Digital transformation has fostered the standard of living and commenced the era of smart nation worldwide. Aftermath of the digital transformation was quite awakening and eye-opening for this nation who has seen the devastating effects of pandemic and endured it. Science and Technology have given us golden opportunities to witness this ever-changing decade, where technology comes with its threats and opportunities, the innovators and service providers need to give double assurance with their products and services to enjoy a sustainable demand in the market.

In today’s fast changing era Cloud computing is one of the most demanding technologies which are delightfully reshaping the organizations by storing information and letting the users to access it from anywhere. Cloud technology is that amazeballs of computer science that allows any organization to grow faster, works with agility, and scaling their business upward by increasing the work efficiency of the employees. Cloud computing is an umbrella term used to describe a collection of technologies that allow users to access software applications over the Internet instead of installing them locally on their computers.Owing to this wonderful invention of computer science the digital and virtual world kept moving amidst the growling effects of Pandemic.

Cloud Computing is the need of this hour to be on the Cloud Nine!

Cloud Architecture
Cloud architecture is the pivotal point of building in the cloud. As you need a proper knowledge of civil engineering and architecture to build a structure, the same way, cloud architecture helps by guiding you with the tricks and techniques of incorporating all the materials, while cloud architecture is the blueprint. It is the mechanism by which individual technologies are integrated to create clouds-IT environment that abstract, pool, and share scalable resources across a network. It mainly refers to the layout and connects all the necessary components and technologies required for cloud computing. Cloud Computing is regarded as platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and undoubtedly it is more than just abstracting a computer’s capability that is how providers create and offer cloud infrastructure to users.

Benefits of Cloud Architecture

• Using a full-fledged cloud computing network can offer various benefits compared to on-premises environments. Starting from improved agility and scalability to increase cost efficiency, improve the cyber-security, reduce the service and production cost, improve and update R&D processes, it works seamlessly using Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things.

• Cloud architecture dictates how components are integrated so that you can pool, share, and scale resources over a network. Think of it as a building blueprint for running and deploying applications in cloud environments.

• Advanced system of Cloud can incorporate containerization, orchestration, application programming interfaces (APIs), routing, security, management, and automation software. User experience design (UX) is also important in order to create a navigable online experience. Reduces IT operating costs. Provides high level of reliability and scalability.

• Most clouds also use virtualization to abstract the hardware resources into centrally managed data lakes, while some clouds—known as bare-metal clouds—connect clients directly to hardware. The cloud Architecture puts all the necessary elements at their right place for the best and fittest output.

“I don’t need a hard disk in my computer if I can get to the server faster… carrying around these non-connected computers is byzantine by comparison.” – Steve Jobs

Components of Cloud Architecture
Starting from small to medium and medium to large, every organization is using cloud computing services for storing information and accessing it from anywhere and anytime only with the help of internet.

Basically, Cloud Architecture consists of two different components,

• A frontend platform
• A backend platform
• A cloud-based delivery model
• A network (internet, intranet, or intercloud)

A frontend platform serves as a hub where user interfaces, client-side applications, and the client device or network that enables users to interact with and access cloud computing services. For example, use of a web browser to access the cloud platform. It also provides a GUI( Graphical User Interface ) to interact with the cloud.

Backend Platform refers to the cloud itself which is used by the service provider. It contains the resources as well as manages the resources and provides security mechanisms. Along with this, it includes huge storage, virtual applications, virtual machines, traffic control mechanisms, deployment models, etc.
Important parts of Backend are-

• Application: Here the client is accessing from the front end to coordinate or fulfill client requests and requirements.

• Service: It refers to the major three types of cloud based services like SaaS, PaaS and IaaS. Also manages which type of service the user accesses. This system also identifies which system the client is accessing.

• Runtime Cloud: It provides the execution and Runtime platform/environment to the Virtual machine.

• Storage: This is the part where data to operate applications is stored. While cloud storage options vary by provider, most cloud service providers offer flexible scalable storage services that are designed to store and manage vast amounts of data in the cloud. Storage may include hard drives, solid-state drives, or persistent disks in server bays.

