CLOUD COMPUTING IN INDIAN PERSPECTIVE

-Ajit Kumar, Documentation Officer,

Institute of Applied Manpower Research, Planning Commission, Delhi

e-mail: akdoiamr@gmail.com, do.iamr@nic.in

“Just like water from the tap in your kitchen, cloud computing services can be turned on or off quickly as needed. Like at the water company, there is a team of dedicated professionals making sure the service provided is safe, secure and available on a 24/7 basis. When the tap isn’t on, not only are you saving water, but you aren’t paying for resources you don’t currently need.”- Vivek Kundra, CIO in Obama administration.

Cloud computing broadly describes off-premise, on-demand computing where the end-user is provided applications, computing resources, and services (including operating systems & infrastructure) by clouds services provider via the Internet.

The hosting industry came out of the need for software and computing services that were managed internally, but were made more economical and accessible through the economies of scale of a hosted implementation.

Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the internet).

The Cloud Computing possesses the five essential characteristics as under, which is listed by the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) as a characteristics of cloud computing

Characteristics of cloud computing•On-demand self-service•Broad network access•Resource pooling•Rapid elasticity•Measured service

Some of the other key characteristics of Cloud Computing as below:•Agility•Application Programming Interface (API)•Cost•Device and location Independence•Virtualization•Multitenancy•Reliability

•Scalability and Elasticity•Performance•Security•Maintenance

Models of Cloud Computing: The Cloud Computing consists of three fundamental Service Models and four deployment models.

1. Service Models

2. Deployment Models

Service

Model

Infrastructure as a Service

(Iaas)Eg. Amazon

Cloud Foundation,

Google Computer

Engine

Software as a Service

(Saas)Eg. Google

Application, Microsoft Office 365

Plate form as Service (Paas)

Eg. Amazon, Google

Application

Deployment Models

Private CloudEg. Business

Unit

Hybrid Cloud

Community Cloud

Eg. Mission, Security

requirement

Public CloudEg. Google, Microsoft

Architecture of Cloud Computing

Architectural Implications:For all of cloud computing potential advantages, it also possesses several potential disadvantages. Whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages depend largely on the configuration of the access and core networking functions on which cloud computing depends. The underlying architecture can be disaggregated into two separate components: The first is with respect to the access network through which end users connect to data centers. The second is with respect to the links that connect data centers to one another. 

Architectural Implications:

Access Networking: As an initial matter, cloud computing will place considerably more onerous demands on the access networks through which end users will gain access to the cloud. The access networks’ ability to meet these demands will go a long way in determining cloud computing attractiveness as an option.•Bandwidth•Reliability•Quality of Service/ Network Management•Ubiquity•Privacy and Security

 

Architectural Implications:Data Center Interconnectivity: The advent of cloud computing will change the nature of demand that is placed on data centers. In addition to heightening data centers’ seemingly unquenchable thirst for electric power, cloud computing is placing ever increasing demands on the ways that data centers are configured and on the links that connect data centers to one another.•High Band width Networking•Reliability•Security and Privacy•Control over Routing Policies•Standardization•Metering & Payment  

Importance of the Cloud Computing for India:

As one of the faster growing economies in the world, India seems to be at the forefront of most technological development and cloud computing is no exception. Indian Enterprises have been faced with ebbs and flows in workflow for the past few years and this trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. For this reason, cloud computing has a particular advantage for a growing economy like India.

Importance of the Cloud Computing for India:

First, it balances the ebbs and flows in the workflow without significant impacts to the company’s bottom line. Second, the cloud allows an enterprise to focus on its core competencies by allowing the cloud provider to deal with all of the hassles involved with the development, maintenance, storage, and upgrades of business applications. For these reasons, experts predict that the cloud computing market in India will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 40 percent by 2014  

Top 10 Cloud computing service providers companies in India:

1. Infosys Technologies2. Reliance Data Center3. Synage4. Netmagic Solution5. Wipro Technologies6. Synapse India7. TCS8. Orange Scape9. Wolf Frameworks10.Zenith InfoTech

Adoption of Cloud by the India: One of the striking features about cloud computing is that it presents benefits to every aspect of India’s economy including but not limited to SMEs, the education system and the Government of India. E.g.SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) play a very important role in developing the overall industrial economy of a country. The Fourth Census of the SME sector indicates that this sector employs 59.7 million person over 26.1 million enterprises. SMEs contribute towards 45 percent of the manufacturing output and 40 percent of the total export of the country. SMEs in India are now using online portal such as eBay and Amazon to sell their products domestically and abroad.

Legal and Regulatory Issues of Cloud Computing In India:

Use of cloud computing in India is still not very liberal. There are many policy and law related issues that are responsible for slow growth and adoption of cloud computing in India. Absence of an effective cloud computing policy of India is responsible for limited utilisation of cloud computing in India. However, legal issues of cloud computing in India are the main reason for cautious adoption of cloud computing in India. 

Legal and Regulatory Issues of Cloud Computing In India: Hon’ble Minister Shri Kapil Sibal, said during the launch of the National Cloud Computing Initiative on 14th August 2012, A cloud computing services user gets to use original software without having to buy it. The user gets it on basis of some free either on monthly or annual basis from cloud service provider. In some case, service provider also provide hardware services like storage facility also on rental basis or, as per agreement with the user. He said it is the economic model of the cloud computing that can bring down cost of computing and result in fast delivery of e-governance services to citizens.

Conclusion:

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. In Indian perspective, the different department of the state government, SMEs, Schools, AICTE and other sectors has already adopted the Cloud Computing in their working spheres.

The Hon’ble Minister Shri Kapil Sibal, Ministry of Communication and Information & Technology said new regulations are needed to address data safety concerns, especially case where server that host personal information are located in foreign lands. The statement given by the hon’ble minister Shri Kapil Sibal indicates that our Indian government also keen interested to develop the Cloud computing in India in protective manner.

Thanks and RegardsAjit Kumar