Industry 4.0 - What is cloud computing?

Industry 4.0 is a wide-ranging topic that is characterized by its historical development as well as its current goals and challenges. Further articles are available to help you gain a comprehensive understanding:

• Historical background: find out more about the historical milestones that led to the emergence of this technological revolution.
• Goals, current status and future trends: An overview of the core goals and status quo of Industry 4.0.
• AI
• Machine learning
• Digital shadow

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing refers to on-demand access to computing resources, i.e. physical or virtual servers, data storage, software, etc. Companies use cloud services to flexibly scale their IT infrastructure and make it more efficient.

Different cloud computing service models

Cloud computing is divided into three main service models:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): provision of virtual machines, storage and network infrastructures. Examples: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): Development and runtime environments for applications without direct access to the infrastructure. Examples: Google App Engine, Microsoft Azure App Services.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS): Provision of software applications via the internet. Examples: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Salesforce.

Areas of application for cloud computing

Cloud computing is used in various areas:

IT infrastructure and scalability:
Cloud-based infrastructure: companies use cloud services such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud to scale their IT infrastructure without having to buy and maintain physical hardware.

IoT:
Cloud-based IoT platforms: The cloud makes it possible to store and process data from millions of networked devices, which is crucial for applications in smart homes, smart cities and Industry 4.0.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning:
Data analysis and predictions: cloud-based machine learning platforms allow companies to develop and train models to make predictions and automate decisions.

Advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing