Keeping the data secure with proper backup and making it available for many people was a tedious task in earlier days, especially for the organizations that dealt with a big amount of data. With several issues being faced that led to loss of data and accessibility troubles, it became immensely important to be careful and keep the information safe at some place.

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Hence, by focusing on the issue faced by innumerable organizations, the concept of servers was introduced. With the aid of servers, an individual or organization could now store the data and access it anytime & anywhere.

Let's have a better understanding about how a server works, what companies are into this market, who are the users, and what can be the benefits of relying upon servers.

What is a Server?

A server is usually a program or a machine that responds to other machines or programs that request data from it. The central motive of using a server is to share data between clients. This transfer of data from server to the client is known as the client-server architecture. The clients have an option to get connected on the same machine or to different machines connected through a network.

What is Windows Server?

Windows, the product of Microsoft, started its journey long back and with time it became important for computer users, worldwide. Microsoft not only launched Windows, but has made its presence by introducing varied products that have been helping users over decades.

Windows Server, another product introduced by Microsoft, is a group of Operating Systems. It is based on the Windows NT architecture, which is capable of offering server-oriented services like User Management, Messaging, Security and Authorization, Resource Management among Users and Applications, and other Server-dependent Services.

What is Windows Server 2012?

Windows Server 2012, the 6th release, is the present-day version of Microsoft Server. The product was previously named as Windows Server 8. This up-to-date version incorporates the recent concepts of Cloud Computing and follows a better Storage Infrastructure. However, its successor, Windows Server 2012 R2, has also been launched with the introduction of Windows 8.1.

Windows Server 2012 Editions:

Windows Server 2012 has various editions that were launched by Microsoft depending upon the segment of users. Windows has launched four editions with different combinations that can sound economic to the users depending upon the needs they have.

Every edition has some specific features that make data management easier than before. Explained below are the four editions:

Datacenter - Highly virtualized, with unlimited virtual instance rights

Standard - Little virtualization, with two virtual instances

Essentials - Small Business for simple administration, with no virtualization rights

Foundation - Entry level, general purpose economy server, with no virtualization rights

Features of Windows Server 2012:

Microsoft not only provides the products, instead it offers an opportunity to know more about them. The ones, who are keenly interested in gaining in-depth knowledge about Windows Server 2012, can visit Microsoft's website, and take a look at the various certification options available.

Client computing is the latest way of delivering computing resources. It runs on the established convention of the internet where clients and servers interact remotely and on demand. In fact, the working as well as the revenue model is so similar that it can be referred to as 'Internet as a Product.'

Cloud computing delivers services ranging from data storage to end-to-end computing. One can run the entire SAP or kindred application suit, share files, store videos, run email clients or use the platform to collaborate in real time from anywhere in the world through even the most basic computing devices.

Cloud computing takes away the task of infrastructural deployment and makes technology, platform or just software readily available commodities just like electricity. One pays as per the usage besides other set up costs, which when combined, are far less than the conventional ways of acquiring technology.

Economics of Cloud Computing

From being free to an on-demand solution, it (cloudcomputing) has the innate quality of adapting itself to the requirements of the user. Following the 2007-2009 recession, when cost cutting became a prominent part of business best practices, cloud computing offered a new economic model for enterprises to exploit.

According to IDC's analysis, the forecast for 2013 amounts to $44.2 billion. The reason for such a new economic order is the flexibility and cost efficiency offered by cloud computing. Massive investments are being made to concentrate the hardware and the architecture is being revamped to offer global capabilities.

Cloud Computing Service Model

The real highlight of cloud computing is its versatility and adaptability. One can categorize the service provided by cloud computing in three classes:

Software as a service (SaaS): It is software, available on demand and offered by a third party provider, configurable remotely via the internet. Best examples are online spreadsheet tools, word processing and web content delivery services (SalesforceCRM, Google Docs, etc) and CRM services.

Platform as a service (PaaS): It allows customers to use the platform to develop new applications using APIs, which azure training london can be deployed and configured remotely. The platform offers development tools and configuration management. PaaS examples are Microsoft Azure, Force and Google App engine.

Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): This provides abstracted hardware, virtual machines and operating systems, which are controllable through a service API. IaaS examples are AmazonEC2 and S3, Terremark Enterprise Cloud, Windows Live Skydrive and Rackspace Cloud.

Challenges

As cloud-computing is a centralized way of operation, clouds can be easily tracked and attacked. Also, as access remains global, monitoring intrusion becomes a challenge as well. Though deploying safe practices at the client's ends can check trespassing, the multitude makes the task bigger.

Another big challenge is the easy access of cloud computing platforms to the user's data. Moreover, many public cloud-computing platforms are not open to auditing of their security measures.

Cloud Computing Security Measures

With the peril of attack on the centralized setups of clouds, cloud computing providers have responded by a security practice that includes: