Ever wondered how cloud computing came about? You might think that cloud computing is a relatively new invention, but did you know that the cloud started taking root in the 1960s before it took to the skies the way it has enriched our lives as it does today? Well, there were many noteworthy developers along the way who have made cloud computing, as we know it, possible today. In this article, we will talk about cloud computing and its history, how it has risen, and where we predict cloud computing will go in the future.
The Invention of Cloud Computing: A History
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In 1963, MIT received $2 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Project MAC. To be eligible for the funding, MIT had to create a system that would enable two or even more users to operate a computer concurrently. In this case, the precursor to what is now frequently referred to as cloud computing was one of those gigantic, outdated machines that would use reels of magnetic tape as storage. It operated as a straightforward cloud that two or three individuals could access. The term “virtualization” was used to describe this situation, albeit its original meaning was eventually expanded.
In 1969, J. C. R. Licklider helped build the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), a very early prototype of the Internet. JCR, who went by the moniker “Lick,” had a background in computer science and also psychology and had a vision of a time when everyone on Earth would be connected to computers and even have access to data from all around the world. This era was referred to as the “Intergalactic Computer Network.” Access to the cloud requires the use of the Internet, also known as the Intergalactic Computer Network.
In the 1970s, the meaning of virtualization began to evolve, and now it is used to describe the creation of a windows computer that performs identically to a real computer. The concept of virtualization shifted as businesses began offering “simulated” secure connections as a simple, cost-effective rental option.
Late 1990s Cloud Computing
The vacuum between the service provider and the client was first meant to be represented by the cloud. Cloud computing became the future “computer revolution, where the boundaries of computing would be controlled by cash outflow, instead of only by technical limits, alone.” This description sums up the cloud’s formation perfectly.
As businesses learned more about the benefits and functions of the cloud, it grew more and more popular. In 1999, Salesforce became a well-known illustration of a cloud-based application. They used it to explore the idea of offering software to customers online. The application was available for download by anyone with an Internet connection.
Early 2000s Cloud Computing
Amazon began its online shopping services in 2002. It was the first significant corporation to recognize the difficulty of operating at 10% of capacity. They were able to utilise the capabilities of their computer far more effectively because of the architecture of the cloud computing paradigm. Numerous significant companies quickly adopted their technique.
Amazon launched Amazon Web Services in 2006, providing online services to any other websites or customers. Some of the cloud-based services available through Amazon Mechanical Turk, another website owned by Amazon Web Services, include “human intelligence,” computation, and storage. Elastic Compute Cloud is a different website operated by Amazon Web Services that enables users to rent virtualisation and use their own software (EC2).
In 2007, IBM, Google, and a number of academic institutions teamed up to create a data centre for research projects that required both quick processors and large amounts of data. The first institution to join up and use resources made available by IBM and Google was the University of Washington. Colleges realized right away that if IBM and Google supported their research, computer trials might be completed more quickly and for less money. They benefited from the agreement as well because a large portion of the work was concentrated on issues that IBM and Google were interested in. In 2007, Netflix introduced its cloud-based streaming video service, enabling the “binge-watching” trend.
2010 and The Future
Private clouds were introduced in 2008, despite being somewhat new and poorly liked. Concerns regarding the lack of safety in public clouds have stimulated the use of private clouds. In 2010, companies including Microsoft, OpenStack, and AWS created private clouds, and they were mostly operational.
The concept of cloud habitats was initially investigated in 2011. The capacity to move workloads back and forth between a public and private cloud is essential, as is a sufficient level of communication between the two clouds. At the time, many businesses wanted to use public clouds because of the tools and space they could offer, but only a small number possessed the necessary infrastructure.
When businesses began utilizing SaaS providers for specific services like human resources, customer relations, and management of supply chains, multi-clouds emerged. From 2013 to 2014, this began to gain popularity. Although using SaaS providers for specific services and benefits is still relatively common, a multi-cloud concept has emerged. This concept cautions against being forced to utilize a particular cloud due to “interoperability issues.”
By 2014, the core elements of cloud computing had been identified, and security had become a significant concern. The importance of cloud computing to clients has led to its rapid expansion as a service. Over the past few years, cloud security has made great progress and can now offer protection on par with conventional IT security systems. This includes protecting critical information against unintended destruction, theft, and leakage. Security, on the other hand, is and presumably will remain the top concern for the overwhelming bulk of cloud consumers.
The app business is currently one of the leading users of cloud services. The cloud started to transition from only being a programmer to developer-driven in 2016. The resources of the cloud were starting to be fully utilized by application developers.
Conclusion
Now that we have covered the origins of cloud computing, we hope you have enjoyed the little history lesson on cloud computing we have just provided you. By no means is cloud computing going to be a thing of the past, though — the mighty fluffy thing in the sky will be here to stay, guiding future generations through enabling superior data storage, safe from the hands of the ill-intended.
