April 13, 2023 by Techy Toyin

Under the Hood: The Cloud

Welcome to the inaugural edition of our “Under the Hood” series! Here, I’ll be diving into some more technical topics, aiming to break them down into easily digestible pieces. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, aspiring developer, or just someone looking to expand their knowledge, I hope this series will offer something valuable. As we embark on this journey, your feedback and suggestions are invaluable—I’m no expert, and I’m always eager to learn and improve.

But before we delve into the nitty-gritty, let’s start with something fundamental: the cloud. You’ve likely heard the term thrown around, perhaps in the context of iCloud, OneDrive, or Google Drive. These are all examples of cloud-based storage services. But what exactly is the cloud? At its core, the cloud refers to remote servers—essentially, computing power and storage space located elsewhere, not on your personal device.

Now, the concept of remote servers might seem straightforward, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. A server, in computing terms, is a physical piece of hardware that provides services or functionality to other devices or programs, known as clients. Think of it as a mediator between you and the vast expanse of the internet. When you send a request—say, subscribing to a mailing list—that request is processed by a server, which then sends back a response, such as a confirmation message.

So why bother with remote servers and the cloud? Well, the beauty of cloud computing lies in its scalability and flexibility. Instead of relying solely on your local device for storage and processing power, you can tap into the resources of cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. This means that as your needs grow—whether it’s an increase in website traffic or the expansion of your application—the cloud can scale up to meet those demands, ensuring smooth operation without the need for costly hardware upgrades.

Of course, it’s important to remember that the cloud isn’t some abstract concept—it’s made up of physical servers owned and maintained by companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. When you use cloud services, you’re essentially renting space on these servers, paying only for what you use.

In today’s tech-centric world, understanding the cloud is more important than ever. Whether you’re already working in the field or planning to do so in the future, familiarity with cloud computing is essential. And while there are several cloud providers out there, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are among the most prominent players.

As we continue with this series, I encourage you to reach out with any topics you’d like to see covered in future editions. Your input is invaluable as we explore the intricacies of technology together. Until next time, stay curious, keep learning, and don’t forget to subscribe for updates!

Peace and blessings,

Toyin.