Cloud Infrastructure Explained: What it is and How it Works
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Cloud infrastructure includes the hardware and software that power cloud services across public, private, or hybrid environments.
Without cloud infrastructure, many of the services we all rely on every day, such as mobile apps, online banking services, and even food delivery services, would not be possible.
With the right cloud infrastructure, businesses can scale resources on demand, cut costs, and innovate while maintaining high availability and data integrity. Cloud services require heavy computing power, massive amounts of storage, and robust security, the high cost of which can be limiting for many organizations. By relying on cloud infrastructure, these companies can use shared resources while providing all the services they and their customers need.
What is Cloud Infrastructure?
How Does Cloud Infrastructure Work?
What are the Components of Cloud Infrastructure?
Hardware
Storage
Virtualization
Network
Cloud Infrastructure vs Cloud Architecture
While closely related, cloud infrastructure and cloud architecture serve different roles in building and operating cloud environments.
Cloud architecture is typically created by cloud architects and solution designers who outline how services should be structured to meet business needs. Cloud infrastructure is implemented by cross-functional teams, such as cloud engineers, DevOps teams, platform specialists, and security architects, who build, manage and optimize the physical and virtual components that bring that architecture to life.
| Cloud Infrastructure | Cloud Architecture | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The physical and virtual components that enable cloud services | The design and planning structure of a cloud-based computing solution |
| Level | Low-level - hardware, software, network components, storage, etc. | High-level - system design/layout, integration planning, and best practices |
| Abstraction | Concrete, tangible components, and virtualization solutions | Conceptual blueprinting and planning documentation |
| Example | The physical servers, storage devices, and networking components housed in a data center | The planned microservices, APIs, load balancing systems, and schemas that form the foundation for infrastructure |
Advantages of Using a Cloud Infrastructure
Using a cloud-based solution brings many benefits compared to running an on-premises data center to house your web apps, shared file storage, and more. Core among them:
- Cost efficiency: Trade the fixed expenses of purchasing and updating all the necessary hardware for the variable cost of only paying for what you consume.
- Scalability: Access unlimited capacity, on demand, without any upfront investment.
- Agility: Reduce resource provisioning from weeks to minutes and get the extra bandwidth you need, when you need it.
- Reach: Cloud systems are truly global, with minimal latency, no matter where your customers are accessing your systems from.
- Focus: Return your attention to developing your products rather than infrastructure management and overhead.
Build Your Cloud Infrastructure with GTT
GTT is purpose-built to deliver networking and security as a service to distributed enterprises on a global scale. That extends to our cloud-based infrastructure. Working with GTT gives you access to our unique single partner approach, one team for all your managed networking and cloud security infrastructure needs. You also get our expertise in API integration, extensive support for automation and integration with existing systems. And you get GTT’s multi-cloud experience, bringing our customers secure connectivity and management across any combination of cloud platforms.
Specific to cloud infrastructure, GTT offers an extensive portfolio of services:
- Hybrid cloud: Combining the scalability of the public cloud with the security of private, GTT’s hybrid cloud brings you the best of both worlds under one roof.
- Cloud Connect: GTT offers direct, private connectivity to major cloud providers including AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and IBM Cloud.
- Virtual data centers: GTT has global service zones that support virtual data center deployments with flexible networking, security and automation options — available wherever your business grows.
- Professional services: Our teams of cloud experts provide design, delivery, and support using industry-leading SOPs.
When you’re ready to scale up your organization’s cloud offerings, talk to our team of cloud solutions experts to learn more about how GTT can help.
What are the three types of cloud infrastructure?
The three types of cloud infrastructure are:
- Public Cloud: Shared infrastructure owned by third-party providers (AWS, Azure, Google, etc.)
- Private Cloud: Dedicated infrastructure for use by a single organization.
- Hybrid Cloud: A combination of public and private, providing the best of both for data and app mobility.
How is cloud infrastructure delivered?
There are three primary models for cloud infrastructure delivery:
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Virtualized resources, including servers, network routing, and storage.
- PaaS (Platform as a Service): Full-service development and deployment platforms without the complexity of managing your infrastructure.
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Ready-to-use applications accessed via a web browser.
What’s included in cloud infrastructure?
There are six categories of services included in most cloud infrastructure offerings:
- Compute resources (virtual machines or containers)
- Storage systems (for object, block, or file storage on either SSDs or HDDs)
- Networking (i.e., routers, firewalls, load balancers, etc.)
- Virtualization platform
- Management and monitoring tools
- Security controls (i.e., encryption and intrusion detection)
Learn more about how GTT can help support your business collaboration, mobility and growth
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