• Infrastructure: It is the most commonly known component of cloud architecture. In fact, you might have thought that cloud infrastructure is cloud architecture. It consists of all the major hardware components that power cloud services, including the CPU, graphics processing unit (GPU), network devices, and other hardware components needed for systems to run smoothly and efficiently. Infrastructure also refers to all the software needed to run and manage everything. Side by side Cloud architecture dictates and co-ordinates how cloud resources and infrastructure is organized.

• Management: Cloud service models require an efficient mechanism which can manage the resources in real time according to user requirements. It is essential to use management software, also known as middleware, to coordinate communication between the backend and frontend cloud architecture components and allocate resources for specific tasks. Beyond middleware, management software will also include capabilities for usage monitoring, data integration, application deployment, and disaster recovery.

• Security: This system in backend refers to implementation of different security mechanisms for securing cloud resources, systems, files, and infrastructure to end-user. It plays the pivotal role to plan and design data security and network security to provide visibility, prevent data loss and downtime, and ensure redundancy. This may include regular backups, debugging, and virtual firewalls.

• Database: It refers to provide database for storing structured data, such as SQL and NOSQL databases. Example of Databases services includes Amazon RDS, Microsoft Azure SQL database and Google CLoud SQL.

• Networking: It offers networking infrastructure for application in the cloud, such as load balancing, DNS and virtual private networks.

• Analytics: This system provides analytics capabilities for data in the cloud, such as warehousing, business intelligence and machine learning.

If you’re with a cloud, Be loud!! The sky is the limit for you!!

Types of Cloud architecture

• Public cloud architecture: Where the end users can be redistributed to other tenants.

• Private cloud architecture: Where it is used within the user’s firewall and sometimes on premise.

• Hybrid cloud architecture: Multiple cloud environments with some degree of workload portability, orchestration, and management among them.

• Multicloud architecture: An IT system that includes more than 1 cloud—public or private—that may or may not be networked together.

Working Procedure of Cloud Architecture
A common network connects the components of frontend and backend cloud architecture. Whenever these two components interact front end sends queries to the back end by using middleware where the service model carries out the specific task or request. The services which are available to use may vary depending on the cloud-based delivery model or service model chosen. The models of cloud computing are Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS), Software as a service (SaaS).

Cloud Architecture works using different layers placed on top of each other to create a cloud platform. Such layers are-

• Hardware: The servers, storage, network devices, and other hardware that power the cloud.

• Virtualization: An abstraction layer that creates a virtual representation of physical computing and storage resources. This allows multiple applications to use the same resources.

• Application & Service: This layer coordinates and supports requests from the frontend user interface, offering different services based on the cloud service model, from resource allocation to application development tools to web-based applications.

Future Outlook
As we are heading towards GenX, we are getting aware of more new technologies and techniques which are making us dumbstruck at moments. The invention of cloud is one of the golden feathers which are enlightening the world silently but effectively. With each passing day, cloud strategies will continue to become more complex, the skills and expertise of cloud architects are becoming more vital for helping companies to navigate the complexities of cloud environments, implement successful strategies, and keep cloud systems running smoothly. Here a cloud architect who is a qualified and expert IT professional can help to develop, implement and manage the organization.

The global cloud consulting market achieved to grow $405.65billion in 2021 is it will further grow to $480.04billion in 2022 and $1712.44 billion by 2029 with a healthy CAGR of 19.9%. Top 5 companies which are using Cloud computing Architecture are IBM, Amazon, Google Cloud, Microsoft, & Oracle. According to the market forecast report, the public cloud market will likely grow 6.4% in 2020 to reach $242.7 billion. Several recent corporate reports revealed that 42% of their cloud-related budgets are going to SaaS initiatives. After all such innovative evolutions, we have to think about its safety measures so that corporate data cannot go in the hands of cyber-rogues and anti-socials who are always waiting with their sharp paws and cunning brains.

The cloud is in our DNA!! Lean on the shoulder of cloud for an efficiently better tomorrow!!