The term “cloud technology” is now on everyone’s lips. An active discussion of the possible nuances of working with such technologies is taking place both on the forums of large Internet companies and among novice users. And there really is something to discuss.

Every day in search engines Computer owners are increasingly asking the question “what is cloud technology.” This is not surprising, because more and more users are learning about this innovation. A striking example is antivirus programs. New versions of Norton Internet Security, Kaspersky and many others offer to activate the cloud protection option in the settings. Since curiosity is part of human nature, it is logical that people are becoming interested in cloud technologies.

Alas, one should not expect anything revolutionary. In part, these technologies have existed on the Internet for a long time, they simply lacked an accurate and comprehensive definition, systematization and understanding of potential opportunities. Cloud technologies are a way of processing digital data outside the environment of the initiating computer. Since many people become familiar with the term thanks to antivirus applications, let’s consider the work of “clouds” using the example of this group of programs.

Let's imagine that an antivirus application encounters a suspicious program code, the description of which is not in the virus databases. If the user does not know what cloud technologies are and has not allowed their use (check the box in the settings), then the antivirus will try to localize the suspicious file until the databases are updated. Everything is completely different if cloud technologies are activated. In this case, information about strange code is automatically transmitted to the developer server antivirus program, where it is promptly checked by specialists for potential danger. If a threat is confirmed, all computers connected to this resource are sent instructions on how to neutralize the threat. The result is an unprecedented speed of response to the emergence of new viruses. What is cloud technology in this example? The answer is to process suspicious code on the developer’s servers, away from the computers of ordinary users. This is the key feature.

Cloud technologies give a second life to low-power computing devices. Let's assume that we have a calculator with Internet access and connected to a specialized “cloud” consisting of clusters of high-performance computers. We can perform basic operations ourselves, but what should we do if complex calculations are required? In this case, the calculator sends the task data to cloud service, and in return receives a ready-made solution. For the user, the actions performed between typing commands and receiving a response went unnoticed. After all, the main thing is the result, and it was achieved. Of course, a calculator is an extreme, but, on the other hand, it’s easier to understand the principle of operation.

In addition to such unobvious clouds, there are special services that largely replace full-fledged applications with local computer. For example, a user needs to edit a text file in Word. To do this, you will need to purchase the program itself (and the licensed version is not cheap), allocate free disk space on the media, and connect the necessary modules. Of course, all this can be solved, but what to do if there are a lot of computers (enterprise)? Spending money on purchases It is much easier to use a cloud service that provides access to certain programs hosted on its sites. The user needs to go to the desired site through a browser, launch Word remotely and open his file for editing. By the way, convenient interfaces are usually implemented in this way.

The benefits of cloud technologies can be listed for a long time. There are fewer disadvantages, but they are significant: reduced confidentiality and dependence on the work of a third-party resource.

The Internet has become entrenched in our lives. Many users can no longer imagine their life without a computer. Naturally, technology improves every year. And for active users of the global network, such a useful technology as a cloud server has appeared. What it is? What is it for?

Cloud technologies are...

Today you can often hear about such a function as cloud computing. The name of such servers comes from a graphic picture that is used to indicate technologies.

Cloud technologies are the ability to have access to data without installing special applications on the device. All necessary software is provided to users by servers. But whether you have to pay for this remote access to data or not depends directly on the requests.

How are cloud technologies different from conventional ones?

To more clearly explain the difference between conventional technologies and cloud storage, we can take as an example email. The case when an email client, such as Outlook, is already installed on the user’s computer, and all data received by email is saved on HDD, is considered a common IT technology. That is, the user himself can manage the received files and decide what to do with them. And the mail client will work exactly as long as the computer is running.

But email, which is opened using a browser, is already a cloud technology. That is, the user can access his email address without installing anything on the device. Moreover, if something happens to the server on which all the data is stored, access to email will be lost.

What do you have to pay for when using the cloud?

Cloud server is not a completely free technology. There are times when a user will have to pay for the provision of cloud storage service. All servers are divided into three types, which charge for different functions.

• IaaS is a cloud model that requires a fee to provide remote access to the storage. That is, the user only pays for access to the server.
• When using a PaaS cloud, you will have to pay not only for the available resources, but also for access to special software for processing data.
• SaaS is a storage facility that provides access to a whole range of software, for which, of course, you will have to pay a considerable subscription fee.

Positive sides

Using cloud technologies has a number of advantages that are quite significant.

Young businesses benefit greatly from using cloud servers. They will not have to worry about buying their own server equipment or spend money on building local network, hire system administrators. You just need to choose one of the cloud servers that is ideal in terms of memory size, number of clients and other characteristics, and pay a subscription fee once a month.

Cloud technologies are an opportunity to access necessary information using a regular browser from anywhere in the world. Performance will no longer be of concern to the client, since it is monitored by those whom the user pays for cloud storage. Such systems are in demand among corporate users who need to establish document flow in an enterprise network.

For ordinary users who simply do not want to clog up their computer with unnecessary information, there are free cloud servers that will be quite sufficient.

Negative points

Of course, new cloud technologies also have a number of disadvantages.

Firstly, confidential data transmitted using cloud storage can be intercepted by hackers. The quality of the Internet connection must be very high. If the Internet is interrupted, access to data on the “clouds” will be impossible. At the same time, large enterprises still need System Administrator to establish data transfer.

If the client wants to save money and prefers a cheaper server, then he will have to face performance problems. Cheap cloud storage have a not very good hardware infrastructure, in which problems regularly appear, and fixing them takes a lot of time.

If the use of cloud technologies is planned for the long term, then it can be much more expensive than installing your own local server. Especially if a cloud technology with a wide range of capabilities, such as SaaS, is chosen for work.

Cloud storage overview

Cloud technologies are storage facilities that can be divided into three types of services:

• Creation of infrastructure.
• Platform services.
• Software services.

This division will help with choosing a cloud server for data storage.

Windows Live SkyDrive is suitable for those who need a large amount of data. It allows you to store information up to 25 GB. There are no restrictions on file format. However, there are a number of advantages for some types. For example, when storing Office documents, you can edit them directly in the browser.

Dropbox is more widely used than Windows Live SkyDrive, although it has a much smaller amount of data - only 2 GB. It is enough to install one application on the device to have remote access.

A special server even exists for storing music. This is Grooveshark, which is considered one of the most popular cloud storage services for music files.

The Internet has become an integral part of people's lives, and new opportunities are regularly emerging that can make it easier to carry out different tasks. What’s new is cloud technologies that can be used in various fields: education, medicine, logistics, and so on.

What is cloud technology?

Let's start with a definition: cloud technologies imply the user's ability to access data without installing applications on his device, since all the software is provided by servers. It is important to know that such services can be either free or paid, and it all depends on the requests. To understand what the use of cloud technologies is, you need to understand their difference from conventional conditions.

1. For example, let's take email, when the email client is installed on the computer and all data is saved on the hard drive. In this case, the user decides what to do with the files.
2. If we talk about mail, which a person uses through a browser, then this is already a cloud technology. It is clear here that if problems arise with the server, then access to mail will be lost.

Benefits of cloud services

First, let's look at the existing advantages, which include:

1. To store information, you do not need to buy expensive computers and components, because everything will be stored on the cloud.
2. PC performance increases, because cloud technologies in office work and other areas launch programs remotely, so there is a lot of free space on the computer.
3. Maintenance problems are decreasing every year, because the number of physical servers is constantly decreasing, and software is constantly updated.
4. The cost of purchasing software is reduced, since you only need to buy a program for the “cloud” once and that’s it, and sometimes you can even order its rental.
5. Cloud technologies have no restrictions on the amount of data stored. In most cases, the volume of such services amounts to millions of gigabytes.
6. Programs are updated automatically, so there is no need to monitor this, as is the case with downloaded applications.
7. The cloud can be used on any operating system since programs are accessed through web browsers.
8. New cloud technologies make it possible to have access to documents anytime and anywhere, because the main thing is the availability of the Internet.
9. Good security and protection against information loss, since sent data is automatically saved and copies are sent to backup servers.

