly changed the outlook of offering information technology services. Moreover, cloud computing is increasingly popular and of late more number of people has been accessing them. It is a virtual computing network which distributes the resources to businesses and individual users who require it. High standardization and IT processes automation and measurability of the IT resources are some of the major benefits of cloud computing system to take into account.

There are several cloud environments in the world today. It is difficult to identify the right cloud provider but getting the right provider is crucial for your success.

Most enterprise leaders of the IT world are faced with a primary challenge: complexity. According to the Global CEO Study which was held in 2010, nearly 79 percent expect more and more complexity in the future since there is an incredible interconnection between all types of physical and digital infrastructures.

It is a challenge for CEOs to connect with customers in innovative ways and even formulate and realize operations with utmost speed and flexibility. By leveraging cloud computing and SaaS to deliver services less expensive ways, companies are trying to be cost-effective. Cloud computing involves the deployment of network-based applications in a shared environment thus facilitating prompt service delivery and superb value.

Cloud computing offers much more advantages than traditional application deployment models since it is built around scalable development resources, and involves less costly maintenance. It also has the ability to deliver consistent offerings through a variety of channels. Cloud computing helps out businesses to collaborate with other companies and combine services for better profitable returns.

Developing cloud-based applications should revolve around the unique requirements of SaaS. Rarely do cloud providers deliver the promise of cloud application development. The successful ones are even efficient in building custom cloud applications and are ready to deliver all services ranging from planning to design, application development and its deployment.

Here are some typical attributes of an ideal Cloud Application Environment:

• Robust architecture-The basic attribute of cloud applications is its capability of having a single application instance for supporting multiple clients while also meeting high service levels. This approach offers many advantages including the overall ease of maintenance and optimum use of existing resources. One needs robust cloud architecture since this directly affects performance. The overall security and integrity of data is under question here.
  
  

• Performance and scalability-All cloud computing vendors need to have resources which can be up scaled or downscaled rapidly and seamlessly. The cloud resources need to be ready to address dynamic user demand and all applications need to keep this in mind.
  
  

• Virtualization benefits-The efficient use of resources is the prime benefit offered by cloud services. One can take advantage of virtualized IT environments and drive greater business value too.
  
  

• Self-service-Cloud applications are built and designed so that they can be modified and accessed to reduce operational expenses and a better user experience.
  
  

• Pay-as-you-use-With cloud applications, one does not have to pay upfront software license fees. Hence, most app functions monitor and charge for the overall usage. This flexible model helps clients to save on overall capital expenditures.
  
  

• Compatible to multiple devices-Today's consumers want to gain services which can be accessible from anywhere and everywhere, no matter which platform they use. From the cloud, one should be able to design applications which can be delivered on multiple devices.
  
  

• Security-The cloud virtual environments should address security and privacy challenges since most organizations repose their trust on the cloud services. The right application design is essential for protecting sensitive data, and for addressing regulatory compliance.

Cloud computing and its developers are capitalizing on surging demand. The best part is that it has helped many businesses too to cut down on costs.

Cloud computing is focuses on a category of computing solutions in which users get complete or partial access to the different computing resources depending on demand and as needed. The resources can be physical or virtual and also available on a dedicated or shared basis. The cloud computing resources are not dependent on the way of access but mostly characterized by self-service interfaces. The resources are acquired as and when needed by businesses. Cloud is also termed as a concept which defines an approach. Cloud developers are dedicated to provide IT services which take advantage of growing power of virtual servers.

The importance of cloud development has been mostly in the form of cost savings in infrastructure investment. Developers save an ample amount of time in application development as well as deployment on cloud servers and thus resource allocation overheads are reduced to a great extent.

A public (external) cloud is a perfect environment which exists beyond the regular company's firewall. It is a service which is offered by many huge third-party vendors. Clouds are sometimes shared or multi-tenanted and managed by a company which hosts a self-service portal.

The delivery models of public clouds are replicated in private clouds for the specific benefit of an organization as well its internal employees and customers. The interface manages it wholly. The hybrid cloud environment includes external services which are used for extending an internal cloud.

Many people consider Software as a Service (SaaS) as an integral subset of cloud computing which is also applicable to IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service which remotely access server/storage capacity) and PaaS (Platform as a Service which lets developers to build and deploy apps on the hosted platform).

There are various cloud groups which are communities which work towards streamlining various services for quick development and deployment associated with the cloud. Bookmarks which are set on the browser work on having a systematic listing of cloud services which can be useful for the company like libraries of resources.

There are many types of applications which can be run on the cloud. Not everything should run in a cloud although it could. Software which have beneficial attributes for the users can find a place on the cloud and some of the information should be better be local since they might mean of critical importance to the company and the users on a local basis. Additionally, it would mean security of information if it is local. Sensitive user data should never be on the cloud since it affects privacy rights.

A cloud is the perfect for applications which deal with different types of resources related to IT management, productivity or capacity (server and/or storage). Social networking sites and collaboration sites are also mostly used in the cloud and serve to be perfect for a wide range of users.

