Saturday, August 3, 2013
Cloud computing refers to the use of computing resources, those being hardware and/or software) that reside on a remote machine and are delivered to the end user as a service over a network, with the most prevalent example being the internet. Cloud computing is a colloquial expression used to describe a variety of different types of computing concepts that involve a large number of computers that are connected through a real-time communication network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing is a jargon term without a commonly accepted non-ambiguous scientific or technical definition. In science, cloud computing is a synonym for distributed computing over a network and means the ability to run a program on many connected computers at the same time.
The popularity of the term can be attributed to its use in marketing to sell hosted services in the sense of application service provisioning that run client server software on a remote location. cloud computing managed to cut through the hype and truly shift the paradigm of how IT is done nowadays. The Cloud has achieved cutting costs for enterprises and helping users focus on their core business instead of being obstructed by IT issues. For this reason, it seems that it is here to stay for the immediate future.
Categories of Cloud Computing
There are mainly four models of cloud computing:- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Network as a Service (Naas)
Let’s discuss those in more detail.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
In this model, cloud providers deliver to the user development environment services where the user can develop and run in-house built applications. The services might include an operating system, a programming language execution environment, databases and web servers.Software as a Service (SaaS):
In this model, the cloud provides the user with access to already developer applications that are running in the cloud. The access is achieved by cloud clients and the cloud users do not manage the infrastructure where the application resides, eliminating with this the way the need to install and run the application on the cloud user’s own computers.Network as a Service (Naas):
The least common model, where the user is provided with network connectivity services, such as VPN and bandwidth on demand.
Advantages of Cloud Computing
Let’s see some of the most important advantages of cloud computing and discuss them in more detail. Those will include both a company’s and an end-user’s perspective.
Cost Efficiency
This is the biggest advantage of cloud computing, achieved by the elimination of the investment in stand-alone software or servers. By leveraging cloud’s capabilities, companies can save on licensing fees and at the same time eliminate overhead charges such as the cost of data storage, software updates, management etc.The cloud is in general available at much cheaper rates than traditional approaches and can significantly lower the overall IT expenses. At the same time, convenient and scalable charging models have emerged (such as one-time-payment and pay-as-you-go), making the cloud even more attractive.
If you want to get more technical and analytical, cloud computing delivers a better cash flow by eliminating the capital expense (CAPEX) associated with developing and maintaining the server infrastructure.
Convenience and continuous availability
Public clouds offer services that are available wherever the end user might be located. This approach enables easy access to information and accommodates the needs of users in different time zones and geographic locations. As a side benefit, collaboration booms since it is now easier than ever to access, view and modify shared documents and files.Moreover, service uptime is in most cases guaranteed, providing in that way continuous availability of resources. The various cloud vendors typically use multiple servers for maximum redundancy. In case of system failure, alternative instances are automatically spawned on other machines.
Backup and Recovery
The process of backing up and recovering data is simplified since those now reside on the cloud and not on a physical device. The various cloud providers offer reliable and flexible backup/recovery solutions. In some cases, the cloud itself is used solely as a backup repository of the data located in local computers.Cloud is environmentally friendly
The cloud is in general more efficient than the typical IT infrastructure and It takes fewer resources to compute, thus saving energy. For example, when servers are not used, the infrastructure normally scales down, freeing up resources and consuming less power. At any moment, only the resources that are truly needed are consumed by the system.Resiliency and Redundancy
A cloud deployment is usually built on a robust architecture thus providing resiliency and redundancy to its users. The cloud offers automatic failover between hardware platforms out of the box, while disaster recovery services are also often included.Scalability and Performance
Scalability is a built-in feature for cloud deployments. Cloud instances are deployed automatically only when needed and as a result, you pay only for the applications and data storage you need. Hand in hand, also comes elasticity, since clouds can be scaled to meet your changing IT system demands.Regarding performance, the systems utilize distributed architectures which offer excellent speed of computations. Again, it is the provider’s responsibility to ensure that your services run on cutting edge machinery. Instances can be added instantly for improved performance and customers have access to the total resources of the cloud’s core hardware via their dashboards.
