Cloud is a metaphor for the network and the Internet. Cloud computing, in simple terms, means that computing is distributed on a large number of distributed computers rather than local computers or remote servers. The operation of enterprise data centers will be more similar to the Internet. This enables enterprises to focus resources on the applications they need and access computers and storage systems in the “cloud” according to their needs.
Characteristics of cloud computing:
1. Super-large scale
The “cloud” has a considerable scale. Google Cloud Computing already has more than 1 million servers, and the “clouds” of companies such as Amazon, IBM, Microsoft and Yahoo all have hundreds of thousands of servers. The “cloud” can give users unprecedented computing power.
2. Virtualization
Cloud computing supports users to use various terminals to obtain services at any location. The requested resources come from the “cloud” rather than fixed tangible entities. The application runs somewhere in the “cloud”, but in fact, users do not need to know the specific location of the application. They only need a laptop or a PDA to obtain various powerful services through network services.
3. High reliability
The “cloud” uses measures such as multi-copy fault tolerance of data and isomorphic and interchangeable computing nodes to ensure the high reliability of services. Using cloud computing is more reliable than using local computers.
4. Generality
Cloud computing is not targeted at specific applications. With the support of the “cloud”, a variety of applications can be constructed, and the same “cloud” can support the operation of different applications at the same time.
5. High scalability
The scale of the “cloud” can be dynamically scaled to meet the needs of the growth of applications and user scale.
6. On-demand service
The “cloud” is a huge resource pool. Users purchase on demand and are billed like tap water, electricity and gas.
7. Extremely cheap
The special fault-tolerant measures of the “cloud” allow enterprises to use extremely cheap nodes to form the cloud; the automated management of the “cloud” greatly reduces the management costs of data centers; the public and universal nature of the “cloud” greatly improves the utilization of resources; “cloud” facilities can be built in areas with abundant electricity resources, thereby greatly reducing energy costs. Therefore, the “cloud” has an unprecedented performance-price ratio, and users can fully enjoy the low-cost advantages of the “cloud”.
In cross-border e-commerce, the construction of a network platform cannot be realized due to the huge amount of data and information to be processed, the high cost of purchasing servers, and the lack of relevant technical personnel. In this case, the advantages of cloud computing services’ extensive computing, storage, and network product portfolios are highlighted. It can enable cross-border e-commerce companies to greatly reduce the initial infrastructure construction costs and subsequent operating costs, and realize their required functions economically and efficiently.