Disadvantages of cloud technologies

The “cloud” also has a number of disadvantages that are worth knowing and taking into account:

1. Access is not possible in the absence of the Internet, and if there is no Internet, then it will be possible to work only with documents downloaded to the computer. It is worth noting that the Internet must be fast and of high quality.
2. The cloud service may be slower when transferring a large amount of information than with an installed program.
3. Rarely is security at a bad level, but in most cases the Cloud does backups, so no need to worry.
4. Many people are confused by the fact that they need to pay for the provision of a number of services, but this is a business project from which people need to earn money.

Application of cloud technologies

There is a certain classification of cloud services, so the following categories of “clouds” are distinguished:

1. Public. This is an IT infrastructure that can be used by a large number of companies and services at once. The subscriber can be any company or individual. Users of public cloud technologies do not have the ability to manage and maintain the cloud, since this is only done by the owner of the service.
2. Private. When describing the types of cloud technologies, we should focus on this secure IT infrastructure, controlled and operated in the interests of only one organization. It can be located on the customer's premises or at an external operator.
3. Hybrid. This type has the main advantages of both previous options. This “cloud” is in most cases used by organizations that have seasonal periods of activity, that is, when there is not enough internal IT infrastructure, then part of the capacity is transferred to cloud technologies.

Cloud technologies in education

Computers and the Internet have also made their way into the education system, making it possible to improve and facilitate the process of performing a number of tasks. Cloud technologies in educational process can be used for the following purposes:

1. Organization collaboration employees on important documents, such as an annual plan or program. Everyone is responsible for their own part of the document, and if necessary, all users will have the opportunity to leave comments and add information.
2. General project work, so the teacher can assign assignments to students, divide responsibilities and check reports, giving comments.
3. Cloud technologies can be used to create electronic diary and submitting any written assignments. This is a great option for children who are homeschooled or miss school for some reason.

Cloud technologies in medicine

Recently, the “cloud” has been actively introduced into medicine, which raises it to a new level. New technologies provide enormous potential for revolutionary changes, because it becomes much easier to maintain and systematize medical documentation. The use of cloud technologies in medicine is important because they help to quickly determine the diagnosis and make a conclusion. On this moment such a service is just beginning to be implemented, since there are still no regulatory mechanisms for maintaining medical confidentiality.

Cloud technologies in logistics

The cloud has excellent potential in transport and warehouse logistics. Using cloud technologies, it is possible to ensure full interaction between all participants in the chain, that is, the sender, operators, transport company and recipient. All of them can communicate in real time, regardless of location. Using cloud technologies provides the following advantages:

• conduct open tenders for contractors;
• determine the most successful routes;
• control delivery;
• process and store all transportation data;
• improve the quality of order fulfillment.

Cloud technologies in banking

Competition among banks is enormous and not all are able to withstand times of crisis. Such financial institutions are beginning to use innovative technologies to reduce costs. Cloud data storage services are aimed at automating financial processes. As a result, there is an increase in the efficiency of credit institutions by reducing the cost of reporting. It is important to note that since there is a threat of attackers entering cloud storage, customer information is not stored there.

Cloud technologies for business

Business people use the cloud for the following purposes:

1. A virtual server is rented, thanks to which the manager can fully control all hosted services, regardless of the provider.
2. It’s easy to create a virtual contact center online, so you can save on renting premises and organizing workspaces. Work can begin within two days from the date of submission of the application to the provider.
3. Cloud services for business are used to create a virtual office, that is workplace will not be tied to a specific computer. The “cloud” reproduces the company’s internal network, that is, it includes disks, folders and planning programs.

Games via cloud service

In the 2000s, cloud streaming services began to appear, allowing users to play heavy games over the Internet without downloading or loading their computer. In America and China this direction already has good development. Recently, Microsoft made an official statement that they will be developing a DeLorean system, thanks to which a person will play through a cloud service, and the system will predict his actions before he presses the keys.

The concept of "Cloud technologies"

Cloud technologies- These are data processing technologies in which computer resources are provided to the Internet user as an online service. The word “cloud” is present here as a metaphor, personifying a complex infrastructure that hides all the technical details behind it.

