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Cloud computing is a type of computing that relies on shared computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications .In its most simple description, cloud computing is taking services ( " cloud services " ) and moving them outside an organization's firewall. Applications, storage and other services are accessed via the Web. The services are delivered and used over the Internet and are paid for by the cloud customer on an as-needed or pay-per-use business model.Recommended Reading: Facts About Cloud Computing.Cloud Computing ChecklistJump to a topic in this article:NIST Introduction and definitionCharacteristics of Cloud EnvironmentsCloud Delivery Models (public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud, multi-cloud)Common Cloud Service Models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)Benefits of Cloud ComputingNIST Cloud Computing Introduction and DefinitionThe National Institute of Stands and Technology ( NIST ) has a more comprehensive definition of cloud computing. It describes cloud computing as "a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction."Characteristics of Cloud EnvironmentsAccording to the NIST, all true cloud environments have five key characteristics:1. On-demand self-service: This means that cloud customers can sign up for, pay for and start using cloud resources very quickly on their own without help from a sales agent.2. Broad network access: Customers access cloud services via the Internet.3. Resource pooling: Many different customers (individuals, organizations or different departments within an organization) all use the same servers, storage or other computing resources.4. Rapid elasticity or expansion: Cloud customers can easily scale their use of resources up or down as their needs change.5. Measured service: Customers pay for the amount of resources they use in a given period of time rather than paying for hardware or software upfront. (Note that in a private cloud, this measured service usually involves some form of chargebacks where IT keeps track of how many resources different departments within an organization are using.)Cloud Delivery ModelsCloud computing can be divided into several sub-categories depending on the physical location of the computing resources and who can access those resources.Public cloud vendors offer their computing services to anyone in the general public. They maintain large data centers full of computing hardware, and their customers share access to that hardware.By contrast, a private cloud is a cloud environment set aside for the exclusive use of one organization. Some large enterprises choose to keep some data and applications in a private cloud for security reasons, and some are required to use private clouds in order to comply with various regulations.Organizations have two different options for the location of a private cloud: they can set up a private cloud in their own data centers or they can use a hosted private cloud service. With a hosted private cloud, a public cloud vendor agrees to set aside certain computing resources and allow only one customer to use those resources.A hybrid cloud is a combination of both a public and private cloud with some level of integration between the two. For example, in a practice called "cloud bursting" a company may run Web servers in its own private cloud most of the time and use a public cloud service for additional capacity during times of peak use.A multi-cloud environment is similar to a hybrid cloud because the customer is using more than one cloud service. However, a multi-cloud environment does not necessarily have integration among the various cloud services, the way a hybrid cloud does. A multi-cloud environment can include only public clouds, only private clouds or a combination of both public and private clouds.Recommended Reading: Webopedia's Cloud Dictionary.Common Cloud Service ModelsCloud services are typically deployed based on the end-user (business) requirements. The primary services include the following:1. Software as a Service (SaaS)SaaS is a software delivery method that provides access to software and its functions remotely as a Web-based service. Instead of paying an upfront fee to purchase and/or license software, SaaS customers pay a recurring (often monthly or annual) fee to subscribe to the service. In general, they can access the SaaS from any Internet-connected device, any time day or night. Well-known examples of SaaS include Salesforce.com: The Customer Success Platform To Grow Your Business, Microsoft Office 365, Google G Suite, Dropbox, Adobe Creative Cloud and others.2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)PaaS is a computing platform being delivered as a service. Here the platform is outsourced in place of a company or data center purchasing and managing its own hardware and software layers. Most PaaSes are designed for developers and aim to simplify the process of creating and deploying software. For example, a Web developer might use a PaaS that includes operating system software, Web server software, a database and related Web development tools. The leading PaaS vendors include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, IBM and Google Cloud Platform.3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Computer infrastructure, such as servers, storage and networking delivered as a service.IaaS is popular with enterprises that appreciate the convenience of having the cloud vendor manage their IT infrastructure. They also sometimes see cost savings as a result of paying only for the computing resources they use. The leading IaaS vendors include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, IBM and Google Cloud Platform.While SaaS, PaaS and IaaS are the three most common types of cloud services, cloud computing vendors sometimes also use other "as a service" labels to describe their offerings. For example, some offer database as a service (DBaaS), mobile back-end as a service (MBaaS), functions as a service (FaaS) or others.Benefits of Cloud ComputingConsumers and organizations have many different reasons for choosing to use cloud computing services. They might include the following:ConvenienceScalabilityLow costsSecurityAnytime, anywhere accessHigh availability

