DEV Community

Cover image for Cloud Talk: Demystifying Clouds and ServiceNow In Plain English☁️
Sophia Semga
Sophia Semga

Posted on

Cloud Talk: Demystifying Clouds and ServiceNow In Plain English☁️

Cloud, cloud, cloud... it's everywhere you turn in the tech world! But what exactly is it?? Let's break it down and make sense of this whole "cloud computing" thing, along with how ServiceNow fits into the picture.
Understanding Cloud Computing:
Cloud computing delivers on-demand services like servers, storage, databases, software, and more over the internet.🛜
It's like having a giant library of computers and storage space in the Internet world, accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection. Instead of having physical devices, you can access and use these resources as needed, without the hassle of managing them yourself.
Benefits of the Cloud:
•Saves you money: No need to buy and maintain expensive hardware.
•Grows with you: Need more storage or computing power? The cloud can easily scale up or down as your needs change.💸💸
•Always accessible: Get to your data and applications from anywhere, anytime, as long as you have an internet connection.♿️
•Reliable and secure: Cloud providers take care of keeping your data safe and sound.🤗

Think of it like this: 💭
Think about services like Netflix, Uber, or DoorDash. You use them without worrying about the servers, cars, or kitchens behind the scenes. Cloud computing is similar for businesses - you access the services you need (storage, software, etc.) without managing the underlying infrastructure.

Cloud Service Options
Cloud providers offer different "service models" depending on what you need:
Software as a Service [SaaS]: 👩🏽‍💻
These are ready-made applications like Netflix, Dropbox, or ServiceNow ITSM. You simply sign up and start using them, no installation is required. They take care of everything for you.
Platform as a Service [PAAS]: 👩🏽‍💻
Think of this as a blank canvas for building your own custom applications. AWS, Google App Engine, and ServiceNow Now Platform are some examples. It provides the tools and resources you need to create and manage your own apps, similar to how you might use a website builder to create a custom website.
Infrastructure as a Service [IAAS]: 👩🏽‍💻
This gives you the building blocks (servers, storage, networking) to create and manage your entire IT infrastructure, offering complete control. Think of it like having your own virtual data center, where you get to configure and manage everything from the ground up, like virtual servers, virtual machines, storage, networking, and firewalls. Cool, right?

Image description

Where Does ServiceNow Come In?
ServiceNow is unique because it's an Application Platform as a Service [APAAS]. This means it combines elements of both SaaS and PaaS:
SaaS Offerings:
ServiceNow offers pre-built applications like ITSM, HR Service Delivery, and Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) solutions, helping businesses manage various aspects of their operations. These applications are ready to use upon subscription, just like subscribing to your favorite streaming service.💭
PaaS Capabilities:
ServiceNow also provides a platform (Now Platform) for building custom applications to fit your specific needs. This allows you to create unique solutions tailored to your business processes, similar to how a custom website builder allows you to create a website that perfectly reflects your brand. You can use ServiceNow Integration Hub to connect and integrate various applications within and outside the ServiceNow platform or leverage ServiceNow RPA (Robotic Process Automation) Hub to build and manage software robots (bots) to automate repetitive tasks, saving time and resources.💭

Image description

The Best of Both Worlds:
This flexibility is one of ServiceNow's strengths. You can choose the service model that best suits your project: use pre-built applications (SaaS) for quick solutions, or build custom ones (PaaS) for specific needs, or even use both together!🤗🤗
So, the next time someone mentions "cloud computing" or "ServiceNow," you'll be well on your way to understanding what they're talking about.
This blog post gives you a solid foundation to explore further and feel confident discussing these topics, whether it's at a casual gathering or a professional setting.

Until next time :)
👋🏾Always remember, The World Works With ServiceNow.👋🏾

Learn More About ServiceNow Here:

https://www.servicenow.com/

https://www.servicenow.com/lpdem/demonow-all.html?campid=157999&cid=p:all:dg🅱️prsp:exa:GOOG_AMS_ALBU_PRSP_Brand_EXA_Secondary-Res-MOBILE-GoogleRecommendedQ1FY24:ams:all&s_kwcid=AL!11692!3!686272491580!e!!g!!what%20is%20servicenow&ds_c=GOOG_AMS_All_EN_DEMANDGEN_ALBU_PRSP_Brand_EXA_Secondary-Res-MOBILE&cmcid=71700000113650866&ds_ag=What+is+ServiceNow_EXA&cmpid=58700008514779460&ds_kids=p77616365784&gad_source=1&gclsrc=aw.ds

Learn More About Cloud Computing Here:

https://www.servicenow.com/products/it-operations-management/what-is-cloud-computing.html

Top comments (2)

Collapse
 
officialphaqwasi profile image
Isaac Klutse

Thanks for sharing

Collapse
 
sophiasemga profile image
Sophia Semga

Thank you for reading