Understanding what cloud computing on demand is

Cloud computing on demand refers to resources such as applications, processors, and storage being made available to users whenever needed via cloud technology. Thus, organizations can scale resources up or down easily with this model. This article discusses how cloud computing on demand works and the benefits of using it as a delivery model. It also discusses how you can scale your IT infrastructure dynamically with a Parallels® solution.

How does cloud computing on-demand work?

Instead of building their own datacenters or IT infrastructures, more organizations are now choosing to outsource their resource needs to cloud service providers. Typically, they rent computing resources whenever their users demand them. In the process, they avoid the high upfront costs of acquiring datacenter equipment and putting it up in physical locations and the complexity of maintaining such equipment.

More often, cloud service providers offer these services at affordable prices. This is due to the economies of scale derived from offering them to a wide client base. This benefits their customers and further drives up demand for their services.

How does cloud computing provide on-demand functionality?

Computing resources from cloud service providers come in the form of servers, disk storage, networks, network bandwidth, application software, and others. Providers maintain these resources in server pools. In turn, customers distribute resources to their users from these pools.

Most cloud services come with control panels that enable customers to view the services available to them. Distributing to users is done via the control panel when there is a demand for additional computing resources. For example, when users need more storage space and access to an application at the same time, more storage capacity is added, and application licenses are assigned to them. The IT team is often tasked with handling this distribution.

When there is an excess of computing resources, it can be trimmed and scaled down from the control panel. The IT team must keep a close watch on the resources to prevent any excess, leading to higher costs without any accompanying increase in benefits to the organization.

What are the benefits offered by cloud computing on demand?

On-demand cloud computing benefits include:

More efficient utilization of computing resources: Since demand for computing resources may be subject to frequent fluctuations, a common strategy to ensure the ability to meet changing demands is to build up the IT infrastructure, necessitating heavy spending on equipment, staff, and space. With on-demand cloud computing, this does not have to be true anymore.
Better ability to scale resources up or down dynamically: Organizations can put off spending on IT infrastructure requirements since they can just add more resources when there is already a need for them.
Pay-as-you-go computing: With organizations only paying for the resources they are using, there is an immense potential for huge cost savings.

What are the different types of cloud computing services?

Cloud computing services fall into three main types:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): This type replicates the services that today’s typical IT infrastructure provides to corporate networks. Among the types of services that IaaS provides are networking, virtual computing, and storage area networks.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): Seen frequently in development teams, this type decouples your application infrastructure from your organization’s hardware and software. With PaaS, your IT team does not have to maintain the hardware and software that powers your platform. Instead, they can focus on deploying and managing your applications.
Software as a Service (SaaS): This type offers an entire software program to your users. Instead of installing the software on your hardware, your users access them from a central location maintained by the service provider. While this makes software use more convenient, user productivity may suffer if the SaaS suffers an outage.

Cloud computing on demand is here to stay

The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged a rise in demand for cloud computing as organizations looked for ways to handle remote workers effectively. Sized at more than $371 billion in 2020, the cloud computing market is forecasted to reach more than $832.1 billion by 2025, or a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 17.5%. There is already a growing demand for cloud computing jobs as a result.

Monolithic datacenters characterized the corporate IT landscape before the advent of cloud computing. As more organizations realized the benefits they could derive from on-demand cloud computing, there was a corresponding boom in cloud computing. While it is unlikely that datacenters will be phased out eventually, it may happen that someday they will be seen only in industries governed by strict regulatory standards, such as financial services and the military.

Cloud computing on demand helped fuel the rise of trends such as bring your own device (BYOD), which saw organizations allowing their employees to use their preferred platform and device when using company networks.

Parallels RAS scales your infrastructure dynamically with cloud computing on demand

Parallels® RAS is a versatile remote work solution that enables the creation of digital workspaces on either local or cloud servers, or even via a hybrid solution of local and cloud servers. It supports a wide array of cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, as well as Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) based on Windows Server 2008 and up. Popular hypervisors such as Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware ESXi are also supported, as well as hyperconverged solutions such as HPE, Nutanix Acropolis, and Scale Computing HC3.

Parallels RAS is a complete virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution as well. Only with a VDI solution can organizations leverage the advantages of cloud computing and substitute virtual desktops instead of traditional applications and desktops. End users can choose from the locally installed Parallels Client or the HTML5 browser-based Web Client when accessing their applications and desktops on Parallels RAS. The Parallels Client works on desktop platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows, and mobile platforms such as Android and iOS. Both local and web clients come with a simple, user-friendly interface for better employee productivity and efficiency.

Regardless of whether you are using IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS solutions in your IT environment, Parallels RAS can handle them on-premises or via hybrid and/or public clouds. Thus, Parallels RAS can make these solutions accessible from anywhere and using any device. You do not need to compromise your organizational security either, as Parallels RAS comes with innovative features such as advanced filters and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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