Software as a service (SaaS) revolves around applications which are centrally hosted and in recent years there are many business applications which are being deployed using SaaS as the common delivery model. Many businesses prefer the model owing it its simplified deployment process and cost effectiveness.

Cloud developers are in huge demand for deploying web apps on the cloud as well developing new apps. Customized web services are also in great demand too.

Mobile cloud computing is now booming and has increased its rivals more than ever before. Cloud app development has taken a step further to progress.

With the advent of mobile cloud computing, most of the effort has been concentrated on platforms which can simplify the whole process of cloud-based application development. Apps for the mobile cloud is different than developing apps for native mobile platforms mostly for iPhone or Android. Many presume that mobile cloud computing model will prove to be exceptionally profitable for cloud app developers and will bring in more developers from different areas.

In case of the current mobile development platforms, it is very important for all developers to be well versed and knowledgeable about the specific platform-centric APIs along with development tools provided by platform vendors.

Objective- C has always been the main development language which has been used on a consistent basis for developing iPhone apps that are later posted on the Apple‘s App Store. The language might not be difficult for experienced C programmers, but it does require major programming capabilities which may be too taxing for newcomers to try it out. Most Android developers are known to use Java, C or C++ for app development.

Both the platforms have efficient development tools which help in making the whole development process easier and extremely coherent. But only a few can master these languages even though there are many skilled Web developers who are excellent in providing solutions in web-centric technologies and standards.

Many analysts believe that mobile applications are sure to become the next norm and hence will move to the cloud and sure to run directly from specific handsets too. The accessibility of apps along with the execution is sure to originate from the cloud through a serviceable mobile web browser interface. There are several technologies like HTML5 who are providing the strategy to enable caching on the internet for uninterrupted service levels. 4G mobile networks including LTE and WiMAX are extremely primary needs for huge mobile cloud development. These technologies are in vogue in different regions and expected to rise in adoption rates.

A plethora of mobile solutions providers have started offering integrated mobile browsers that allow users to access apps directly from the websites of their publishers, thereby eliminating the need to go to Apple App Store or Android Market. This also means that app developers and publishers don’t need to go through complicated, and sometimes costly, submission processes, unexpected rejection of their submissions and the required profit sharing with the third-party app stores.

From the perspective of developing mobile apps, it is good to use standard web languages for cross-platform functionality which is better than native app development for developers. There are huge teams of developers who are engrossed in creating mobile apps using the same tools which they used for creating web-specific apps including an IDE like Eclipse or Visual Studio. There is absolutely no need for upgrading apps on the handsets since they are installed previously.

Vendors have to continually come up with interesting mobile apps solution which are based on the cloud- smartphone frameworks which help out developers to opt for cross-platform mobile apps using common web technologies.

The appealing nature of cloud applications for small businesses Small businesses focus on growth and improved operations for business success. They strive to be cost-effective always, with the help of cloud apps too.

Small business owners are always in the lookout of ways to improve operations in the toughest economic times. Software programs and networks are out of reach for most small startups who face huge budget restraints for monitoring these applications. With cloud-based apps and platforms, small businesses have got an affordable way to incorporate huge budgeted software programs for their daily operations.

The cloud is just the traditional way how individuals and businesses interact and install software programs. Instead of data and applications stored in desktops or single computer terminals, cloud-based services are accessible through the net just like online banking and shopping while also including e-mail and social networking sites. Most cloud-based service providers have always incorporated stringent security measures for better protection of customer data and its safety.

There are cloud versions of nearly all applications in this age. Here are some of the most popular cloud app types:

• Data storage, repository and backup
  
  
• Document management
  
  
• Self-scheduling software for service-based businesses
  
  
• Online payment programs through payment gateways
  
  
• Accounting and financial software including planners and calculators
  
  
• Human resources software for screening and judging candidates
  
  
• Marketing and sales programs with email campaigns
  
  
  

The cloud-based software applications are mostly in view of traditional software packages. The cloud apps are just as effective and robust like the desktop counterparts. Here are some of the benefits offered:

Cost is the biggest benefit of cloud computing application developers since it was the biggest detriment for small businesses to incorporate software platforms as part of their operations. The cloud apps and platforms are generally affordable and according to stringent budgets. There are many options of “pay-as-you-go” policy with negligible monthly fees. The program is monitored and posts regular upgrades and updates thus without outside support and charges.

Most small business owners already have an internet connection and hence the software is not confined to a business network here. Anybody can have access to the software even when they are mobile, at home, on the road or anywhere. Most customers and clients can hence access any online services like appointment-scheduling from anywhere.

Efficiency is pivotal to small-business software since many of the guys working in small businesses usually do not have the time to install software applications or even understand how to use them. It is hard for them to grasp at a short notice and if it takes any longer, then a huge amount of productive time is lost for no apparent reason. Cloud applications usually have no installation or download option and generally extremely easy to learn and use.

