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History of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing technology is currently a trend. It’s one of the most practical network management services in the E-commerce industry. Its flexible terms appeal to many entrepreneurs of small and medium businesses. This paved the way for people to wonder about the history of cloud computing.
The Theory That Starts It All
The history of cloud computing began with an opinion. Cloud computing was only a theory in 1955.
John McCarthy thought that the Time-sharing Theory can help cut the costs of computers. It could be an alternative to the costly services only large companies can avail of.
Cloud computing became a possibility in the 1960s. Technology fetched it into reality like any other concept.
It started with the idea of two or more people using a computer at the same time. What follows is how the history of cloud computing unfolds:
Early History of Cloud Computing
The early history of cloud computing matters like in all innovations. It marks the ingenuity despite impossible visions. The initial steps that brought forth cloud computing inspire possibilities in the future.
The history of cloud computing began in 1963. An offer of $2 million from Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was the cue.
The money aimed to fund the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for Project MAC. The project targeted the archaic computers to establish simultaneous access of users.
This became the forerunner of cloud computing and introduced the idea of virtualization.
The Vision of the Internet in the History of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing needs the Internet to be functional. Thus, it is necessary to include its role in the history of cloud computing.
The vision of the Internet began with J. C. Licklider. He wanted computers to connect people all over the world. Licklider also aimed to make information accessible anywhere. He called the vision “Intergalactic Computer Network.”
So, he helped develop the initial version of the Internet. This version became known as the ARPANET (Advanced Research projects Agency Network).
The Promise of Infrastructure in the History of Cloud Computing
The practicality of cloud computing drives clients to try this network management service. The infrastructure that cloud computing offers makes it a numerous practical option. Thus, its origin deserves a highlight in the history of cloud computing.
The history of cloud computing continued in 1970. The idea of virtualization evolved. The concept of simultaneous access began to include development of virtual machines. These machines function like real computers with operational systems.
The same concept opened virtualization to the E-commerce industry. Businesses began offering VPN or Virtual Private Networks as services for lease. The services developed into the cloud computing infrastructure used nowadays.
Popularization of Cloud Computing Technologies
For years, cloud computing remained far from common people’s reach. As it empowered the E-commerce industry, cloud computing tried breaking into another market.
The era of personal use of computers began in the 1900s and more opportunities opened for the cloud. Cloud computing became popular when people began to understand its services.
Salesforce brought this popularity in 1999. The company was successful in using cloud computing in delivering software as services.
The software became known as cloud computing application. The Internet granted access to download these programs using a pay-per-use policy.
The term cloud computing offered caught the interest of small and medium businesses. The flexibility of the reasonable service has driven entrepreneurs to try cloud computing. This marked the turning moment in the history of cloud computing from mere IT innovation. It has become an economic driving force in E-commerce.
History of Cloud Computing in Retail
Cloud computing has not spread far sufficiently until it tapped the retail industry. This came in 2002 when Amazon launched its services based on cloud computing. This allowed more efficiency that encouraged other companies to do the same.
The launch of Amazon Web Services in 2006 marked the history of cloud computing. The cloud-based services of AWS provided storage, computation and lease of virtual computers. This became the initial attempt to sell cloud computing in retail.
History of Cloud Computing in Research
The continuous learning of the Age of Technology brought more demands for the cloud. A server farm for research projects became the initiative of cloud computing giants.
IBM, Google, and universities listened to the need for research on fast processors. They also provided for the increasing demand for data storage.
This brought faster research output for less money, which led to more innovations. These are what we enjoy among the many cloud-based services made available today.
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