"Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture" provides a clear and structured examination of the paradigm that has redefined how computing resources are provisioned and consumed. The book systematically explores the core service models-Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service-detailing the distinct layers of control and responsibility each offers to users and providers. It further clarifies the essential deployment models, from public and private clouds to hybrid and community configurations, outlining the specific trade-offs in cost, security, and customization each entails. The narrative constructs a detailed picture of the technological pillars that make cloud environments possible. It covers the virtualization technologies that abstract physical hardware, creating pools of flexible compute, storage, and network resources. The text explains the automated management layers, orchestration tools, and expansive data center architectures that enable the cloud's hallmark characteristics: on-demand self-service, rapid elasticity, and measured service. A significant focus rests on the critical design patterns and architectural principles for building resilient, scalable, and secure applications native to the cloud, discussing concepts like multi-tenancy, load balancing, and disaster recovery strategies. This work connects these technical components directly to tangible business and operational outcomes. It shows how cloud models shift capital expenditure to operational expenditure.
Henry Collins navigates the layered architecture of the digital sky. His command of cloud computing extends from its foundational concepts to its most advanced technological implementations and strategic architectures. For Collins, the cloud is not a vague, ethereal storage space, but a precise and powerful operational model-a revolution in how organizations access, deploy, and scale computing power, storage, and applications. Collins excels at mapping the entire cloud ecosystem. He delineates the core service models-Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)-as distinct but interconnected layers of capability, each offering different levels of control and agility. His work further breaks down the deployment models-public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud-framing each as a strategic choice balancing cost, security, compliance, and performance. He presents these not as isolated options, but as pieces of a flexible puzzle that modern enterprises assemble to fit their unique needs. A significant portion of Collins's expertise focuses on the tangible technology enabling this paradigm. He demystifies the virtualized data centers, distributed storage systems, and automated orchestration tools that make cloud environments function. His analysis often centers on architectural design, illustrating how to construct systems that are resilient, scalable, and efficient. He emphasizes principles like elasticity, which allows resources to expand and contract with demand, and redundancy, which ensures continuous operation even during component failures.
Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction to Cloud Computing
Chapter 2. Cloud Computing Architecture
Chapter 3. Virtualization and Container Technologies
Chapter 4. Cloud Service Models and Platforms
Chapter 5. Cloud Storage and Data Management
Chapter 6. Cloud Networking and Security
Chapter 7. Cloud Resource Management and Scheduling
Chapter 8. Cloud Application Development
Chapter 9. Cloud Interoperability, Management, and Governance
Bibliography
Index
$280.00