Cloud Application

What is Cloud Application:

• A cloud application, or cloud app, is a software program where cloud-based and local components work together. This model relies on remote servers for processing logic that is accessed through a web browser with a continual internet connection.

How cloud apps work?

Data is stored and compute cycles occur in a remote data center typically operated by a third-party company. A back end ensures uptime, security and integration and supports multiple access methods.

Cloud applications provide quick responsiveness and don't need to permanently reside on the local device. They can function offline, but can be updated online.

While under constant control, cloud applications don't always consume storage space on a computer or communications device. Assuming a reasonably fast internet connection, a well-written cloud application offers all the interactivity of a desktop application, along with the portability of a web application.

Cloud apps vs. web apps

With the advancement of remote computing technology, clear lines between cloud and web applications have blurred. The term cloud application has gained great cachet, sometimes leading application vendors with any online aspect to brand them as cloud applications.

Cloud and web applications access data residing on distant storage. Both use server processing power that may be located on premises or in a distant data center.

A key difference between cloud and web applications is architecture. A web application or web-based application must have a continuous internet connection to function. Conversely, a cloud application or cloud-based application performs processing tasks on a local computer or workstation. An internet connection is required primarily for downloading or uploading data.

A web application is unusable if the remote server is unavailable. If the remote server becomes unavailable in a cloud application, the software installed on the local user device can still operate, although it cannot upload and download data until service at the remote server is restored.

The difference between cloud and web applications can be illustrated with two common productivity tools, email and word processing.Gmail, for example, is a web application that requires only a browser and internet connection. Through the browser, it's possible to open, write and organize messages using search and sort capabilities. All processing logic occurs on the servers of the service provider (Google, in this example) via either the internet's HTTP or HTPPS protocols.

A CRM application accessed through a browser under a fee-base arrangement is a web application. Online banking and daily crossword puzzles are also considered web applications that don't install software locally.

An example of a word-processing cloud application that is installed on a workstation is Word's Microsoft Office. The application performs tasks locally on a machine without an internet connection. The cloud aspect comes into play when users save work to an Office 365 cloud server.