Speaker Bio
Our November 5, 2022, ATS featured our speaker Narmela Sargis sharing her cloud computing experience. Narmela Sargis is a Success-driven, innovative, and highly analytical professional with a background in the IT industry with an emphasis on human resource programs, project management, and core business process development. Our speaker is known for proven success in Program, Portfolio, Project, and Leadership Management for Fortune 500 companies.
This Advanced training session on cloud computing was inspiring and informative for me. You’ve heard of cloud technologies used in companies to manage databases, data storage, and networks, collaborations. Still, you also need to know what role cloud technologies play in the lives of project managers. Breakout sessions during ATS events made the sessions more informative. We learned about current trends in cloud computing technologies used by enterprises and assessed the pain points in implementing these technologies. In case you missed this Advanced training session, here’s a recap of a great discussion on cloud computing, its components, edge computing, and what PMs need to understand about cloud computing.
Cloud computing
Cloud computing offers businesses a convenient model for accessing infrastructure, platforms, and software products on a pay-as-you-go basis. Enterprises use cloud computing to free up capital, streamline IT maintenance, modernize and scale business approaches, and build security and flexibility into services and solutions. With services such as data backup, disaster recovery, email, virtual desktops, software development and testing, big data analytics, and custom web applications, cloud computing can help customers in new ways and adapt to ever-changing market conditions. A cloud network consists of switches, routers, firewalls, load balancers, storage arrays, backup devices, and servers that can be placed in multiple geographic locations.
What are the components of the cloud?
The primary physical components of cloud infrastructure are network devices, servers, and data storage.
Types of Cloud Computing
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) …
In this model, cloud providers host servers, storage, and networking hardware alongside an on-premises hypervisor (virtualization layer). Organizations can choose when and how to manage their workloads without purchasing, managing, and supporting the underlying infrastructure.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
PaaS uses the same infrastructure as the IaaS model; the only difference is that it is more specific to hardware and software tools. Cloud providers also host and manage the operating system, and middleware developers must build and run their applications.
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
In SaaS, the cloud provider hosts and manages the entire infrastructure and end-user applications. The company does not install anything. Users can log in and immediately start using the cloud provider’s applications on the infrastructure.
Benefits of Cloud Computing
- Faster time to market. New instances can be started up or shut down in seconds, allowing developers to accelerate development with rapid deployments. …
- Saving measures. …
- Improved collaboration. …
- Advanced Security. …
- Data loss prevention.
- Scalability and flexibility. …
The following are the characteristics of cloud computing:
• Resource pooling. Resource pooling is one of the key features of cloud computing.
• On-demand self-service. This is one of the essential and essential features of cloud computing.
• Easy maintenance.
• Scalability and rapid elasticity.
• Measurement and reporting services.
• Safety.
• Automation.
What are the pain points while using cloud computing?
The cloud setup is subject to technical issues such as reboots, network failures, and downtime, which can disrupt operations and processes and damage your business. We need to plan for cloud downtime and business continuity.
What is Edge Computing, and how is it different from cloud computing?
Edge computing enables real-time computing in places where it would not usually be possible, alleviating bottlenecks in the networks and data centers that support edge devices.
The difference between cloud and edge containers is the location of the cloud container. In edge computing, the edge containers exist at the edge of a network, near the data source, while in cloud computing, cloud containers operate in a data center. Thus, due to its location near the data source, it can improve remote device response times and gain richer and more prompt insights from device data.
When to Use Edge Computing Vs. Cloud Computing?
During the breakout session, the participant mentioned that not all of their companies offer edge computing. The possibility of choosing edge computing or cloud for your organization depends on a range of factors you need to use real-time data, cloud infrastructure, and dataset size. Below is a comparison between cloud and edge computing.
| Cloud Computing | Edge Computing |
| Non-time-sensitive data processing | Real-time data processing |
| Reliable internet connection | Remote locations with limited or no internet connectivity |
| Dynamic workloads | Large datasets that are too costly to send to the cloud |
| Data in cloud storage | Extremely sensitive data and strict data laws |
How cloud computing helps project managers in closing.
Cloud-based project management software coordinates project planning, collaboration, monitoring, and delivery. Instead of using traditional whiteboards and sticky notes, project managers and teams can use the network of tools available in the software to get work done. The project manager’s role in cloud computing is to lead migrations and transitions to the cloud.