Cloud (scattered) computing (English cloud computing, also used the term Cloud (scattered) data processing) is a data processing technology in which computer resources and power are provided to the user as an Internet service. The user has access to his own data, but cannot manage and does not have to care about the infrastructure, operating system and the actual software with which he works. The term "Cloud" is used as a metaphor based on the diagram of the Internet computer network, or as an image of a complex infrastructure behind which all the technical details are hidden. According to an IEEE document published in 2008, “Cloud computing is a paradigm in which information is permanently stored on servers on the Internet and temporarily cached on the client side, e.g. personal computers, game consoles, laptops, smartphones, etc.”

Cloud data processing as a concept includes the concepts:

• 1) infrastructure as a service
• 2) platform as a service
• 3) software as a service
• 4) data as a service
• 5) workplace as a service

and other technological trends, which have in common the belief that the Internet is able to meet the data processing needs of users.

For cloud technologies itself main feature is the unevenness of the request for Internet resources from users. To smooth out this unevenness, another intermediate layer is applied - server virtualization . Thus, the load is distributed between virtual servers and computers.

Cloud technologies is one big concept that includes many different concepts that provide services. For example, software, infrastructure, platform, data, workplace, etc. Why is all this needed? The most important function of cloud technologies is to meet the needs of users who need to process data remotely.

What is not considered cloud computing? The first is offline computing on a local computer. Secondly, this is “utility computing”, when the service of performing particularly complex calculations or storing data arrays is ordered. Thirdly, this is collective (distributed) computing (grid computing). In practice, the boundaries between all these types of calculations are quite blurred. However, the future of cloud computing is still much larger than communal and distributed systems.

Cloud data storage-- an online storage model in which data is stored on numerous servers distributed over the network, provided for use by clients, mainly by third parties. In contrast to the model of storing data on your own dedicated servers, purchased or rented specifically for such purposes, the number or any internal structure of servers is generally not visible to the client. The data is stored, as well as processed, in the so-called cloud, which, from the client’s point of view, is one large virtual server. Physically, such servers can be located remotely from each other geographically, even located on different continents.

In order to understand what a “cloud” is, it’s worth starting with the history of this issue. It is necessary to understand: is this technology really in the category of new ideas or is this idea not so new.

Introduction

Cloud technologies in business processes

SaaS technologies

Practice of using cloud technologies.

Conclusion

Introduction

The essence of the cloud technology concept is to provide end users with remote, dynamic access to services, computing resources and applications (including operating systems and infrastructure) via the Internet. The growth of the hosting industry was driven by the need for software and digital services that could be managed internally, but were also more cost-effective and efficient due to economies of scale.

Most service providers offer cloud computing in the form of VPS hosting, virtual hosting, and software-as-a-service (SaaS). Cloud services have long been provided in the form of SaaS, such as Microsoft Hosted Exchange and SharePoint.

It must be admitted that cloud computing technologies have enormous potential, because all modern computer products are constantly increasing their requirements for the technical equipment of the user’s computer, which inevitably leads to significant upgrade costs. The gaming industry is becoming especially demanding of system resources. So this technology allows you to solve the problem of excessive application demands on end user resources.

1.Cloud technologies in business processes

Computing clouds consist of thousands of servers located in data centers, running tens of thousands of applications that are used simultaneously by millions of users. A prerequisite for the effective management of such large-scale infrastructure is as complete automation as possible. In addition, to ensure various types users - cloud operators, service providers, intermediaries, IT administrators, application users - secure access to computing resources, the cloud infrastructure must provide for the possibility of self-management and delegation of authority.

The concept of cloud computing has significantly changed the traditional approach to application delivery, management and integration. Compared to the traditional approach, cloud computing allows you to manage larger infrastructures, service various groups users within the same cloud, and also mean complete dependence on the cloud service provider. However, this dependence is such only in theory, because if the provider company allows even one precedent of information theft, this will be a colossal blow to the entire industry of providing remote capacity.

Cloud computing is an effective tool for increasing profits and expanding sales channels for independent software vendors (ISVs), telecom operators and VARs (in the form of SaaS). This approach allows for dynamic service delivery, where users can pay as they go and adjust their resources based on actual needs without long-term commitments.

For hosts, cloud computing offers enormous growth potential. The cloud computing industry is growing rapidly and, according to analysts, by 2012 it will account for 9% of all IT spending. In addition, the industry's focus is increasingly shifting from hosting to cloud computing and SaaS, and your customers will likely expect you to move in that direction.

The main advantage of using clouds is that the end user does not need to have a powerful system, which clearly leads to a significant reduction in costs for the user. The second advantage is the impossibility of using pirated content, because all incoming traffic will come from certified providers. In this way, one of the most global problems of computer modernity can be solved - piracy.

According to Parallels, in the next 5-10 years the majority of IT will move to the clouds of the five various types. There will be proprietary platform clouds providing various platform services - Google (type 1), Microsoft (type 2) and other large IT players (type 3) such as IBM, Apple, HP and Amazon.

There will be service clouds (type 4), where thousands of cloud providers are expected to emerge offering a wide range of services. Examples include web and application hosting, vertically integrated entities (government, healthcare, etc.), ISVs (strategic business development, customer support systems, etc.), telecommunications services ( voice mail, VOIP). Finally, there will be clouds managed by enterprise IT (Type 5), which will provide services for internal use and for use by employees and partners.

Platform clouds

Type2: Microsoft Cloud

Type3: Other clouds (for example, IBM and Apple - Amazon, Facebook, Adobe and others)

Service clouds

Type4: Cloud service providers - telecom operators, web hosts, ISV, SaaS

Type5: Internal clouds of large companies (Fortune 1000)

With today's level of competition in the IT market, the key to success is the transition to the fifth type of cloud or attracting third party resources for transition to the fourth type. To solve this problem, Parallels creates solutions, ecosystems and establishes partnerships with service providers and companies to build an effective infrastructure for providing cloud services. In addition, Parallels continues to develop its SaaS business to enable ISVs and service providers to deliver SaaS applications that meet modern standards industry.

2.SaaS technologies

(Software as a Service) is a model for using business applications as Internet services. Applications run on the server of a SaaS provider, and users access them through an Internet browser. The user does not buy a SaaS application, but rents it - pays a certain amount per month for its use. In this way, an economic effect is achieved, which is considered one of the main advantages of SaaS. The provider takes care of the performance of the application, carries out technical support users, installs updates independently. Thus, the user thinks less about the technical side of the issue and focuses on his business goals.

The main advantages of SaaS over traditional software:

· lower cost of ownership.

· shorter implementation times.

· low entry threshold (you can test it quickly and for free).

· the tasks of maintaining and updating the system fall entirely on the shoulders of the SaaS provider.

· full user mobility, limited only by “Internet coverage”.

· support for geographically distributed companies and remote employees.

· low power requirements for the user's computer.

· Cross-platform.

The disadvantages of SaaS are the insecurity of transferring commercial data to a third-party provider, low performance and unreliable access due to interruptions in the Internet.

Alternative technologies to SaaS have emerged. They represent intermediate options for the transition from traditional software to SaaS, and are likely to disappear soon.

· S+S is an alternative brand promoted by Microsoft, which differs from SaaS in that the user's computer does not use a browser, but a software client.

3.Practice of using cloud technologies

In 2011, WINDOWS AZURE was announced as a commercial system. Like a traditional OS, WINDOWS AZURE allows you to run applications and store data, but this does not happen on the user’s computer, but in computing clouds.

The WINDOWS AZURE operating system is part of the Windows Azure Platform, a group of cloud technologies for software development that includes the following elements:

· WINDOWS AZURE provides a Windows environment for running the application and storing data in Microsoft data centers

· SQL Azure provides relational databases based on SQL Server. Data can be stored both in the cloud and within the walls of the enterprise, however, interacting with WINDOWS applications AZURE

· Windows Azure Platform AppFabric connects applications running in both cloud and traditional environments, enabling secure data transfer.

Despite the similarity of names, the concepts fabric and AppFabric are not at all the same thing. The first refers to the connection of physical machines within a cloud OS, the second refers to the connection of applications running in different environments.

Directly operating system WINDOWS AZURE also consists of several interconnected parts: Compute Service, Storage Service and Fabric.Service is responsible for computing. The main purpose of a cloud platform is to provide support for an application running by a huge number of users at the same time. WINDOWS AZURE supports multiple copies of the same code on different physical servers. In turn, the application can work in several versions at once on several virtual machines, each of which is provided by a hypervisor based on Hyper-V, modified for use in the clouds.

There are two types of working versions cloud application: Web role and Worker role. The first one can process HTTP or HTTPS requests, and its virtual machine (VM) runs the Internet Information Services (IIS) server. The programmer has the opportunity to create a version of the web role using ASP.NET or Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), as well as use any other .NET technology that works with IIS. The application can be created in any programming language.

In contrast, the worker role does not involve running IIS. She performs tasks in background. For example, a web role could be used to receive a request from a user. But its processing will be started later using the worker role version.Service provides data storage. WINDOWS AZURE OS supports three ways to work with data. The simplest of them is a BLOB containing binary data with a simple hierarchy. This type of information organization is designed to store images, audio and video, i.e. for large volume use. When it is necessary to structure data of the same type, they resort to tables, where for each unit of information there is a row number and a column number. A table in Storage Service is not relational. Its simple organization allows you to access data through ADO.NET methods. In this form, the cloud OS distributes data storage across several physical computers, which is more efficient than using a relational database.

The considered methods provide data storage and access to it, and to communicate them, a third method, called a “queue,” is required. The principle of organizing data into a queue is based on the following: “First in, first out.” This method helps different versions applications exchange messages with each other. This links the web role and the worker role, since synchronization in the cloud is not possible. Let's say a user calls a task through a web interface that requires significant computing power. The web role writes the received request to a queue. The worker role, accessing this queue, accepts the request and executes it. The execution results (response) are transmitted according to the same principle, through a queue. Regardless of the method of data organization, information in WINDOWS AZURE Storage is replicated 3 times, which ensures system stability: data loss in one of the copies is not fatal. In addition, there are archived copies stored in another Microsoft data center. This means that even if the entire data center is destroyed, information will be retrieved and restored from the archives of another center.

The last component of the OS - Fabric - allows you to organize a set of computers on which applications and WINDOWS data AZURE. This “computer fabric” is controlled by software called a fabric controller. Fabric monitors all running applications, manages interaction with the OS on different VMs, and selects physical server to run the application, thereby optimizing hardware utilization. Applications are managed using configuration files that contain an XML description of everything the application needs, such as the required number of virtual machines with web roles and worker roles. Fabric controller creates these virtual machines and monitors the status of each of them in order, if necessary, to replace the failed one or run it on another physical server.

WINDOWS AZURE components allow you to build applications different types. Thus, to create a scalable Internet application, a programmer only needs to use the required number of web roles, storing data in tables. And for a parallel computing application, you will need a web role, a queue to store requests, the required number of worker roles, and tables (or BLOBs) to store data. In turn, SQL Azure and AppFabric make it possible to connect WINDOWS solutions AZURE with programs and databases operating within a local network or with cloud systems of other providers.

Applications built on WINDOWS based AZURE are provided as a service to individuals, corporate users, or both at the same time. Here are pricing examples for some Microsoft cloud services:

· computing power - $0.12/hour

· data storage per month - $0.15/GB

· data transactions - $0.01/10 KB

· data download - $0.10/GB

· data download - $0.15/GB

WITH using WINDOWS AZURE an independent software developer can create applications for business users using software-as-a-service principles.

Therefore, it was decided to transfer the previously developed software under the roof of WINDOWS AZURE. As a result, 28 virtual servers with Azure and 20 SQL Azure (10 GB each) were required. By paying as you go, Alinean has achieved a 60% reduction in maintenance costs compared to the previous traditional model. In addition, management estimates the ratio of average increase in profit to investment (ROI - Return On Investment) in WINDOWS AZURE at 160?% compared to investments in the previous configuration (100?%).

