Cloud Technologies

Why cloud computing represents a paradigm shift for business, and how business users can best take advantage of cloud services. Most of the information available on cloud computing is either highly technical, with details that are irrelevant to non-technologists, or pure marketing hype, in which the cloud is simply a selling point. This book, however, explains the cloud from the user's viewpoint—the business user's in particular. Nayan Ruparelia explains what the cloud is, when to use it (and when not to), how to select a cloud service, how to integrate it with other technologies, and what the best practices are for using cloud computing. Cutting through the hype, Ruparelia cites the simple and basic definition of cloud computing from the National Institute of Science and Technology: a model enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. Thus with cloud computing, businesses can harness information technology resources usually available only to large enterprises. And this, Ruparelia demonstrates, represents a paradigm shift for business. It will ease funding for startups, alter business plans, and allow big businesses greater agility. Ruparelia discusses the key issues for any organization considering cloud computing: service level agreements, business service delivery and consumption, finance, legal jurisdiction, security, and social responsibility. He introduces novel concepts made possible by cloud computing: cloud cells, or specialist clouds for specific uses; the personal cloud; the cloud of things; and cloud service exchanges. He examines use case patterns in terms of infrastructure and platform, software information, and business process; and he explains how to transition to a cloud service. Current and future users will find this book an indispensable guide to the cloud.

Clouds are distributed technology platforms that leverage sophisticated technology innovations to provide highly scalable and resilient environments that can be remotely utilized by organizations in a multitude of powerful ways. To successfully build upon, integrate with, or even create a cloud environment requires an understanding of its common inner mechanics, architectural layers, and models, as well as an understanding of the business and economic factors that result from the adoption and real-world use of cloud-based services. In Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture, Thomas Erl, one of the world’s top-selling IT authors, teams up with cloud computing experts and researchers to break down proven and mature cloud computing technologies and practices into a series of well-defined concepts, models, technology mechanisms, and technology architectures, all from an industry-centric and vendor-neutral point of view. In doing so, the book establishes concrete, academic coverage with a focus on structure, clarity, and well-defined building blocks for mainstream cloud computing platforms and solutions. Subsequent to technology-centric coverage, the book proceeds to establish business-centric models and metrics that allow for the financial assessment of cloud-based IT resources and their comparison to those hosted on traditional IT enterprise premises. Also provided are templates and formulas for calculating SLA-related quality-of-service values and numerous explorations of the SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS delivery models. With more than 260 figures, 29 architectural models, and 20 mechanisms, this indispensable guide provides a comprehensive education of cloud computing essentials that will never leave your side.

CLOUD TECHNOLOGIES Contains a variety of cloud computing technologies and explores how the cloud can enhance business operations Cloud Technologies offers an accessible guide to cloud-based systems and clearly explains how these technologies have changed the way organizations approach and implement their computing infrastructure. The author includes an overview of cloud computing and addresses business-related considerations such as service level agreements, elasticity, security, audits, and practical implementation issues. In addition, the book covers important topics such as automation, infrastructure as code, DevOps, orchestration, and edge computing. Cloud computing fundamentally changes the way organizations think about and implement IT infrastructure. Any manager without a firm grasp of basic cloud concepts is at a huge disadvantage in the modern world. Written for all levels of managers working in IT and other areas, the book explores cost savings and enhanced capabilities, as well as identifies different models for implementing cloud technologies and tackling cloud business concerns. This important book: Demonstrates a variety of cloud computing technologies and ways the cloud can enhance business operations Addresses data security concerns in cloud computing relevant to corporate data owners Shows ways the cloud can save money for a business Offers a companion website hosting PowerPoint slides Written for managers in the fields of business, IT and cloud computing, Cloud Technologies describes cloud computing concepts and related strategies and operations in accessible language.

This textbook provides a thorough yet compact review of cloud technologies. It offers easy to understand explanations of the technical concepts underlying cloud services, platforms, and applications offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It presents cloud concepts at a depth that can be understood and applied by both technical and non-technical readers. Once that is accomplished the learner can then easily move toward more advanced topics. Or, they can use the knowledge gained from this book to obtain industry certifications and be competitive in this exciting industry. Reader learning is enhanced with quizzes and exam questions and hands-on labs throughout the book with PowerPoint slides, instructor guide and additional labs online. All the tools needed for advancement to the level of cloud architect are found in this book. The author has verified the success of this approach in his own academic environment with much success. He teaches Cloud Engineering and Advanced Cloud Engineering at Southern Methodist University. Both courses were developed in partnership with the AWS Academy, the education arm of the Amazon Web Services cloud platform. Using this methodology his students routinely take and pass cloud certification exams and obtain lucrative employment positions in the rapidly expanding cloud industry.

The emergence of cloud computing, internet of things, mobile technologies, and social networking have created better-connected members of the public who are digitally linked with each other in real time. Establishing this two-way interaction between citizens and governments has thus become attractive and an expected feature of governments worldwide. Previously, federal and local governments relied on first-generation technologies to provide basic levels of automation and digitization. Now, because of their desire to become more open, transparent, accountable, and connected, newer technologies including cloud computing, mobile networking, big data analytics, Web 2.0, and social media must be developed and utilized. Web 2.0 and Cloud Technologies for Implementing Connected Government is an essential reference source that presents various dimensions of connected government and connected e-governance visions as well as the latest emerging technologies. Offering development methodologies, practical examples, best practices, case studies, and the latest research, this book covers new strategies for implementing better-connected government models and the technologies that serve to establish these frameworks, including in-depth examinations of mobile technologies, automation, business intelligence, etc. as well as the various ethical and security issues surrounding the use and protection of data. This book is essential for federal, state, and local government officials; policymakers; civil servants; IT specialists; security analysts; academicians; researchers; and students.

Starting from concrete examples in Geomorphology, this comprehensive textbook explains to graduate and postgraduate students, point-cloud data technology and associated methods from acquisition to final-product generation. In the last few decades, Geo-sciences have experienced a paradigm shift from the challenge of collecting enough data to the need of creating new processing tools that can handle the billions of data. This shift has come to Geomorphology with the increasing use of surface-pointclouds obtained from photogrammetry, laser scanners and processed by specialist software, and it is thus necessary for the next generation of geomorphologist to be fluent in these technologies. Consequently, this book explains from concrete examples how to use pointcloud technologies, from data collection to processing and final product generation. The philosophy of this book relies on two principles, first: you do not have to be a tech-wizard to use pointcloud technologies, allowing the you to bring back the focus on your science; second pointcloud methods can be affordable, therefore the book provide a set of worked-examples in the different geomorphological environments using open source software and R and Python code samples. The book can be used as a textbook in a geomorphology, geology, physical geography, Sabo-sciences and engineering class, as well as a companion for the more seasoned scientist who wants to solve specific problems.

The application of emerging technology in educational settings has proven to significantly enhance students’ experiences. These tools provide better learning opportunities and engagement between students and instructors. Integration of Cloud Technologies in Digitally Networked Classrooms and Learning Communities is a pivotal reference source for the latest scholarly research on the implementation of cloud pedagogies and innovations in classroom environments. Highlighting concepts related to learning engagement, curriculum design, and theoretical perspectives, this book is ideally designed for researchers, practitioners, professionals, and students interested in the use of cloud technology in digital classrooms.

The latest textbook from best-selling author Provides a comprehensive introduction to cloud computing