The Evolution of Cloud Services

Wondering how cloud services have evolved over decades? And how can you benefit from them?

Cloud services have come a long way since their inception in the mid-1940s. From distributed servers to virtual computing systems, the concept of cloud computing has evolved rapidly over the past decade.

This not only led to an explosion of new services and capabilities but has also opened new ways for businesses to grow.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a model of delivering computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet with the ability to scale up or down as needed.

It allows organizations to access and manage IT resources without the need for building and maintaining their own data centers, making it a cost-effective and flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.

How Cloud Computing Works?

There are two sub-systems involved in the working of a cloud computing system.

• Front-end: It enables the user to access the stored data using an internet browser.
• Backend: The superstar of cloud computing, the backend is responsible for everything that happens at the frontend. The central server works through a set of protocols to facilitate operations. For this, the server uses software and middleware to ensure seamless connectivity between devices linked via the cloud.

Additionally, a cloud services provider will also make sure that the computing system maintains multiple copies of data to avoid security threats, data loss, data breaches, etc.

The Evolution of Cloud Services

The origins of cloud computing can be traced back to the mid-1940s and 1950, which led to the development of various cloud service types.

Here are some of the major services that led to the development of cloud services.

1. ENIAC

Early mainframes like the ENIAC were the first to introduce the concept of shared and expensive machines capable of performing computations mechanically.

The Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer (ENIAC) was built during World War II to calculate artillery firing tables for the United States Army’s Ballistic Research Laboratory. The machine was built using vacuum tubes and was capable of performing complex mathematical calculations at a speed that was much faster than any previous machine.

2. Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET)

In the 1960s, J.C.R Licklider proposed an interconnected system of computers, which was developed into the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), a precursor to the internet.

It was the first network to implement the TCP/IP protocol, which remains the foundation of the modern internet. ARPANET was created to connect researchers from different locations, allowing them to share information and resources. It was the first time that digital data was shared between remote computers.

3. Virtual Machine (VM) Operating System

Through the release of IBM’s Virtual Machine (VM) operating system in 1972, the creation of virtual private networks used by businesses was made possible.

It enabled the creation of a virtual computer that operates just like a physical one, allowing multiple operating systems to run simultaneously on a single physical machine. This technology enabled businesses to use virtual private networks.

4. Salesforce

Salesforce, founded in 1999, was the first company to offer a software-as-a-service (SaaS) over the internet. Its customer relationship management (CRM) platform allows businesses to manage their sales, customer service, and marketing efforts in a centralized and accessible way.

It revolutionized the way businesses operate, making enterprise-grade software accessible to companies of all sizes and enabling them to focus on their core activities.

5. A Few Other Milestones

With the development of technology, and following Salesforce’s example, many other cloud-based services launched. Two of the major ones being:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) allows customers to rent virtual services like storage, networking, and databases, for their data and applications.
• Microsoft Azure is designed to provide a comprehensive set of services for businesses of all sizes. Some of the cloud services in Azure include services for AI, IoT, and machine learning, helping businesses develop, test, and deploy applications.

Wrapping Up

Today, cloud computing continues to be a booming industry with advancements in areas such as edge computing, the internet of things, and machine learning, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and providing new and improved solutions for critical problems.

There is no better time to jump on the bandwagon. Connect with an expert today and explore the various services for cloud computing.