What is Cloud Computing?

• Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of compute power, database storage, applications, and other IT resources

• Through a cloud services platform with pay-as-you-go pricing

• You can provision exactly the right type and size of computing resources you need

• You can access as many resources as you need, almost instantly

• Simple way to access servers, storage, databases and a set of application services

• Amazon Web Services owns and maintains the network-connected hardware required for these application services, while you provision and use what you need via a web application.

The Deployment Models Of Cloud

Private Cloud

Cloud services used only by one organization and not shared with others. The organization has full control over everything. It provides strong security for important or sensitive applications. It is designed to meet the specific needs of a business.

Advantages :

More Control – Your company manages the system, so you have full control over everything.
Better Security – Since it’s used only by your organization, it’s easier to keep data safe.
Customizable – You can set it up exactly how your business needs it.
Reliable Performance – Resources are not shared with others, so performance is more consistent.
Meets Special Rules – Good for businesses that need to follow strict privacy or legal requirements.
Easier Integration – Works well with your existing systems and tools.

Public Cloud

A public cloud means the computer resources like storage, servers, and software are owned and managed by a separate company like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google and are available to anyone over the internet.

Advantages:

Cost-effective – You only pay for what you use, no need to buy expensive equipment.
Scalable – You can easily increase or decrease resources as your needs change.
Reliable – Most cloud services offer strong backup and disaster recovery.
Fast Performance – Big cloud providers use powerful, fast systems.
Security – They offer tools and settings to help keep your data safe.

Hybrid Cloud

You keep some of your computer systems and data in your own building (on-site), and use cloud services for other things. This lets you keep full control over important or sensitive information. At the same time, you get the flexibility and lower costs of using public cloud services for less sensitive tasks.

Advantages:

Flexibility – You can choose where to run each part of your work .
Cost Savings – Use the public cloud for cheaper storage and processing, while keeping important data private.
Better Security – Sensitive data stays in your private system, keeping it more secure.
Scalability – You can quickly add more power or storage using the cloud when needed.
Business Continuity – If something fails in your private system, the cloud can help keep things running.
Custom Fit – You can build a setup that works best for your business needs.

The Five Characteristics of Cloud Computing

On-demand self-service:
- Users can get and start using cloud resources (like storage or processing power) whenever they need, without needing to talk to anyone.
Broad network access:
- Cloud services can be used over the internet and accessed from many types of devices like phones, laptops, or tablets.
Multi-tenancy and resource pooling:
- Many people or companies share the same cloud system, but their data is kept safe and separate.
- The same physical equipment (like servers) is used for multiple users.
Rapid elasticity and scalability:
- Cloud resources can grow or shrink automatically based on how much you need, and this happens quickly and easily.
Measured service:
- The cloud tracks how much you use, so you’re only charged for what you actually use, just like an electricity or water bill.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

• Trade capital expense (CAPEX) for operational expense (OPEX)

• Pay On-Demand: don’t own hardware

• Reduced Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) & Operational Expense (OPEX)

• Benefit from massive economies of scale

• Prices are reduced as AWS is more efficient due to large scale

• Stop guessing capacity

• Scale based on actual measured usage

• Increase speed and agility

• Stop spending money running and maintaining data centers

Problems Solved by the Cloud

Flexibility: You can easily switch to different types of resources whenever your needs change.
Cost-Effectiveness: You only pay for what you actually use no need to buy expensive equipment upfront.
Scalability: You can handle more work by upgrading your system or adding more servers when needed.
Elasticity: You can quickly add more resources during busy times and reduce them when they’re no longer needed.
High Availability and Fault Tolerance: Your services can keep running even if something goes wrong, by using multiple data centers.
Agility: You can quickly build, test, and launch new software or updates, helping you respond faster to changes.

Types of Cloud Computing

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):

Gives you the basic tools you need to build IT systems like servers, storage, and networking.
You get the most control and flexibility.
It’s similar to running your own equipment, but in the cloud.

Platform as a Service (PaaS):
- You don’t have to worry about the hardware or system setup.
- You just focus on creating and running your apps.
- The cloud provider handles the background work.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
- You use ready-made software that the provider runs for you.

AWS Global Infrastructure

AWS Region

An AWS Region is a physical area in the world where Amazon has its data centers.

Each region is made up of multiple data centers (called Availability Zones) that are close to each other, so they can work together quickly and safely.

You choose a region based on things like:

How close it is to your users (for faster access)
Local laws or rules (for storing data in certain countries)

Backup and safety (to keep your data available even if something goes wrong in one area)

AWS Availability Zones

An Availability Zone (AZ) is one of the separate data centers inside an AWS Region.
Each AZ is like its own secure building with power, cooling, and networking. They are close enough to each other to connect quickly but far enough to keep things safe if one has a problem.
Using multiple AZs helps keep your apps running smoothly if one AZ has an issue, your data and apps can keep working from another AZ.

So, an AWS Region is made up of several AZs to give you better reliability and protection.

AWS Data Centers

AWS Data Centers are big buildings full of powerful computers and equipment that store data and run applications.
These centers are where all the cloud services live like websites, apps, and storage.
They have strong security, power backups, and cooling systems to keep everything running safely and smoothly 24/7.
AWS has many data centers around the world to make sure your cloud services are fast, reliable, and always available

AWS Edge Locations / Points of Presence

AWS Edge Locations are small data centers located in many cities around the world.

2 . They help deliver content (like videos, websites, or apps) to users faster by storing copies of data closer to where people are.

Instead of sending data all the way from a big AWS data center, the edge location quickly delivers it nearby, making things load faster and smoother.
They are part of AWS’s Content Delivery Network (CDN), called Amazon Cloud Front.

Conclusion

Cloud computing lets you use computers and software over the internet instead of owning them yourself.

AWS Regions are large areas around the world where Amazon has groups of data centers.
AWS Availability Zones (AZs) are separate data centers inside each region, designed to keep your services running even if one zone has a problem.
AWS Data Centers are the physical buildings full of servers that store your data and run your apps.
AWS Edge Locations are smaller data centers closer to users that help deliver content faster by storing copies nearby.

Together these parts help make cloud computing fast, reliable, and available wherever you are.

Day 1 of 30 Learning AWS: Introduction To AWS Cloud