THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC IDAH, KOGI STATE

SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY,
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE

A SEMINAR PROPOSAL
ON
CLOUD COMPUTING

SUBMITTED BY:
NOAH IDOKO EMMANUEL
FPI/ND/COM/22/064

SUPERVISOR: MR. UGWU KINGSLEY

ABSTRACT

Cloud computing has become a cornerstone of modern information technology, providing

scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions for data storage, processing, and access. This
seminar paper delves into the core concepts, benefits, challenges, and future trends of cloud
computing. The analysis reveals that while cloud computing offers substantial advantages such
as scalability and cost efficiency, it also presents challenges including security concerns and
vendor lock-in. Furthermore, emerging trends like edge computing and serverless architectures
promise to further enhance the capabilities of cloud computing. This paper aims to provide a
comprehensive understanding of cloud computing, its current state, and its future potential.

Keywords: Cloud computing, scalability, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a

Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), data security, serverless computing, hybrid clouds.

INTRODUCTION

The advent of cloud computing has revolutionized the landscape of information technology by
enabling on-demand access to computing resources and services over the internet. This paradigm
shift has allowed organizations to move away from traditional on-premises infrastructure to more
scalable and flexible cloud-based solutions. The widespread adoption of cloud computing is
driven by its ability to provide infrastructure, platforms, and software as services, which can be
accessed from anywhere with an internet connection (Goyal, 2020).

Cloud computing is categorized into three main service models: Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Each of these models
offers distinct functionalities and benefits, catering to various business needs. As businesses
increasingly rely on cloud services, understanding the benefits and challenges associated with
cloud computing becomes crucial (IBM, n.d.).

This paper explores the fundamental concepts of cloud computing, its benefits and challenges,
and future trends that are shaping the evolution of this technology. By examining these aspects,

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this paper aims to provide a thorough understanding of cloud computing and its implications for
businesses and individuals alike.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

Aim

The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of cloud computing, exploring its
core concepts, benefits and challenges.

Objectives

1. To explain the fundamental concepts of cloud computing.

2. To identify and analyze the benefits of cloud computing.
3. To examine the challenges associated with cloud computing.

LITERATURE REVIEW

Concept of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the use of hosted services, such as data storage, servers, databases,
networking, and software over the internet. The data is stored on physical servers, which are
maintained by a cloud service provider. Computer system resources, especially data storage and
computing power, are available on-demand, without direct management by the user in cloud
computing (Jain and Chana, 2016).

Figure 1: Cloud Computing Architecture

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Instead of storing files on a storage device or hard drive, a user can save them on cloud, making
it possible to access the files from anywhere, as long as they have access to the web. The services
hosted on cloud can be broadly divided into infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-
service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS). Based on the deployment model, cloud can
also be classified as public, private, and hybrid cloud.

Further, cloud can be divided into two different layers, namely, front-end and back-end. The
layer with which users interact is called the front-end layer. This layer enables a user to access
the data that has been stored in cloud through cloud computing software.

The layer made up of software and hardware, i.e., the computers, servers, central servers, and
databases, is the back-end layer. This layer is the primary component of cloud and is entirely
responsible for storing information securely. To ensure seamless connectivity between devices
linked via cloud computing, the central servers use a software called middlewareOpens a new
window that acts as a bridge between the database and applications.

Types of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing can either be classified based on the deployment model or the type of service.
Based on the specific deployment model, we can classify cloud as public, private, and hybrid
cloud. At the same time, it can be classified as infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-
service (PaaS), and software-as-a-service (SaaS) based on the service the cloud model offers.

Figure 2: Types of Cloud Computing

 Private cloud: In a private cloud, the computing services are offered over a private IT
network for the dedicated use of a single organization. Also termed internal, enterprise, or
corporate cloud, a private cloud is usually managed via internal resources and is not
accessible to anyone outside the organization. Private cloud computing provides all the

