This tutorial provides provisioning cloud storage and describe how the cloud storage provisioning works, types of cloud provisioning.
CLOUD PROVISIONING
- It is a process of creating, preparing and activating the infrastructure of a cloud environment
- It includes the installing network component and services
PROVISIONING CLOUD STORAGE
- It refers to the process of allocating and setting up storage resources within a cloud environment to meet specific requirements.
- This involves configuring and allocating storage capacity, defining access controls, and establishing any necessary network connections.
Steps Involved in Provisioning Cloud Storage
- The following steps are involved in provisioning cloud storage. They are
- Capacity Planning
- Selecting Storage Type
- Configuring Storage Resources
- Access Controls
- Network Configuration
- Testing and Validation
- Monitoring and Management
Capacity Planning
- Estimate the storage requirements based on the data to be stored, expected growth, performance requirements, etc,.
Selecting Storage Type
- Choose the suitable type of cloud storage based on the factors like performance, availability, durability, cost.
- This might include the types like object storage, file storage, block storage.
Configuring Storage Resources
- Set up the storage resources within selected cloud platform, specifying parameters like storage capacity, performance characteristics, redundancy levels, data protection mechanisms
Access Controls
- Identify who can access and manage the stored data in cloud
- This includes setting up user accounts, defining roles, permissions, authentication
Network Configuration
- Configure network connectivity to ensure that users and applications can access the provisioned storage resources securely and efficiently
- This might involve setting up virtual private network (VPN), access control list (ACL) or network security groups (NSG) to control traffic flow
Testing and Validation
- This is to test the provisioned storage environment to ensure that it meets the performance, availability and reliability requirements
Monitoring and Management
- Implement monitoring and management tools to track the usage, performance and health of the provisioned storage resources
- This might involve setting up alerts, logging and reporting mechanisms to identify and address any issues.
TYPES
- Cloud storage is classified as two classes of storage. They are
- Managed Cloud Storage
- Unmanaged Cloud Storage
I. MANAGED CLOUD STORAGE
- It is a service provided by the CSP where they offer storage infrastructure and management capabilities to users or businesses.
- Its main aim is to offer a cost effective and flexible solution for storing and managing the data for businesses.
Features
1. Scalability
- This allows the user to easily increase or decrease their storage capacity depending on the need without having to invest in additional hardware. (Increase or decrease the usage of data based on demand)
2. Redundancy and Reliability
- Managed cloud storage frequently includes features like data redundancy and backups to ensure data availability and durability.
- This is generally achieved with the help of data replication across multiple data centers. (Achieving availability through replication)
3. Security
- Managed CSP implement security features to protect the data stored in the cloud including encryption, access control and compliance certificates (Offering security to data stored in the cloud)
4. Monitoring
- CSP offers tools and dashboards for users (cloud customers) to monitor and manage their storage usage, performance and costs
5. Integration
- Managed cloud storage services are often designed to integrate with other cloud services, applications and infrastructures allowing the user to build broad cloud based solutions.
II. UNMANAGED CLOUD STORAGE
- It is a cloud service where the user or organization is responsible for managing all the aspects of the storage infrastructure
- Unlike managed cloud, here providers will handle the following tasks like
- Hardware maintenance
- Software updates
- Data backups
Features
1. Infrastructure Control
- Here, user has full control access to manage the storage infrastructure like below
- configuration of storage resources,
- data replication and backups.
2. Maintenance Responsibility
- Users are responsible for maintaining and managing the storage infrastructure, tasks such as below
- Applying software updates
- Patching security vulnerabilities
- Troubleshooting the hardware issues.
3. Scalability
- Unmanaged cloud storage offers scalability similar to managed cloud storage, allowing the user to scale their storage capacity up or down as needed.
- However, users must manage the scaling process themselves.
4. Flexibility
- It provides greater flexibility and customization options to users compared to managed cloud storage, because users have full control over how they configure and utilize their storage resources.
5. Costs
- It might offer lower costs compared to managed cloud storage, due to the lack of included management services
- Users must also consider the additional costs associated with managing the infrastructure themselves like employees, training, tools.
Best for
- It is often preferred by users who need full control and customization over their storage infrastructure or security requirements in the cloud storage.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANAGED CLOUD STORAGE AND UNMANAGED CLOUD STORAGE
| S.N | Feature | Managed Cloud Storage | Unmanaged Cloud Storage |
| 1. | Responsibility | CSP will manage infrastructure and tasks | User or organization will manage infrastructure and tasks |
| 2. | InfrastructureControl | Limited control | Full control |
| 3. | Maintenance | CSP handles maintenance tasks like updates | User is responsible for maintenance tasks |
| 4. | Security | CSP implements security measures | User must implement and manage security measures |
| 5. | Cost | Typically higher costs due to included management services | Lower base costs but additional costs for self management |
| 6. | Flexibility | Less flexibility due to built-in configurations | Greater flexibility in configuration and customization |
| 7. | Scalability | CSP offers scalable resources | It supports scalable resources but it is managed by the user |
| 8. | Expert Required | Minimal expertise might be required as CSP handles most tasks | It needs expertise in managing infrastructure. |
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