Since its inception, the cloud has changed and evolved over time. Read on to learn more about how the cloud has changed over time.
Before the Cloud
Before the cloud, people used enterprise data centers. People used these facilities to support their data processing and storage needs. Not only did enterprise data centers house physical computer equipment like servers, network systems, and storage devices, but they also supported computer infrastructure like power, cooling, and environmental monitoring systems.
Time-Sharing
John McCarthy developed the concept of time-sharing and got it out into the world in 1962. McCarthy’s development of time-sharing systems was the early version of what we call cloud computing today. This important development made it so that people and organizations no longer had to buy their own computer systems. They could now share time on a common computing infrastructure.
Interconnected System of Computers
Another big step towards what we know today as the cloud happened in 1969 when J.C.R. Licklide developed the idea of an interconnected system of computers. This led to the first version of the internet: the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET). This network allowed digital data to be shared between remote computers for the first time ever.
Virtual Machine Operating System
In 1972, IBM’s Virtual Machine (VM) operating system allowed for the creation of a virtual computer that worked just like a physical one. People could now run an operating system that functions just like a separate computer in an app window. With this came advancements in computer hardware systems.
Virtual Private Networks
Next, virtual private networks started to be used by businesses to keep their data secure. Virtual private networks allowed for secure connections between a computer device and a computing network or between two networks.
Modern Cloud Computing Infrastructure
In the 1990s, modern cloud computing infrastructure was created. Salesforce was the first to create a software-as-a-service (SaaS) option over the internet done through cloud computing. In 2006, Amazon released the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) which allowed customers to rent virtual machines as infrastructure for their data and applications. Google also released Google-Docs, a cloud service for creating various types of documents that exist in the cloud. By 2010, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and OpenStack all had their own version of the cloud released. Apple released iCloud in 2011.
acentauri digital is the service provider for all of your end-to-end cloud, mobile, and SAP digital adoption needs. Is your organization staying up-to-date as the cloud continues to advance? Contact us today to maximize the efficiency, effectiveness, and security of your cloud.
