Everything you need to know about the cloud: Types and architectures.

Cloud computing, or cloud computing, is a model for delivering computing services over the Internet. Instead of a company having to purchase, install, and maintain its own hardware and/or software infrastructure, it can rent computing services and resources through cloud providers, who are responsible for managing and maintaining the underlying infrastructure.

What types of clouds are there?

There are three main types of clouds:

What advantages and disadvantages does the cloud bring us?

Cloud computing, like any technology, has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of the cloud:

Advantages

1. Scalability: The cloud allows businesses to quickly scale their computing resources as they can easily be increased or decreased based on the company's needs.

2. Accessibility: Cloud services are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, allowing employees to work from anywhere at any time.

3. Cost savings: The cloud eliminates the need for significant upfront investment in IT infrastructure and reduces costs for hardware and software maintenance and updates.

4. Security: Most cloud providers have advanced security measures in place to protect their customers' information.

5. Automatic updates: Cloud providers take care of software and hardware system updates, ensuring that businesses always have access to the latest versions of applications and systems.

Disadvantages

What types of cloud architectures do we find?

When we talk about cloud architecture, we refer to the design and structure of the technological infrastructure required to run an application. This infrastructure includes infrastructure services such as servers, storage, networks, and databases, as well as platform services in the cloud, such as programming languages, frameworks, and development tools.

In a well-designed cloud architecture, the components of the application or service are highly scalable and can adapt to demand spikes without affecting performance. It also focuses on availability and disaster recovery to minimize downtime. Additionally, security is a key component of cloud architecture, and security measures must be implemented to protect data and user privacy.

Monolithic Architecture

Monolithic architecture is a style of architecture in which all the functionalities of an application are designed as a single block, running in a single process and deployed as a unified unit. In a monolithic architecture, all functionalities are integrated into a single application and communicate through function calls or internal events.

Monolithic architecture is one of the oldest and most widely used software architectures. In this architecture, all functionalities of the application are designed as a single block, which means that development, deployment, and maintenance of the application are simpler compared to more complex architectures.

However, monolithic architecture has some disadvantages, including:

• Limited scalability: Monolithic architecture is not easily scalable, as all functionalities run in the same process and are tightly coupled. This means that any changes to the application would require the implementation of a complete new version of the application.

• Lack of flexibility: Because all functionalities are integrated into a single application, it is not possible to update or add new functionalities without impacting the performance and stability of the system.

• Difficulty in integration: When integration with other applications or systems is required, monolithic architecture can pose challenges, as all functionalities are designed as a single block.

Despite its limitations, monolithic architecture remains a viable option for many applications, especially those that do not require extensive scalability and flexibility.

Microservices Architecture

Microservices architecture is a software architecture style in which an application is divided into a set of small, independent, and scalable services that work together to deliver the complete functionality of the application (Divide and Conquer methodology). Each service is designed to do one thing and do it well, and communicates with other services through an API.

In a microservices architecture, each service runs in its own process and can be scaled independently. This allows for greater flexibility and scalability, as resources can be allocated more efficiently and changes in one service do not affect others.

Microservices architecture has several advantages, including:

• Scalability: Services can be scaled independently, allowing for more efficient resource utilization and better handling of demand spikes.

• Flexibility: Services can be updated and deployed independently, enabling greater flexibility and agility in application development and deployment.

• Simplified maintenance: Services are small and focused on doing one thing, making them easier to maintain and troubleshoot.

• Increased resilience: If one service fails, the application continues to function as services are independent and the failure of one does not affect others.

Serverless architecture

Among the advantages of serverless architecture are:

• Automatic scalability: Cloud providers can automatically scale computing resources to handle traffic spikes, allowing for efficient resource utilization and better ability to handle unpredictable demands.

• Pay-per-use: Billing is based on the amount of time computing resources are used, meaning developers only pay for what they use.

• Ease of deployment: Serverless architecture allows developers to focus on writing application code rather than managing server infrastructure.

• High availability: Cloud providers ensure the availability of computing resources, meaning applications can continue running even if a server fails.

However, serverless architecture also has some limitations, such as the need for proper application architecture for functions, lack of control over the underlying infrastructure, and the requirement for a deep understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the cloud provider. Additionally, the technology's novelty can contribute to increased complexity.