Cloud Infrastructure

Overview

Cloud Infrastructure can be thought of as building blocks, puzzle pieces, or primitives. They connect together in a variety of ways, predominantly based on their categories, such as Compute or Storage.

Cloud Infrastructure can be categorized several ways. The blog post What is the Cloud? examines the differences between the various super-categories of services: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IAAS), Platform-as-a-Service (PAAS), Software-as-a-Service (SAAS), Function-as-a-Service (FAAS).

There are other ways to break down Cloud Infrastructure. These different categorizations can help to find the best tool for any given task. However, it’s important to first examine the full scope of cloud computing, starting from the global scope.

Categorization: Cloud Infrastructure At Each Level of Scope

The following blog posts already outline Cloud Infrastructure at various Levels of Scope:

• High Level vs Low Level
• Encapsulation

Categorization: Traditional

Below are the predominant categories for Cloud Infrastructure in Cloud Platforms.

Compute

Unless you purchase bare-metal machines, what you’re purchasing (more like renting) is a part of a machine. In the case of Lambda functions, you’re purchasing a part of a machine for a moment in time.

Containers

What is a Container?

Storage

File and object storage.

Database

These are managed database services that take away the overhead of patching and updates to both the DB engine and its underlying OS.

Migration & Transfer

These are tools for migrating applications, databases, and other workloads to the cloud.

Networking & Content Delivery

Includes services for networking such as virtual networks, load balancing, DNS, content delivery networks (CDN), and network security features.

Developer Tools

Tools for CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Delivery), development, and near-realtime analytics.

Management & Governance

Tools for managing cloud resources, cost monitoring, compliance, and governance.

Media Services

Services for processing, storing, and delivering digital media content, including video streaming and encoding.

Machine Learning

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence services, providing tools for model building, training, and deployment.

Analytics

Products for data analytics, data warehousing, big data processing, and business intelligence tools.

Security, Identity, & Compliance

Products for cloud security, identity management, access control, compliance auditing, and encryption.

Application Integration

Products for integrating various applications, data sources, and systems using tools such as message queues.

Internet of Things

Services for connecting, managing, and analyzing data from IoT devices.

Categorization: Consumption Model

On-Demand

Services are billed without long-term commitments using start and stop times.

Reserved Instances

Services are reserved for a specific period with upfront payment for cost savings.

Spot Instances

Services are offered at discounted prices for using excess capacity, using a bidding model.

Serverless

Services are billed without long-term commitments on a per-usage basis.

Next Steps

Next steps might involve learning about these tools in greater depth wherever Cloud Platform training is offered, such as: aws.training. Always remember to start small and simple. Serverless products are always the best for small-scale projects. Once workloads increase, it may make sense to move onto On-Demand, followed by Reserved Instances. Cloud Platforms may have Budget tools to help keep track of costs as they rise alongside complexity. Happy building!

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