Cloud Services Flashcards
What is cloud computing?
The practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet for data storage, management, and processing.
What does high availability mean in the context of cloud computing?
• Services experience minimal downtime.
• Availability is measured as the percentage of uptime versus downtime.
Define scalability in cloud computing.
The ability to increase system capacity either by adding resources (horizontal scaling) or enhancing existing ones (vertical scaling).
What is vertical scaling (scaling up)?
Increasing the power or capacity of existing resources, such as upgrading a server’s CPU or memory.
What is horizontal scaling (scaling out)?
Adding more resources, such as additional servers, to distribute and manage an increased load.
What is rapid elasticity in cloud computing?
The ability to quickly scale resources up or down to accommodate demand changes in real time.
What is metered utilization in the cloud?
A billing model where users are charged based on their actual usage of cloud services.
How do measured services differ from metered utilization?
• Metered utilization: Charges based on “pay-per-use.”
• Measured services: Charges based on detailed resource consumption metrics, like bandwidth or storage.
What are shared resources in cloud computing?
The pooling of hardware resources, such as servers, to minimize costs and maximize efficiency for cloud providers.
What are the two key scaling methods in the cloud, and how do they differ?
• Vertical scaling (scaling up): Enhancing the power of existing resources.
• Horizontal scaling (scaling out): Adding more resources to handle increased demand.
What is a public cloud?
A cloud model where systems and users interact with devices over public networks, such as the Internet. Services are hosted by third-party providers and shared across multiple organizations.
What is a private cloud?
A cloud model where systems and users have exclusive access to resources within a single organization or private network. Offers enhanced security and control.
Define a hybrid cloud.
A combination of public and private clouds. Allows data and applications to move between the two for greater flexibility and deployment options.
What is a community cloud?
A cloud model where infrastructure is shared between organizations with common interests or concerns (e.g., security, compliance). Often used in industries like healthcare or finance for collaborative efforts.
What is the primary advantage of a public cloud?
Accessibility and scalability, as resources are shared and managed by third-party providers.