What’s Cloud Reference Architecture and what are its benefits? If you want to know all about this, then we are here to help. In this article, you will learn about cloud architecture and its functions…
Due to the leading era of businesses, we need more efficiency and agility to our work. Cloud computing provides all these to your businesses. Different cloud structures like public cloud, private cloud & hybrid cloud control our resources, smoothly access data, which is the need of any fast-growing business.
Now, coming to the Cloud reference architecture, it is the outline or a plan of any Cloud. It gives a description of any cloud to make it more efficient and friendly for the vendors.
Let us briefly understand the cloud computing reference architecture and its aim.
What is Cloud Reference Architecture?
Cloud reference architecture is the description of how to make any cloud highly advanced, user-friendly, and more efficient so that it can easily solve any business problem. The main aim of the cloud reference architecture is to focus on operational complications in cloud computing. It is not about how to make a cloud, but it focuses on what cloud services provide.
Cloud reference architecture defines the relationship between the basic building blocks of a cloud, its components, and their elements which include its software, databases, capabilities, resources, etc. All this gives a reference to make a cloud structure highly liable. This also focuses on providing high bandwidth to the users so that they can easily access data, interchange resources from anywhere. It improves the relationship between the company and servers by providing them,on-demand agile network with the possibility to move quickly. It helps in making a cloud to work efficiently with highly secured features.
Components of Cloud Reference Architecture
The cloud reference architecture works on some key components to work on any cloud model which are:
- Cloud resources
- Software components
- Database
- Software services
- On-premises resources
- Middleware
The functioning of Cloud reference Architecture
The cloud reference architecture is a general idea that works on cloud computing Environment by participating in functioning layers. This gives a three-cross layered function which includes business continuity, security, and service management. The business continuity gives the reliability and smooth functioning of any business with the highly secured cloud computing environment. These are the three main pillars of the cloud reference architecture. Due to the complexities in business nodules, it becomes hard to manage data or services. So the cloud reference architecture focuses on smooth service management and provides agility to the business with security factors so that you can safely store or access sensitive data.
Layers of the cloud computing model
The cloud computing model has four different layers of functioning. These layers only justify the functioning of the Cloud but are an important factor to know about, as they give an idea of the structural blueprint of any cloud.
- Infrastructure
It is the physical layer of the cloud computing model which makes a framework. IAAS (infrastructure as a service) is a foundation layer that includes computing systems, storage devices, operating devices, tools, and also the operating environment.
This is the basic layer of the cloud reference Model which has hardware and network preferences.
- Platform
PAAS (Platform as a service)is the virtual layer of the cloud reference model which provides tools for development and basically focuses on the resources, providing applications on the platform. The most basic examples of the platform are Google app engine & Microsoft Azure. The platform layer ensures the complete development and deployment environment for cloud computing.
- Software
SAAS (Software as a service)forms the third and seems to be the main layer of cloud computing. It should be web-based so that the user can easily access it from any geographical region. It is the information cloud layer that enables access from clients to data. Excluding the network, resources, and tools it focuses on the functioning of applications, tools, and platforms in computing
- Business processing outsource(BPO)
Generally, the fourth layer is not considered as a layer of cloud reference architecture but it includes the business management services. It is always a topic of debate, is it a layer of cloud model or not but it is an important governing part.
Cloud Implementation Models
The three cloud implementation models include public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud.
The private cloud is used by any particular company or a user to access the data without sharing it with other employees and vendors. The public clouds run off-premises and run by any external vendor, it may include one or multiple data centers to access the information and all data accessing is external.
Hybrid cloud forms the linkage between the public and private cloud. It includes the third-party alliances i.e. at least one cloud must be accessed by any third party. It is a mix of on-premises, private & public cloud. The hybrid cloud is more efficient than other clouds as it reduces costs and even saves your time. It improves scalability and control over your data and provides liability which is the need of any fast-growing business. It makes it easy to manage multiple vendors and platforms at a time as it is a highly innovative cloud with a strong cloud reference architecture.
What makes a good reference architecture for cloud computing
A good cloud reference architecture must have a fine framework with a strong base. The infrastructure of the cloud must be chosen wisely, the resources and devices used on the primary layer should be liable. While choosing the network one must be careful. The platform must focus on reducing and solving business problems. The backbone must be strong. The good architecture shows a well functioning, proper base, and the model having elegance, simplicity, and efficiency is the main aim of the cloud reference Model. This improves the time to capability. Also reduces the IT costs related to public, private & hybrid cloud.
Also Read: Google Cloud Vs AWS : Which One Is The Best?
Hence, Cloud computing reference architecture seems to be the blueprint for any cloud to make it more efficient, liable, and easy to use. It is not about the design of any cloud but it focuses on the functioning of a cloud, its database, system management, data accessing, applications, and resources. It shows the relationship between these all.