Quick deployment and ease of integration
A cloud system can be up and running in a very short period, making quick deployment a key benefit. On the same aspect, the introduction of a new user in the system happens instantaneously, eliminating waiting periods.Furthermore, software integration occurs automatically and organically in cloud installations. A business is allowed to choose the services and applications that best suit their preferences, while there is minimum effort in customizing and integrating those applications.
Increased Storage Capacity
The cloud can accommodate and store much more data compared to a personal computer and in a way offers almost unlimited storage capacity. It eliminates worries about running out of storage space and at the same time It spares businesses the need to upgrade their computer hardware, further reducing the overall IT cost.Device Diversity and Location Independence
Cloud computing services can be accessed via a plethora of electronic devices that are able to have access to the internet. These devices include not only the traditional PCs, but also smartphones, tablets etc. With the cloud, the “Bring your own device” (BYOD) policy can be easily adopted, permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices to their workplace.An end-user might decide not only which device to use, but also where to access the service from. There is no limitation of place and medium. We can access our applications and data anywhere in the world, making this method very attractive to people. Cloud computing is in that way especially appealing to international companies as it offers the flexibility for its employees to access company files wherever they are.
Smaller learning curve
Cloud applications usually entail smaller learning curves since people are quietly used to them. Users find it easier to adopt them and come up to speed much faster. Main examples of this are applications like GMail and Google Docs.Disadvantages of Cloud Computing
As made clear from the above, cloud computing is a tool that offers enormous benefits to its adopters. However, being a tool, it also comes with its set of problems and inefficiencies. Let’s address the most significant ones.Security and privacy in the Cloud
Security is the biggest concern when it comes to cloud computing. By leveraging a remote cloud based infrastructure, a company essentially gives away private data and information, things that might be sensitive and confidential. It is then up to the cloud service provider to manage, protect and retain them, thus the provider’s reliability is very critical. A company’s existence might be put in jeopardy, so all possible alternatives should be explored before a decision. On the same note, even end users might feel uncomfortable surrendering their data to a third party.Similarly, privacy in the cloud is another huge issue. Companies and users have to trust their cloud service vendors that they will protect their data from unauthorized users. The various stories of data loss and password leakage in the media does not help to reassure some of the most concerned users.
Dependency and vendor lock-in
One of the major disadvantages of cloud computing is the implicit dependency on the provider. This is what the industry calls “vendor lock-in” since it is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to migrate from a provider once you have rolled with him. If a user wishes to switch to some other provider, then it can be really painful and cumbersome to transfer huge data from the old provider to the new one. This is another reason why you should carefully and thoroughly contemplate all options when picking a vendor.Technical Difficulties and Downtime
Certainly the smaller business will enjoy not having to deal with the daily technical issues and will prefer handing those to an established IT company, however you should keep in mind that all systems might face dysfunctions from time to time. Outage and downtime is possible even to the best cloud service providers, as the past has shown.Additionally, you should remember that the whole setup is dependent on internet access, thus any network or connectivity problems will render the setup useless. As a minor detail, also keep in mind that it might take several minutes for the cloud to detect a server fault and launch a new instance from an image snapshot.
Limited control and flexibility
Since the applications and services run on remote, third party virtual environments, companies and users have limited control over the function and execution of the hardware and software. Moreover, since remote software is being used, it usually lacks the features of an application running locally.Increased Vulnerability
Related to the security and privacy mentioned before, note that cloud based solutions are exposed on the public internet and are thus a more vulnerable target for malicious users and hackers. Nothing on the Internet is completely secure and even the biggest players suffer from serious attacks and security breaches. Due to the interdependency of the system, If there is a compromise one one of the machines that data is stored, there might be a leakage of personal information to the world.Conclusion
Despite its disadvantages and the fact that it is still in an infant age, cloud computing remains strong and has great potential for the future. Its user base grows constantly and more big players are attracted to it, offering better and more fine tuned services and solutions. We can only hope that the advantages will further grow and the disadvantages will be mitigated, since cloud computing seems to have made IT a little bit easier. Happy cloud computing!
Source: Wiki, Javacodegeeks, techtarget
Friday, May 17, 2013
Now Google Wallet is now integrated into Gmail. You can securely send money to friends and family in the U.S. without leaving your Gmail inbox.
