Salesforce Tutorial: What is Cloud Computing?

Since its inception in early 1999, Salesforce has been a firm believer in the power of cloud computing. In fact, it’s one of the leading technologies that drove the popularity of the cloud to the next level in the past two decades. 

Today, we can’t complete any discussion about Salesforce without fully understanding what cloud computing is and how it works. So, in the second part of our Salesforce tutorial series, we will give you a complete overview of cloud computing and its role in the Salesforce platform. Why wait any longer, then? Let’s get started.

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The world before the cloud

Before cloud computing became popular in the technology world, businesses had to rely on on-premise resources to host their software solutions. It included purchasing a complete array of hardware and software infrastructure from servers, storage space, networking devices, and operating systems to applications. And they had to seek the services of technical experts for the installation and maintenance of these on-premise infrastructures.

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The whole process required a huge upfront investment from companies wanting to run their own software solutions. Even then, the system took months to set up before finally being available for use. And scaling up the system required going through the entire process again, spending loads of money and time. With the high price tag attached to it, only large-scale businesses could afford to run sophisticated software to support their operations.

When Salesforce launched its “No software” campaign in early 2000, not many believed it’d be able to take on on-premise technology giants like Oracle or SAP. But now, two decades later, businesses can’t even imagine a future without the cloud playing a significant role in their technology solutions. The reason for this surging popularity of the cloud was, of course, the answers it provided to the limitations of the on-premise model.

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What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computing resources as a service. In this model, instead of purchasing and setting up computer hardware and software on-premise, the end-user rents them from a third party who owns and manages the resources for an agreed fee. And the only thing the end-user should own to connect to this remote software environment is a stable internet connection.

Businesses don’t have to worry about purchasing, installing, or maintaining servers, storage space, networking devices, or software licenses with the cloud computing model. While the cloud service provider takes care of the infrastructure on their end, the business can simply start running their applications with minimal setup time and no upfront investment.

Compared to on-premise solutions, moving to the cloud can significantly reduce setup and operational costs because you only have to pay for the resources you use. You don’t have to bear system maintenance and upgrading costs and pay for the services of technical experts. These factors reduce the risks of introducing new software solutions—especially for small businesses—and make scaling up its operations as simple as signing up for additional services.

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Public Cloud vs Other Cloud Environments

When it comes to cloud computing, “public cloud” is a term that you’d come across often. What is public cloud? And how does it compare to the concept of cloud we discussed so far?

In public cloud, its users share computing resources like servers and storage. Even though the resources are shared, the service provider ensures that users cannot access data stored and processed by another user under any circumstance. This sharing of resources allows vendors to offer their services at reduced costs. And it makes the public cloud more affordable to end-users than the alternatives.

As opposed to the public cloud, the private cloud provides resources reserved for a single user, giving them more control over system settings and guaranteeing a higher level of security. This makes the private cloud more expensive than the public cloud. There are also cloud solutions that combine both private and public clouds to offer hybrid and multi-cloud solutions. 

Salesforce, since its beginning, has operated as a public cloud platform to make it more affordable and accessible to all types of users.

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Different types of cloud services

We can divide cloud computing services delivered today into three main types. They are:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)

This categorization depends on the types of resources cloud vendors supply to the users. The resources provided by each service don’t have a clear-cut difference, and it leaves room for overlaps between the three of them. 

We can think of these services as the “stack” of cloud computing. This idea is derived from the fact that these cloud services build on top of one another. PaaS introduces modifications to the environment already created by IaaS, which is at the base level. Then, SaaS further improves PaaS to complete the stack of cloud computing.

Let’s talk about these three types of cloud services in more detail. 

Infrastructure as a Service

IaaS refers to the type of cloud services that deliver computer infrastructures, like servers, storage, networking devices, and operating systems, on-demand. For example, if we want to host a website on the cloud, IaaS is the type of service we have to rely upon. Google Compute Engine, AWS EC2, and Microsoft Azure are some examples of IaaS platforms.