Malware, a contraction for "Malicious Software", is software that has been purposefully designed and developed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. There are several types of malware that affect your computer in different ways. But the most common forms of malware are as follows:VirusThese types of malware corrupt the data, reformat your hard disk, or completely shutdowns your computer. These viruses are generally used for stealing information, harm computers and networks, create botnets etc. and many more.WormIt is a standalone program that can replicate itself and infect computers without needing any action from anyone. These viruses spread over computer networks with the exploitation of vulnerabilities in an operating system.SpywareThis virus is usually designed to track your browsing habits and internet activity without your knowledge or consent. It can spy and monitor your keystrokes, harvest information, login details etc. and many more.AdwareThis is commonly known as aggressive advertising software that places unwanted advertising on the screen of your computer. It has the ability to collect your data and then redirect you to the advertising sites.RansomwareThis type of malware is popular for holding down your private information and demands a large sum of money from you to release the data that is sensitive to you. These files generally prevent a user's access to the computer by encrypting files on your hard drive or locking down the computer system.These are some of the common malware. As per the report published by cybersecurity ventures, the predicted cost of cybercrime is around 6 trillion dollars annually by 2021 (the predicted price of ransomware only). This is why we should all be on high alert against such malware. Here are some of the preventive measures for protecting your computer against malware:Install Anti-Virus software:These are the most common and proven practices that have been implemented to fight against malware. This software provides your device with much-needed immunity against malicious software that is considered harmful to your system. They do so by scanning your computer, during which it detects the malware if it exists and provides you to execute the necessary actions required for eradicating it.Update your software RegularlyIt is essential to update your software regularly to prevent the attackers from gaining access to your computer through vulnerabilities that might appear on the older and outdated software.Install firewallsA firewall is another very effective method to prevent your computer from malware. This prevents your computer by blocking all unauthorized access to or from a private computer network. In addition to the antivirus software, the firewall provides an extra layer of security against the malware, thereby reducing the chances of an attack on your computer.Install only the trusted appsYou are highly recommended to buy and install the applications only from the trusted sources. Else your device will be highly suspected of malware. Trusted sources, however, take great care to ensure that there are no vulnerabilities on their services that might damage their reputation.Back up your data regularlyIt is another very important procedure to fight against malware attacks because it allows you to retrieve all the valuable data that the malware attack might have infected. Doing so will also help you mitigate the possible damages that might have arisen due to a ransomware attack.Beware of Email phishing scams.It is reported that around 30% of security breaches are caused as a result of phishing scams. Thus, it is very important to identify such scams. You might receive an email from under the guise of a legitimate company and ask for your personal information. What you have to be sure of while looking at these mails is that any legitimate company will have their own domain name for emails. But, you might see the same email address ending with a domain @Gmail, then you can be sure it’s a scam.These are some common techniques that are to be followed for protecting your computer from unauthorized access. However, it is you yourself from which the first line of defense should initiate. Thus, you should implement all these basic practices that have been mentioned above. But, if you have very sensitive information to hold onto, you should consider upgrading the security level as well.

Windows ME, for those of us who remember it, and Windows Vista were both horrendously bloated products that came right between 2 solid products. That’s actually why there is something called the Microsoft Release Cycle. You skip every generation, and you’re usually okay.Now, that’s just a joke, but it has a nugget of truth.Let me explain:Windows 95 was pure gold. It had the Start menu, which revolutionized computing and UI / UX design forever. It was a solid platform built on the idea of maintaining complete compatability with DOS, even though it was no longer simply a userland desktop application for DOS. On top of that, the system was 32bit, so it could run a lot more DOS applications and scripts at once with the potential increase in memory that was now supported by every system with Windows 95. It was designed for the systems of the day, and worked pretty amazingly comparatively. Especially for something that wasn’t unix based.Windows 98 was a standard setter. Literally. It introduced advanced support and integration for USB, ACPI, Internet browsing, and more. It only really lasted for a year or two before SE (Second Edition) was released, at which point Microsoft started to go a little nuts with their releases and their naming conventions.They had released around the same time, Windows ME, which was a bloated hog on resources. It was not good, and most of the systems it ran on it ran on poorly. I still have an ME machine that, unfortunately, doesn’t support anything else. It was based on the windows 9x family of systems, much like 98 SE that came out the year before. (It was bad)Windows 2000, released in december of 1999 was a series of versions of windows that was based on a NEW Kernel. The NT kernel. While it found some success in the server market, it had 4 different versions, with somewhat unhelpful naming conventions (Professional, Server, Advanced Server, and Datacenter Server). This was confusing to most end users, who simply couldn’t tell the difference between a windows 2000 system and a Millenium Edition system. More frustratingly, Windows 2000 had a whole bunch of innovative features that Millenium edition did not and could not have because it was based on the new Kernel. Newer NTFS, with disk management options that weren’t possible previously, Language Support, disability support, active directory, you name it. This thing was a killer system, and ended up being supported for like a decade.XP was a behemoth of a system that took everything