ഇനി മുതല് സെര്ച്ചും മെയിലും ചാറ്റും മാത്രമല്ല ഗൂഗിള് വഴി സാധ്യമാകുക. ജിമെയിലിലൂടെ നിങ്ങള്ക്കിനി ലോകത്തിലെവിടേക്കും പണമയക്കാന് സാധിക്കും. എന്നാല് തല്ക്കാലം അമേരിക്കക്കാര് മാത്രം ഇതറിഞ്ഞ് സന്തോഷിച്ചാല് മതി. കാരണം അമേരിക്കയില് മാത്രമാണ് ആദ്യ ഘട്ടത്തില് ഗൂഗിള് ഈ പുതിയ സംവിധാനം അവതരിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്.
മറ്റ് രാജ്യങ്ങളിലുള്ളവര് അല്പ്പം കൂടി കാത്തിരിക്കണമെന്നര്ത്ഥം.
ഗൂഗിള് വാലറ്റ് എന്ന ഗൂഗിളിന്റെ മണി പെയ്മന്റ് സംവിധാനം ജിമെയിലുമായി കൂട്ടിച്ചേര്ത്താണ് ഇത് സാധ്യമാക്കുന്നത്. പതിനെട്ടു വയസ്സു തികഞ്ഞ ഏതൊരു അമേരിക്കന് പൗരന്മാര്ക്കും ഈ സേവനം ഉപയോഗിക്കാം. ആര്ക്കാണോ പണം അയക്കേണ്ടത് അവരുടെ ഇമയില് വിലാസം നല്കുക. ശേഷം ജിമെയിലിലെ അറ്റാച്ച്മെന്റ് ഓപ്പഷനില് ക്ലിക്ക് ചെയ്യുമ്പോള് കാണുന്ന ഡോളര് ബട്ടണ് സെലക്ട് ചെയ്യമ്പോള് എത്ര രൂപയാണ് അയക്കേണ്ടത് എന്ന് ടൈപ്പ് ചെയ്യുക.
ഇത്തരം ട്രാന്സ്ഫറുകള് തിക്ച്ചും സുരക്ഷിതമായിരിക്കുമെന്നാണ് ഗൂഗിള് നല്കുന്ന് ഉറപ്പ്.
നിലവില് ഡെസ്ക്ടോപ്പ് വഴി മാത്രമാണ് പണമയക്കാന് സാധിക്കുക. ഗൂഗിള് വാലറ്റ് ഉപയോഗിക്കാത്ത ഉപയോഗ്താക്കള്ക്ക് ഇത്തരത്തില് പണമയക്കാന് സാധിക്കയുമില്ല. ഗൂഗിളിന്റെ വാര്ഷിക ഡവലപ്പേഴ്സ് കോണ്ഫറന്സിലാണ് ഇക്കാര്യം ഗൂഗിള് പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചത്.
It’s free to send money from your Google Wallet Balance or directly from your bank account. You can also pay with your credit and debit cards for a low fee of 2.9% per transaction (minimum $0.30). Receiving money is always free.
If you don't have Gmail, you can still send money by clicking the "send money" button in Google Wallet. You can also send and receive money on your phone, and manage your payment methods at wallet.google.com.
A safer way to send money
When you use Google Wallet, your financial information is safely encrypted and stored on secure servers, and all transactions are monitored 24/7 to prevent fraudulent activity. In addition, Google Wallet Purchase Protection covers 100% of eligible unauthorized transactions, and our customer service team will help resolve any questions you might have.Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Internet Usage in China is in Booming Trend
According to the study, usage in the countryside is growing much faster than in urban areas (60.8% year-on-year compared to 35.6% in cities), the numbers of bloggers has increased to +162 million, and accessing the internet through mobile phones is still immensely popular. CNNIC reports that 117.6 million people accessed the internet using their mobile phones last year, up 133% from 2007.
Monday, December 31, 2007
BrahMos, the world’s fastest cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, will be produced in Kerala. Defence Minister A K Antony will rename the state-owned Kerala High-Tech Industries Limited (KELTEC) as BrahMos Aerospace (Thiruvananthpuram) Limited today evening. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan will attend the ceremony.
BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroeyenia. The Thiruvananthapuram unit will the missile’s second manufacturing hub after Hyderabad. The supersonic cruise missile can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
BrahMos at speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8 is about three times faster than the US subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. It claims to have the capability to attack surface targets as low as 10m in altitude and has a maximum range of 290km. According to Sivathanu Pillai, BrahMos CEO the DRDO decided to increase production as it could not meet the growing demand after the army, navy and air force placed more orders.
The projected annual turnover of BrahMos in Kerala is Rs.5 Billion within three years and Rs. 10 Billion in five years. “Kerala can feel proud that it is rolling out the world’s fastest cruise missile and providing for the country’s security. This would bring in a big change in the state’s investment profile as well,” Pillai said after signing the agreement.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Encryption
Encryption is a means of communicating confidential information with someone so that the data being transferred is hidden (unreadable) to anyone whom it is not intended. Symmetric-key encryption is where the sender and the receiver of the message share the same key. This key is used to both encrypt and decrypt the message. If Joe and Carl want to communicate with each other, they both must know what the secret key it. They also need a secure means of exchanging the key with each other. Now if Carl also wants to communicate securely with George, they must have a different secret key that exists between Joe and Carl. (Carl and George wouldn't want Joe to be able to read their message.) One of the biggest downfalls of Symmetric-keys is key management. In an environment with many users, this can get quite cumbersome.
Public Key Cryptography
Public key cryptography solves both the management of keys and the ability to securely distribute keys to many people. In the public key scheme, each person will generate a public and a private key.
Each person can publish their public key while their secret key must remain confidential to them. Messages that are encrypted with a public key can ONLY be decrypted with its private key. Keys may not be deduced from each other. Unlike symmetric-keys, users do not share confidential information, since all communications involves only their public keys. A users private key is neither published nor shared.
Lets say that Joe wants to send Carl an encrypted message. Joe needs to first obtain Carl's public key. This is fairly easy since Carl's public key is public knowledge. Carl may elect to simply mail Joe a version of his public key. Joe then uses Carl's public key to encrypt a message. Once Carl gets the message, he uses his private key to decrypt the message. Since no one else has Carl's private key, no one else but Carl can read the message from Joe. (Not even the sender Joe). Keep in mind that if Carl wants to send encrypted information to Joe, Carl needs to obtain a copy of Joe's public key and perform the same steps that Joe did to encrypt the message.
Digital Signature
Digital signatures are nothing more than using the above example and putting it into reverse. A digital signature is a non-forgeable way of digitally signing a message. This is a way of authenticating that the sender of a message is really and truly the person that they say they are. The sender cannot later claim that someone tried to impersonate them.
Lets say that Joe wants to send Carl a message. Carl wants to know for sure that the message really came from Joe. Before Joe sends the message, Carl asks him to digitally sign the message. Joe then uses his private key to sign the message. When Carl gets the message, he must have a copy of Joe's public key to verify the message. When Carl performs the verify, if the hash comes out exactly the same (using Joe's public key), then only Joe could have sent that message.
Digital Certificates
To ensure the confidence in the identity of a public key, public keys are incorporated into digital certificates. A digital certificate is a binding of a public key to a user by a trusted third party known as a Certificate Authority. The public key and the users identity, together with other information such as the certificate expiration date, are digitally signed by the Certificate Authority. Certificate Authorities are nothing more than electronic notaries, attesting to the identity of users and the validity of their public keys.
Certificates may be issued in several different ways. For example, Joe may generate his own public/private key pair and send the public key to an appropriate Certificate Authority with some proof of his identification. The Certificate Authority then validates the identity of Joe to ensure that Joe is really Joe. Next, the Certificate Authority sends Joe back a certificate attesting to the binding between Joe and his public key, along with a hierarchy of certificates verifying the Certificate Authorities public key. Joe can then publish this certificate chain whenever necessary to demonstrate the legitimacy of his public key.
Another way for Joe to obtain a certificate is to have an administrator generate the public/private key pair for him in a way that the person generating the keys does not know the private key for Joe. The private key is then given to Joe either on a disk or within a token. The public key belonging to Joe is then bond to a certificate by the Certificate Authority with a copy given to Joe and a copy posted to a public database of keys for download purpose.