Platform as a Service

PaaS builds on top of IaaS to provide not only basic hardware infrastructure but also required applications for developing, testing, delivering, and managing software. It saves developers from the hassle of setting up a development environment from scratch when they want to build new programs. Salesforce Platform, Salesforce’s app development environment, is an excellent example of a PaaS. Other examples include Google App Engine and Heroku.

Software as a Service

SaaS takes cloud services another step forward and delivers complete applications hosted and run on third-party infrastructure, which end-users can start using without additional installation or configuration. Gmail, Google Docs, and Office 365 are examples of SaaS platforms we’re most familiar with. When it comes to Salesforce, most of its products, including Sales Cloud and Marketing Cloud, are SaaS programs.

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Benefits of Cloud Computing

In this section, let’s discuss some of the main benefits of cloud computing over on-premise solutions. 

• Reduced installation and operational costs: As we rent computing resources from a third party with a pay-as-you-go pricing scheme, the cloud model eliminates the huge upfront investment required by on-premise solutions. And it reduces operational costs by charging only for the resources we use.
• Easily scalable: With the cloud, scaling up your software solutions is only a matter of subscribing to more resources. And the entire process takes only minutes—not days like a traditional on-premise system. If you want to scale down the solution after a while, again, you only have to unsubscribe from a portion of the resources you use.
• Access to the latest technology and component upgrades: As cloud vendors take care of system maintenance and management, they regularly carry out system and technology upgrades. And as end-users of the system, you instantly get access to these upgraded technologies without any effort from your end.
• Easily accessible: Cloud services are easily accessible to anyone from anywhere in the world as long as they have a stable internet connection. But if we were to implement a similar system with on-premise solutions, it’d take a huge amount of money and technical expertise that most businesses can’t afford.

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Frequently Asked questions (FAQs)

1. What is cloud computing, and how does it work?

Cloud computing is the delivery of various computing services such as storage, processing power, networking, databases, and software over the internet, often referred to as “the cloud.” Instead of relying on local servers or personal devices to handle these tasks, cloud computing allows businesses and individuals to access and use computing resources remotely through the internet. This eliminates the need to invest in and maintain physical hardware. Cloud computing works by leveraging a network of remote servers hosted on the internet to store, manage, and process data, allowing users to access applications, services, and files from any device with internet access.

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2. What are the different types of cloud deployment models?

There are three main types of cloud deployment models: Public Cloud, Private Cloud, and Hybrid Cloud. The Public Cloud is owned and operated by third-party providers and offers resources like servers and storage over the internet. It is a cost-effective solution for organizations that don’t require extensive customization or control over their infrastructure. Private Cloud, on the other hand, is used exclusively by a single organization. It provides more control, privacy, and security but comes at a higher cost, as the infrastructure is either managed in-house or hosted by a third-party provider. Finally, Hybrid Cloud is a combination of both public and private clouds, allowing organizations to leverage the benefits of both models by running critical workloads in a private cloud while using the public cloud for less sensitive data.

3. How is cloud computing different from traditional on-premise computing?

Cloud computing differs from traditional on-premise computing primarily in terms of infrastructure, accessibility, and cost. In traditional on-premise computing, businesses own and maintain their own physical servers, data centers, and networking equipment. This requires significant upfront capital investment, ongoing maintenance costs, and a dedicated IT team to manage the infrastructure. In contrast, cloud computing relies on remote servers and services provided by third-party vendors, eliminating the need for businesses to invest in their own infrastructure. Cloud computing also offers greater accessibility, as users can access services and data from anywhere with an internet connection, whereas on-premise systems often require physical access or VPN connections.

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4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing?

The primary advantages of cloud computing include scalability, cost efficiency, flexibility, and accessibility. Organizations can easily scale up or down their computing resources based on demand, which is particularly useful for businesses with fluctuating workloads. Cloud computing eliminates the need for large upfront investments in infrastructure and reduces ongoing maintenance costs, as resources are provided by third-party vendors. Additionally, users can access cloud services from anywhere with an internet connection, making it ideal for remote work and global teams. However, disadvantages include potential security risks, limited control over infrastructure, and dependence on internet connectivity. Organizations must also consider potential downtime or service outages from cloud providers.

