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Cloud Glossary of Terms
Cloud Computing Glossary of Terms
A network-based computing model in which computing resources – including software, servers, storage, and other hardware – are treated as a pool of capacity that can be drawn upon on demand via a self-service interface. In public cloud computing, shared resources are bundled into a service and typically sold through a utility-based pricing model.
- Cloud-Oriented Architecture (COA)
IT best practices that streamline cloud computing development and implementation.
- Cloud Portability & Interoperability
A company that delivers public cloud services, including platform, infrastructure, or application services, to enterprises and/or individuals for consumption.
The ability to temporarily offload computing and storage workloads from on-premises infrastructure to a public cloud service in order to meet peaks in demand. See also
Elastic Computing.
A marketing tactic in which a vendor uses the word “cloud” to describe a pre-existing product or service.
A group of multiple computers working in tandem to form an entity that can be treated as a single computer.
A system of computers that improves access to data by placing multiple copies of that data on various nodes of the network so that it can be accessed more efficiently.
- Consumption/Utility-Based Pricing Model
A cost model that charges for hardware or software on a pay-per-use basis or through an owner-renter relationship.
- Data Storage as a Service (DSaaS)
The hours per day a server is performing work (not idle), calculated on the basis of 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. For example, if a server is in use 8 hours per day, every day, then the duty cycle for that server is 8 hours/24 hours, or 33%. A server operating according to an 8x5 workweek (9 a.m. through 8 p.m., Monday through Friday) has a duty cycle of 23.8% (8*5/24*7).
The ability to scale computing and storage resources dynamically to respond to variable demand.
Public, enterprise, or private cloud services that are provided by a third party.
- Hardware as a Service (HaaS)
Application software running on a remote server that users can access over a network. See also
Software as a Service (SaaS).
A cloud computing environment that can selectively host workloads on either private clouds or public clouds depending, on particular business and deployment criteria.
An implementation of a virtual machine in a cloud infrastructure that emulates many of the functions of physical infrastructure (e.g., server) through software. Cloud providers often define an “instance” as a unit of consumable compute capacity. In public clouds, an instance is the purchasable unit of compute capacity. Example: Amazon EC2 – Small Instance.
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
A network-based computing model in which shared physical infrastructure – including servers, storage, and other devices – provides on-demand resources to external hardware.
A private cloud computing environment that delivers services over an organization’s internal network using virtualized servers, network equipment, storage, and software.
- Pay-as-You-Go Pricing Model
The highest percentage of processor resources consumed in a given workload cycle.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Bundled computing resources – including hardware, software, and operating systems – that are delivered as a service over a network.
Cloud services offered through a private internal network to a restricted set of users (i.e., not available to the general public).
Internet-based cloud services available to the general public through a commercial provider.
A public cloud computing environment that third-party providers offer to enterprise users while revealing some details of the underlying platform, so that users gain assurance of acceptable operational conditions (i.e., service levels and security).
- Public/Private Cloud Storage (Data Storage as a Service)
A network-based storage model that provides on-demand resources to external storage hardware.
- Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A negotiated agreement between two parties – customer and provider – that records a common understanding about services, priorities, responsibilities, guarantees, and warranties.
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
Application services that are hosted by a third-party and delivered to end users over the Internet.
Networked storage that is optimized for cloud computing environments through virtualization and other methods.
The percentage of processor resources used during a given cycle.
- Vendor Lock-In/Customer Lock-In/Proprietary Lock-In
A situation in which customers are dependent on a single vendor’s products or services and cannot move to another vendor without incurring substantial switching costs. See also
Cloud Portability & Interoperability.
- Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
A private cloud within a public cloud that is separated by either firewalls or physical means from the general public.
The combination of utilization and duty cycle that uniquely determines the number of compute cycles necessary to complete a defined task.