If small businesses are keen to improve accounting procedures, or even conduct an email campaign, cloud applications are perfect tools to render an assortment of tasks effectively and efficiently. Cloud-based software service providers look after the needs of most small businesses easily and manage to tailor their products keeping in view the demand in the market. There are free trials available which gives the chance for the office staff to try their hands on the software and also judge if they fit the business processes to the tee.

Cloud computing is just any application, infrastructure, or even a platform which is provided for many users via the internet.

With the proliferation of devices via the internet, many providers came up with an idea to keep information in a centralized location? The centralization has allowed the users to optimally use the “public utility” of the web for access to their own resources. Certain benefits can be associated with centralized resources including cost efficiencies and an enhanced customer experience.

But what does that mean to me?

The typical internet-savvy consumer has always been using the cloud since many years but never could associate the word cloud with its experience. One would order goods from Amazon.com from years now which was actually a transaction occurring in the cloud.

Hence most consumer-facing businesses have already tried using cloud computing for their business needs. There have been millions of transactions on a business-to-business (B2B) scale going around the cloud. The consumers need to repose faith in the cloud which encourages more activity.

It does not matter at all if the data center infrastructure is part of a wider cloud offering or even the main focus, but there are other factors involved in a successful cloud business. No cloud platform, which is usually offered to users, can ignore high-performance and scalability coupled with low-cost data storage. A customer's data is its core point, and data safety is the most important part of a successful cloud. At the same time, it is also important that the cloud service is an efficient, well-managed, and extremely flexible data center in its development as well as its delivery.

Cloud computing is the single-most hottest trending word in the IT industry. The drastic changes in the cloud world have impacted larger companies to launch their hybrid along with public clouds. Now even the telecommunication giants have got hold of the computing arena and aspiring for the top.

Recently, the $1.8 billion deal of telecom giant Verizon which involved the buyout of Terremark is known the world over as one of the ground-breaking deals of the decade as well as the cloud computing history.

Terremark has now launched its Enterprise Private Cloud which basks in single-tenant facility and also provides enterprise-class security and scalability to all its users. It is important for the telecom giant to continue innovation to thwart competition from other telco giants like Savvis, or even Tata Communications since competition is expected to brew strongly this year. The competition in the arena for cloud space is increasing with time.

Meanwhile Microsoft, the software giant based in Redmond, Washington, US has continued with cloud at the center as evident in its showcase of services in the WPC event. It has strived to manufacture, license, and support a plethora of cloud products as well as mobile services. With its user-friendly Metro UI, the companies is expected to launch Windows 8 amidst much fanfare and huge expectations from analysts, the world over.

Rackspace Hosting has been in the enterprise-level IT and cloud computing hosting market since nearly a decade now. The company has managed to bring data centers, networks and even hardware devices together. It has a competent set of web hosting services and provides cloud applications too.

Cloud computing has ruled our lives in the IT world since a decade. But it is going to be much more than that in the future, say analysts.

First, the Cloud Computing is expected to be computing in the real sense of term in the future. The cloud is sure to engulf the IT world soon till the point of time that everything related to IT will be connected to the cloud. Computing will soon be the word that will be of any importance. The data centers are part of the private cloud which have privacy and critical information not meant for unauthorized eyes. It is evident that soon, since everything will be on the cloud, the term “cloud” will lose importance. Everything will be connected to everything else. The Internet will be a bigger network, so to say.

Secondly, the cloud computing concept is about fit and function and not about just buzzwords. The hype is not dead yet and most of the IT world is driven by hype that cloud computing is the next thing and the future without realizing that they themselves are caught in a cloud of network everywhere. There is actual thinking about the Cloud Computing technology driving it. The business value is important there and the right fit will soon be ready after some failures in a few years. One needs to get better and better to use the cloud as a means of better ROI and productivity.

It is possible since security is one of the biggest deterrents of cloud computing, the aspect will be managed by a centralized trust. One will learn soon to manage once own identity in a cloud. There might be some sites which will validate identities and it is also possible that we might need a single sign-on as a requirement for verification in the online world.

Centralized data will soon prove to be advantageous. There would be huge data stores that would be accessible through a public API which is like watching over real time stock market behavior. Big data technology might be the future here; the most sensational being Hadoop, which will reach sizes which will never be heard in today’s world.

Mobile devices are expected to be extremely powerful and thinner, since everything in mobile computing has revolutionized IT. The reliance of clouds will grow within mobile applications and the mobile devices will have many more capabilities than what it has now. The data is expected to be stored in the cloud.

Cloud computing services will get everyone to play the service provider. There is no limiting factor to this but focus will be diverted to application and business services. Employees will be able to access their company details after authentication through any device and can also transact and manage their work.

A big security breach might prompt companies to sort out the security issue. There will be a new real time, personalized service providers who will use big data, social media and mobility to the advantage of all. The convergence of social media, mobile and cloud is going to be a crucial factor in the future since governments would need technology to deliver services and even drive the economy in a big way.