Cloud Services (Edexcel IGCSE ICT)
Revision Note
Written by: Robert Hampton
Reviewed by: James Woodhouse
What is the cloud?
The cloud is a word used to describe the use of the internet to:
Store data
Access software
Data & software accessed locally are confined to the resources of the specific device you are using
Data & software accessed using the cloud rely on an internet connection
Hosted & local software
What is hosted software?
Hosted software is software accessed using the internet
Unlike local software where installation files are stored on local secondary storage, the software is stored on a remote server
Hosted software can also be called web applications (web apps)
Software is hosted on a server and accessed through a web browser
Common examples of hosted software include:
Microsoft Office 365
Google Docs/Sheets/Slides
Hosted software operates on a subscription model
Advantages and disadvantages of hosted software
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Access from different types of device | Can only be accessed using an internet connection |
Combined with online storage, can save files online | User experience is affected by:
|
Features that enable collaboration | Not as many features as locally installed software |
Updates & security managed by someone else | Privacy concerns, who has access to your data |
Cost effective (pay monthly plans) | Hidden fees can add up |
Online & local storage
What is online storage?
Online storage (cloud storage) is a term to describe long-term (secondary) storage of data that resides in a remote location, accessible only via a wide area network (Internet)
Data is stored on remote servers, typically using magnetic storage (HDD), but increasingly using solid state (SSD)
The three types of online storage are:
Public cloud - The customer and the cloud storage provider are different companies
Private cloud - The customer and the cloud storage provider are a single organisation
Hybrid cloud - Combines both public and private cloud options and allows for sensitive data to remain private whilst providing public cloud services for less sensitive information
Advantages and disadvantages of online storage
Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Data can be accessed from anywhere | A stable internet connection is required to use cloud storage |
Data can be accessed by anyone with the relevant permissions, making it quick to share files and collaborate with others | Storing data in the cloud may be vulnerable to security breaches |
Data can be accessed on any device with an internet connection | The user is dependent on the storage provider for the availability and reliability of its services |
Allows customers to increase or decrease their storage capacity as needed | Should the company dissolve or cease to exist, all cloud data may be lost |
Providers often use multiple servers to store and backup data, reducing the risk of data loss due to hardware failure | As the amount of storage or bandwidth required increases, the service may become expensive over time |
Providers offer advanced security features, such as data encryption and multi-factor authentication multi-factor authentication, to protect user data from unauthorised access | |
There is no need to hire specialist staff as IT services being provided by the cloud storage provider |
Worked Example
Explain one drawback of using cloud storage to back up a digital music library
[2]
Answer
Uploads will take a long time [1] because bandwidth is limited / file sizes are large [1]
Increased cost [1] as data often charged per Mb used [1]
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