Question: Cloud Services Public, Private, Hybrid, and Personal Clouds (IaaS) When deciding how to host data and apps on the cloud, companies often choose between sharing a server on the cloud with other organizations, configuring a dedicated server on the cloud, or using both options. Companies must consider the type of data involved and the level of security required to keep it safe. Public, private, and hybrid clouds are examples of IaaS (infrastructure as a service), a service of cloud computing that uses a provider's hardware to manage, store and access files and apps over the Internet. On a public cloud, several companies store data or apps on the same physical server on the cloud. On a private cloud, a company has its own servers in the cloud to host its apps and data. On a hybrid cloud, organizations may host confidential data on a private cloud and rely on a public cloud for information that does not require such a high degree of security. Individual users may set up a personal cloud by purchasing a networked hard drive. A networked hard drive connects directly to a router, providing access to its files over the Internet. This is a useful solution for having access to files from several devices.
Research This: (1) Use a search engine to find IaaS providers that offer public, private, and hybrid cloud solutions. Summarize the different solutions they provide.
(2) Under what circumstances might an individual or enterprise set up a public, private, or hybrid cloud?
(3) Research networked hard drive models from different manufacturers. Compare their costs, storage sizes, and additional features to consider when creating a personal cloud.
(4) When might you create a personal cloud instead of using a cloud storage provider?