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 benefits of a public cloud, such as self-service, scalability, and elasticity, along with
additional control, security, and customization.
 Public cloud: Public cloud refers to computing services offered by third-party providers
over the internet. Unlike private cloud, the services on public cloud are available to
anyone who wants to use or purchase them. These services could be free or sold on-
demand, where users only have to pay per usage for the CPU cycles, storage, or
bandwidth they consume.
 Hybrid cloud: Hybrid cloud uses a combination of public and private cloud features. The
“best of both worlds” cloud model allows a shift of workloads between private and public
clouds as the computing and cost requirements change. When the demand for computing
and processing fluctuates, hybrid cloudOpens a new window allows businesses to scale
their on-premises infrastructure up to the public cloud to handle the overflow while
ensuring that no third-party data centers have access to their data.
 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): Infrastructure as a service or IaaS is a type of cloud
computing in which a service provider is responsible for providing servers, storage, and
networking over a virtual interface. In this service, the user doesn’t need to manage the
cloud infrastructure but has control over the storage, operating systems, and deployed
applications.
 Platform as a service (PaaS): Platform as a service or PaaS is a type of cloud computing
that provides a development and deployment environment in cloud that allows users to
develop and run applications without the complexity of building or maintaining the
infrastructure. It provides users with resources to develop cloud-based applications. In
this type of service, a user purchases the resources from a vendor on a pay-as-you-go
basis and can access them over a secure connection.
 Software as a service (SaaS): SaaS or software as a service allows users to access a
vendor’s software on cloud on a subscription basis. In this type of cloud computing, users
don’t need to install or download applications on their local devices. Instead, the
applications are located on a remote cloud network that can be directly accessed through
the web or an API (Chou, 2016).

Key Benefits of Cloud Computing

The most important reason why cloud computing is growing rapidly is the various benefits it
offers. It saves businesses the time and resources required to set up full-fledged physical IT
infrastructure. Let’s look at all the benefits cloud offers:

 Reduced costs: Maintaining IT systems requires big outlays of capital, something that
cloud helps reduce. By using the resources provided by the cloud provider, businesses
avoid the need to purchase expensive infrastructure, substantially reducing their
expenditure. Cloud providers work on the pay-as-you-go model, which means businesses
only pay for the services they use, further reducing costs.
 Scalability: Cloud allows organizations to grow their users from merely a few to
thousands in a very short time. Depending on the need, a business can scale their storage
needs up or down, allowing organizations to be flexible.
 Flexibility and collaboration: Since the data on cloud can be accessed directly via the
internet, it gives employees the ability to work from anywhere, anytime. Cloud gives you

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 the freedom to set up your virtual office anywhere you are. It also allows teams to work
on a project across locations by giving them access to the same files as third-party
vendors.
 Business continuity: Cloud safely stores and protects your data in the event of an outage
or crisis. This makes it easier to resume work once the systems are up and running again.

Challenges of Cloud Computing

The biggest challenge of cloud computing is the security concerns associated with the
technology. Although cloud service providers assure you of implementing the best security
standards and industry certifications, there’s always a risk while storing your data on cloud.

 Downtime: Almost every cloud user will tell you that outages tops their list of cloud
computing challengesOpens a new window. At times, cloud service providers may get
overwhelmed due to the huge number of clients they provide services to each day. This
may lead to technical outages, due to which your applications may temporarily
experience some downtime.
 Internet connection dependency: A user may not be able to access the data on cloud
without a good internet connection and a compatible device. Moreover, using public Wi-
Fi to access your files could pose a threat if the right security measures are not taken.
 Financial commitment: Cloud providers use a pay-as-you-go pricing model. However,
businesses need to give a monthly or annual financial commitment for most subscription
plans. This needs to be factored into their operating costs.

CONCLUSION

Cloud computing brought about a 360-degree shift for IT. The future of cloud will bring better
ways to build products and services, serve customers, and make discoveries. Business leaders
who embrace the potential of cloud computing are sure to gain a competitive edge in this
changing landscape – in the tools and software they choose, the cultures they create, or the
business strategies they execute.

REFERENCES

"Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)". Gartner IT Glossary. Gartner. Archived from the
original on 2015-07-29. Retrieved 2015-07-20.
Chou, Timothy. Introduction to Cloud Computing: Business & Technology. Archived from the
original on 2016-05-05. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
Goyal, D. (2020). Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture. Cambridge
University Press.

IBM. (n.d.). What is Cloud Computing? Retrieved from https://www.ibm.com/cloud/learn/what-

is-cloud-computing

Jain, A., & Chana, I. (2016). Cloud Computing: Concepts and Practices. CRC Press.