Thanks to its scalability, WINDOWS AZURE allows you to keep track of a huge number of users. By creating a cloud solution, the development company can count not only on corporations, but also on individuals. Such an application was made by the New Zealand company TicketDirect International, which, operating online, carries out 45?% of all ticket sales for cultural and sporting events in New Zealand. Previous, traditional ticketing system, operating on Microsoft SQL Server 7 and SQL Server 2000, was written in Visual Basic 6. The application handled several hundred sales within an hour without any problems. But on sales days, when a discount was announced for attending a popular event, thousands of people tried to “reach out” to the system at the same time. Not surprisingly, the ticket seller's computer park couldn't handle the influx of users. AZURE provided TicketDirect with scalable infrastructure as a pay-as-you-go service. As a result, during sales, the application begins to use additional capacity. Now TicketDirect will no longer need to purchase equipment just to cover temporary surges in activity. There are practically no restrictions. In the clouds, the company is able to cater to several popular events that start their sales at the same minute. WINDOWS AZURE will provide as much power as your business needs.

IN WINDOWS environment AZURE internal applications can be created, the users of which are employees of this enterprise. In this case, scalability is perhaps not so important. But bursts of activity also occur within the company - then it is difficult to overestimate the advantages of cloud computing even within the walls of the enterprise. As an example, let's take the Microsoft company itself, or rather, its department information technologies, where WINDOWS AZURE found its application. As part of its annual giving campaign, IT is holding an online auction to benefit the United Way. Previously, the hardware and software for it were supported all year round, while the event was held for one month only once a year. In addition, at the very end of the auction, there was usually another problem that the technicians faced. Each time at this time there was a surge in activity, and the system became overloaded.

The IT department decided to migrate to cloud computing. WINDOWS AZURE and Microsoft SQL Azure were used for data storage. Now, in the last days of the auction, the IT team programs the system to use more resources to service the increasing flow of requests. When the auction ends, capacity is reduced according to load. The cloud model is ready to serve as many users as needed. Within the huge company that is Microsoft, the system now allows people to raise more money for charity.

The examples given speak about creating systems on demand. But in order to work in the WINDOWS AZURE environment, it is not necessary to program your own application. Now each of us will be able to test the Microsoft cloud OS in action. Based on WINDOWS AZURE within the framework of “live”, working Windows systems Live office applications available upon request. Windows Live allows you to create documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats and store them on virtual disk, in the clouds. Interestingly, the system makes it possible to open an online document on a PC using traditional Microsoft software. In the future, WINDOWS AZURE will go beyond the data centers of its developer and will be installed within the walls of other corporations. Microsoft has announced upcoming collaborations with companies such as Dell, HP and eBay. The latter plans to use a cloud solution based on WINDOWS AZURE, thanks to which subscribers will be able to participate in the usual eBay auction using an iPad.

Conclusion

cloud technology application request

Currently, cloud computing technology is being actively developed and improved. But we are talking about development, not use. At the moment, many are afraid of the very fact that information will be stored by third parties. And although the almost impossibility of data loss or theft has already been proven, few are willing to trust such services. The quality, stability and speed of Internet connections are also insufficient for this period of time, which creates significant difficulties for developers.

When using cloud computing, information technology consumers can significantly reduce capital costs - for the construction of data processing centers, the purchase of server and network equipment, hardware and software solutions to ensure continuity and availability - as these costs are absorbed by the cloud service provider. In addition, the long construction and commissioning time of large information technology infrastructure facilities and their high initial cost limit the ability of consumers to flexibly respond to market demands, while cloud technologies provide the ability to respond almost instantly to increased demand for computing power.

When using cloud computing, consumer costs shift towards operational ones - this is how the costs of paying for the services of cloud providers are classified.

However, despite these significant disadvantages, the advantages of introducing this technology are clear to everyone. After all, this means savings for consumers, the fight against piracy for developers, minimizing IT costs for businesses, and unifying network standards for all users.

List of used literature

1.Bulusov A. IT managers are still avoiding “cloud” technologies. //CNews April 21, 2010

.Makarov S.V. For “Cloud Computing” // Creative Economy. - M:, No. 8, 2010

.Makarov S.V. Socio-economic aspects of cloud computing //Monograph - M.: CEMI RAS, 2010

.Makarov S.V. Loading effect // Creative Economy. - M:, No. 9, 2010

.Chernyak L. Integration is the basis of the cloud. // Open systems. DBMS September 16, 2011