Cloud Computing
Innovo Cloud
Scalable and on-demand access to shared resources ideal for businesses that need to scale quickly and want to minimize infrastructure costs. Innovo Networks partners with major providers like Huawei, Microsoft, and Azure to deliver these services
What is Cloud computing or "the cloud"
Business Operations with Cloud Computing
From on-premise infrastructure to on-demand resources, Innovo Networks provides everything your business needs to scale, secure, and innovate. Our comprehensive cloud solutions, including public, private, and hybrid models, are backed by South African expertise and strengthened by partnerships with global leaders like Huawei, and Azure.
AI & Machine Learning
How does cloud computing enable AI and machine learning?
Cloud computing provides the scalable, high-performance infrastructure needed to run complex AI and machine learning (ML) workloads. Training an ML model requires immense processing power and data storage. Cloud platforms offer on-demand access to powerful GPUs and TPUs, allowing data scientists to train models faster without the need for significant upfront hardware investment.Cloud providers offer a range of services from raw compute power (like virtual machines with GPUs) to fully managed platforms. Services often include pre-trained models, APIs for tasks like natural language processing or image recognition, and platforms for building, training, and deploying custom models at scale.
Compute
What is "compute" in cloud computing?
In cloud computing, compute refers to the processing power, memory, and other resources required to run an application or program. Instead of being limited to a single physical device’s resources, cloud computing allows applications to access and scale processing power from a vast pool of remote servers.The most common compute service is a virtual machine (VM), which is a virtualized computer instance. Other compute services include:
- Serverless Computing:Â A model where the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, and you only pay for the exact resources your code uses when it runs.
- Containers:Â A lightweight, portable way to package an application and its dependencies, allowing it to run consistently across different environments.
Management & Governance
What are management and governance in cloud computing?
Cloud management involves the ongoing oversight and maintenance of a cloud environment to ensure it runs efficiently. Cloud governance is the framework of policies and procedures that guides and controls cloud operations to align with business objectives, security standards, and compliance regulations.Effective management and governance are crucial for controlling costs, mitigating security risks, ensuring compliance, and preventing “cloud sprawl” (the uncontrolled proliferation of cloud resources). Tools and policies help automate tasks, monitor resource usage, and enforce security rules across the entire cloud infrastructure.
Networking
What is cloud networking?
Cloud networking is the practice of using cloud-based technologies to connect users, applications, and resources. It abstracts network functions like routing, load balancing, and firewalls from physical hardware, allowing them to be managed virtually.
Public Cloud Services
Private Cloud Services
How internet connectivity is linked to the cloud?
Information about common internet connectivity types is highly relevant to a discussion about Huawei Cloud services. While Huawei Cloud provides the cloud infrastructure and software, the performance and benefits of those services are directly dependent on the quality of the internet connection a user has to access them. Â
Think of it this way: Huawei Cloud is a powerful, high-performance data center, but the internet connection is the road that connects you to it. If the road is slow, congested, or has obstacles, you won’t be able to experience the full benefits of the cloud, no matter how fast the cloud’s servers are.
Here’s why that connectivity information is so crucial in this context:
- Latency and Jitter: Services like video conferencing, real-time data processing, and cloud-native applications are highly sensitive to latency (the time delay) and jitter (the inconsistency in that delay). A high-latency connection like satellite internet can make these real-time cloud applications “virtually unusable,” whereas a low-latency connection like fiber optic internet is ideal. Â
- Symmetrical Speeds: The report highlights that Huawei Cloud’s advanced AI and cloud-native solutions are a key differentiator. These modern business applications, especially in remote work and content creation, require fast upload speeds for things like uploading large files or participating in high-quality video calls. The table shows that only a connection like fiber can deliver the symmetrical speeds needed for these tasks, while other types like cable are typically asymmetrical. Â
- Troubleshooting: Understanding the different types of broadband helps businesses and individuals troubleshoot performance issues. Often, when a cloud application is running slowly or seems unstable, the cause is not the cloud provider’s network but rather local network congestion, physical obstructions, or an internet connection that is not suited for the task. Â
In essence, the table provides the foundational knowledge necessary to understand how to get the most out of a cloud service. A strategic decision to use a provider like Huawei Cloud must be paired with an understanding of the local internet infrastructure required to properly access and utilize it. Â
strategic comparison of the different pricing models.
| Type of Connection | Typical Speed | Latency | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fiber Optic |
Symmetrical speeds from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps or higher. |
Very low (10-30 ms). |
High-demand scenarios like 4K streaming, online gaming, and video conferencing. |
|
Cable |
Asymmetrical speeds from 50 Mbps to 1 Gbps. |
Low (20-50 ms). |
General home use, streaming, and light gaming. |
|
DSL |
Asymmetrical, speeds from 5 Mbps to 120 Mbps. |
Moderate |
Windows Server, SQL Database |
|
Fixed Wireless |
Asymmetrical, speeds comparable to cable or DSL |
Low, similar to cable or DSL. |
Remote and rural areas where wired infrastructure is too expensive to install. |
|
Satellite |
Asymmetrical, speeds from 12 Mbps to 120 Mbps. |
Very high (600+ ms). |
Provides global access in areas with no other options; best for non-real-time tasks. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS?
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), and SaaS (Software as a Service) are the three main service models of cloud computing. The key difference lies in the level of control a user has over the cloud environment.