good about ME and 2000, increased the ability of users to tweak the UI and theme things, and all this within 1 year of the release of ME. So ME died very quickly, leaving a lot of users in the dust. XP was solid and quick as far as systems go. It also introduced the Service Pack update schema wherein people could install cumulative updates and features with unified “Service Packs”. Throughout it’s lifetime, it would see 3 different service packs. This kept the system up to date while also keeping users comfortable with the layout of the system, not forcing them to upgrade to a new system every year as was previously becoming the trend. In other words, XP was Microsoft’s good-faith to users OS.Windows 2003 was a great product too. Super solid, and a lot of systems are still built with Server 2003 compatability. However, it began a trend of updates being given in the form of Revisions. Taking after XP’s Service Packs, Server Revisions were cumulative updates but for the server were much more impactful on performance and system functionality. 2003 R2 was practically a whole new operating system built on top of 2003.Up next in user world, we have Windows Vista. (Bad Product) Now I have a soft spot for it, because at the time it was like nothing I had ever seen before. It was eye candy taken to an extreme. Transparency everywhere, glassy UI elements, animations, and colorful wallpapers. My lord, that slick black taskbar still gives me a feeling of envy. But here’s where things went awry: It wasn’t nearly as ergonomically laid out as XP. All the settings menus were changed, so there was a somewhat steep learning curve. The start menu changed (for the positive, in my opinion) to a search bar with a nested set of folders instead of a menu that cascaded, like previous iterations. But all the new animations and bloated widgets, effects, and the introduction of the Windows Aero graphical compositor was way too much for most systems at the time to handle. Comparatively, systems were being designed with static desktops like XP in mind. It simply wasn’t designed for what existed, and people would need whole new systems to run it in almost every situation. The system requirements were extremely bloated at the time. It had 6 years since the release of XP to be designed, and frankly it came out with a lot of eye candy and not a lot of thought into the actual user experience of navigation.Windows Server 2006? Based on Vista. Not terrible, because server systems had always had a big edge on user systems. But it’s high system requirements did it no favors in adoption. However, it was by no means an awful product. It introduced a lot of really good systems and functionalities for Active Directory management especially.Windows 7 was a good product. It was solid, more ergonomically laid out settings / control panel than vista, and took a lot of inspiration from other systems. While it kept the windows Aero experience, it wasn’t nearly as bloated or flashy. Most of the things you could do with it were now based on useful navigation like shaking a window to minimize everything but that window, or making things transparent to focus on just that window. It implemented jump lists on the new taskbar, which now contained quick access to whatever applications you wanted. It could show loading bars and animations were available to make a notification known for individual applications that were minimized or not focused. It was a huge step forward, even though the kernel was technically only 6.1 whereas Vista was 6.0.Windows 7 was proceeded by Windows 8. It changed for the sake of change, and while some people liked the appearance (I love live tiles), it was overwhelmingly confusing. It didn’t follow UX conventions the majority of the time, and people hated it. Windows 8 was followed by 8.1, which reimplimented the Start Button instead of purely hot-corner based navigation, but it still was not well designed for desktop users. It was designed with touch screens in mind.Around this time, Server 2012 was released. Great system, yes, but it was forcing the same navigational practices as windows 8. Hot corners instead of buttons, for example. Charms menus instead of control panels. It wasn’t even until Server 2012 R2, coinciding with the release of windows 8.1, that it got the start button back. Overall, though, it was a powerful server system with a comprehensive set of tools that worked really well, in spite of some controversy about the layout.And now, we have Windows 10. Windows 10 changed everything. Updates aren’t optional anymore, and everything is packaged together. It change the UI to a more traditional start menu and control panel style, but kept the settings app from Windows 8 for the eventual migration. It’s got a LOT of good things, but takes away a lot of options. On the one hand, forcing updates is dangerous. On the other, they take user submitted bugs and feature suggestions more than ever before. Anyone can be a beta tester now. But it’s also a rolling release now. Instead of service packs, it updates with a new build twice every year. Functionally, they’re all still windows 10. But realistically, I could not go back to the original Windows 10 update. It doesn’t feel nearly as fleshed out and complete as an OS as 1803 and 1809 do. Controversial OS, but I really like it in spite of some of the problems I have had with it. And most importantly, they now have a unified Dark theme for the whole OS, including Explorer!Server 2016 is based on Windows 10. It is pretty good, and allows for ridiculously small, gui-less installations and networked OS capabilities. That’s really important. It had semi-annual releases, and thus it had an 1803 build just like Windows 10 did, instead of Service Packs or Revisions.Now, finally, we have Server 2019. The latest OS in the line. It is the Open Source acceptance pill, in my view. Shipping with Windows Subsystem for Linux, Kubernetes integration, and basically every powershell enhancement that has been rolled out over time, it has the potential to be the best yet. But, I’ve seen significantly few reviews, and have not updated anything to it. Time will tell, I suppose, whether or not it’s a good or bad product.Hopefully, this helped understand from the OS side whether or not Microsoft has ever made a bad product. I didn’t point out obvious things like Clippy, or controversial things like the Zune (which was better, in my view, than iPods in every way). But they have made some missteps and with those missteps, they have made huge strides in changing the way they do business and cater to users’ needs.