5. What are the major cloud service providers in the market today?

The major cloud service providers in the market today include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). AWS is the largest and most widely used cloud platform, offering a vast range of services including computing power, storage, and machine learning. Microsoft Azure is known for its integration with Microsoft products like Office 365 and strong support for hybrid cloud solutions. Google Cloud Platform is recognized for its data analytics and machine learning capabilities. Other significant providers include IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud, each offering unique services tailored to different industries and use cases.

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6. What is the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in cloud computing?

In cloud computing, IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service) are different service models that offer varying levels of control and management. IaaS provides the basic infrastructure, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking, allowing businesses to rent computing resources on demand without managing the physical hardware. Users have control over the operating systems and applications, but the cloud provider handles the hardware and infrastructure. PaaS, on the other hand, offers a platform for developers to build, test, and deploy applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. The provider manages everything from servers and storage to runtime environments. Finally, SaaS delivers fully functional software applications over the internet, such as email services, CRM systems, or office suites. The provider manages everything, including infrastructure, platform, and software updates, leaving users with only the task of using the application.

7. How does cloud security work, and what are the best practices for ensuring data safety?

Cloud security involves a combination of policies, technologies, and controls designed to protect data, applications, and services in the cloud from cyber threats. Cloud providers implement security measures such as encryption, firewalls, multi-factor authentication, and intrusion detection systems to safeguard data stored on their servers. However, responsibility for security is shared between the provider and the customer, depending on the cloud service model (IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS). Best practices for ensuring data safety include using strong encryption for data in transit and at rest, implementing strict access controls, regularly updating security patches, conducting regular security audits, and ensuring that cloud vendors comply with industry standards like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.

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8. What are the most common use cases for cloud computing?

Cloud computing is used in a wide range of industries and applications due to its flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. Common use cases include data storage and backup, where businesses rely on the cloud to store and protect their data offsite. Web hosting and content delivery are also popular, with websites, apps, and media being hosted on cloud servers for scalability and performance. Software development and testing benefit from the cloud as developers can quickly spin up environments to build and test applications without investing in physical hardware. Other use cases include Big Data analytics, disaster recovery, and machine learning, where cloud platforms provide the necessary computational power to handle large datasets and complex algorithms.

9. What factors should businesses consider when migrating to the cloud?

When migrating to the cloud, businesses need to consider several critical factors to ensure a smooth transition. First, they should assess their current infrastructure and identify which workloads and applications are suitable for the cloud. Security and compliance are also important, as businesses must ensure that cloud providers meet industry-specific regulations and offer robust security measures. Cost management is another key factor, as moving to the cloud can have both upfront and ongoing cost implications. It’s also important to evaluate scalability needs—whether the cloud solution will grow with the business. Lastly, businesses must consider vendor reliability and service level agreements (SLAs) to guarantee availability, uptime, and support.

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10. How does cloud computing support scalability and flexibility in business operations?

Cloud computing supports scalability by allowing businesses to easily adjust their computing resources to match demand. Whether it’s scaling up during peak usage times or scaling down during slower periods, cloud providers offer dynamic resource allocation to ensure that businesses only pay for what they use. This flexibility allows businesses to handle fluctuating workloads without investing in costly hardware that may sit idle during off-peak times. Additionally, cloud services provide flexibility by enabling remote access to data and applications, supporting mobile and global workforces. As businesses grow, they can quickly add more storage, processing power, or users without the need for large-scale infrastructure changes, making the cloud a highly adaptable solution for modern business needs.

What’s next?

In the second part of our Salesforce tutorial series, we understood what cloud computing is and how it enables Salesforce to deliver its services to customers.

In the next section of the tutorial series, we will discuss the process of CRM, or customer relationship management, and how Salesforce contributes to CRM in more detail.