- IaaS gives you the most control. It provides the fundamental building blocks like virtual machines, storage, and networking. You’re responsible for managing the operating system, applications, and data, much like renting a contractor to build a house from scratch.
- PaaS offers a complete development environment, including the operating system and tools, so developers can focus solely on building and deploying applications. It’s like renting a fully equipped workshop—all the tools are there, but you still bring your own project.
- SaaS is a ready-to-use software application delivered over the internet. Users simply access it via a web browser or app. The provider manages everything from the application to the underlying infrastructure, similar to how you simply buy and use a finished product.
What are the different cloud deployment models?
Cloud deployment models define where and how cloud services are hosted and who manages them.
- Public Cloud: Services are offered by third-party providers over the public internet. The infrastructure is shared among many organizations, making it highly scalable and cost-effective. Examples include AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.
- Private Cloud: This is a cloud environment dedicated to a single organization. It can be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider, offering a higher level of security, control, and customization.
- Hybrid Cloud: This model combines public and private cloud environments. It allows organizations to use the public cloud for non-sensitive data and scalable applications while keeping sensitive data and critical workloads in a private cloud. This provides the best of both worlds—flexibility and control.
What specific cloud services are used for AI/ML?
Cloud providers offer a wide range of services for AI/ML. These include:
- Raw Compute Power: Services like virtual machines with attached GPUs for running custom code.
- Fully Managed Platforms: These platforms, such as Huawei Cloud’s ModelArts, simplify the entire AI lifecycle, from data processing to model deployment.
- AI APIs: Pre-trained models that can be accessed via an API for common tasks like natural language processing, image recognition, and translation.
What are some common cloud compute services?
The most common compute service is a virtual machine (VM), which is a virtualized computer instance that operates like a physical one. Other popular compute services include:
- Serverless Computing: A model where the cloud provider manages the underlying infrastructure, and you only pay for the exact resources your code uses when it runs. This is also known as Functions-as-a-Service (FaaS).
Containers: A lightweight, portable way to package an application and all its dependencies, ensuring it runs consistently across different environments
What is "compute" in cloud computing?
In cloud computing, compute refers to the processing power, memory, and other resources needed to run an application. Instead of being limited by a single physical device, cloud computing allows applications to access and scale processing power from a vast, shared pool of remote servers.
Â
What are containers, and how do they differ from VMs?
Latency is the time delay, measured in milliseconds, it takes for data to travel from its source to its destination and back. High latency creates lag and can severely impact the user experience for real-time applications. While activities like streaming video are minimally affected, as the stream buffers ahead, real-time applications like video conferencing, Voice over IP (VoIP) calls, and online gaming are highly sensitive to latency and jitter (the variation in latency). High latency can make VoIP calls “choppy” and online gaming “laggy,” making these activities frustrating or even impossible. For a business relying on cloud-based collaboration tools, low latency is critical for ensuring smooth, uninterrupted communication. Â
Why are containers used in cloud computing?
A container is a lightweight, executable package of software that includes everything needed to run an application. The key difference from a virtual machine (VM) is that containers virtualize the operating system (OS) level, while VMs virtualize the hardware. Containers share the host OS kernel, making them much faster to start and more efficient with resources. A VM, in contrast, runs its own full OS
How are databases used in the cloud?
Cloud databases offer a way to store, manage, and retrieve data without the need to set up and manage physical servers or database software. Cloud providers offer a wide range of managed database services that automate routine tasks like backups, patching, and scaling.
What are the different types of cloud databases?
There are three main types of cloud databases, each designed for a different use case:
- Relational Databases (SQL): Managed services for traditional databases that use a structured schema, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. They are ideal for transactional data where relationships are well-defined.
- Non-relational Databases (NoSQL): Services for flexible, schema-less databases, ideal for large-scale, unstructured data, like document, key-value, or graph databases.
- Data Warehouses: Optimized for analytical queries and business intelligence on massive datasets, used to gain insights from large amounts of historical data.
How does cloud computing support IoT?
What is the relationship between IoT and the cloud?
Cloud computing serves as the central hub for IoT systems. IoT devices generate massive amounts of data, and the cloud provides the scalable storage and processing power needed to collect, manage, and analyze this data. The cloud also enables remote management and control of IoT devices, as well as the ability to apply analytics and machine learning to the data to derive insights.
What is Identity and Access Management (IAM) in the cloud?
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a security framework that defines and manages a user’s digital identities and their permissions to access resources. In the cloud, IAM ensures that only authenticated and authorized users and services can access specific data and resources.
Why is IAM critical for cloud security?
IAM is the foundation of cloud security. It helps enforce the principle of least privilege, which means users only have the minimum permissions necessary to perform their jobs. This prevents unauthorized access, reduces the risk of data breaches, and helps organizations meet compliance requirements
What are management and governance in cloud computing?
Effective management and governance are crucial for controlling costs, mitigating security risks, ensuring compliance, and preventing “cloud sprawl” (the uncontrolled proliferation of cloud resources). Tools and policies help automate tasks, monitor resource usage, and enforce security rules across the entire cloud infrastructure.
Why are management and governance important?
Effective management and governance are crucial for controlling costs, mitigating security risks, ensuring compliance, and preventing “cloud sprawl” (the uncontrolled proliferation of cloud resources). Tools and policies help automate tasks, monitor resource usage, and enforce security rules across the entire cloud infrastructure.
What are the benefits of cloud networking?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
