Is cloud computing free ?

MIQ
5 min readAug 22, 2023

--

On this occasion, the author will tell about cloud computing with different cloud providers. Is cloud computing really free, or are there terms and conditions applied, defining cloud computing, advantages and disadvantages, characteristics, development model.

https://miqbal.staff.telkomuniversity.ac.id/apa-itu-cloud-computing/

What is Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet (the cloud) to provide access to various resources such as computing power, storage, databases, networking, software, and more. Instead of owning and maintaining physical hardware and infrastructure, users and organizations can rent or subscribe to these services from cloud service providers. Cloud computing offers a flexible and scalable way to access and manage computing resources without the need for large upfront investments.

Characteristics of cloud computing:

1. On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision and manage resources as needed without requiring human intervention from the service provider.

2. Broad Network Access: Cloud services are accessible over the internet from a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, and tablets.

3. Resource Pooling: Resources are shared among multiple users or tenants, allowing for efficient utilization and optimization of resources.

4. Rapid Elasticity: Cloud resources can be quickly scaled up or down to accommodate changes in demand, providing flexibility and cost savings.

5. Measured Service: Cloud usage is metered, and users are billed based on their actual consumption of resources, which can lead to more cost-effective solutions.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is typically categorized into three main service models:

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): In IaaS, users can rent virtualized computing resources like virtual machines, storage, and networking. This provides a foundation on which users can build and run their own software applications.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS): PaaS offers a more comprehensive environment that includes not only the infrastructure but also tools and services for application development, testing, deployment, and management.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS): SaaS provides fully developed software applications that are hosted and maintained by the service provider. Users can access these applications through a web browser without needing to install or manage them locally.

Service Model Cloud Computing

Image Source : First Focus

Some of the prominent cloud service providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), IBM Cloud, and many others. These providers offer a wide range of services and resources that cater to various needs, from individual developers to large enterprises.

Cloud computing has transformed the way businesses and individuals approach technology infrastructure, enabling greater agility, scalability, and efficiency in managing and delivering digital services.

Free Tier

The term free tier in the context of cloud computing refers to a set of services or resources that a cloud service provider offers to its users at no cost. Cloud computing providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and others offer these free tiers as a way to attract new users and allow them to explore their cloud services without immediately incurring charges.

Free tiers typically include a limited amount of resources or usage quotas, which vary depending on the provider and the specific services being offered. These resources might include virtual machines (compute instances), storage, databases, networking services, and more. The purpose of the free tier is to give users the opportunity to experiment, test applications, learn about the platform, and potentially start small projects without the commitment of immediate costs.

It’s important to note that the free tier is not intended for production-level workloads or large-scale applications. Once you exceed the limits of the free tier, you’ll start incurring charges based on your actual usage. Users should carefully monitor their usage to avoid unexpected costs. Additionally, the terms and offerings of free tiers can change over time, so it’s important to review the current offerings and documentation provided by the cloud service provider.

Amazon Web Services

Free Tier in AWS

12-Months Free: These free tier offers are only available to new AWS customers, and are available for 12 months following your AWS sign-up date. When your 12 month free usage term expires or if your application use exceeds the tiers, you simply pay standard, pay-as-you-go service rates (see each service page for full pricing details). Restrictions apply; see offer terms for more details.

Always Free: These free tier offers do not automatically expire at the end of your 12 month AWS Free Tier term, but are available to both existing and new AWS customers indefinitely.

Trials: These free tier offers are short term trial offers that start from the time of first usage begins. Once the trial period expires you simply pay standard, pay-as-you-go service rates (see each service page for full pricing details).

In summary, the free tier in cloud computing provides a limited amount of cloud resources and services at no cost, allowing users to get familiar with the cloud platform and experiment with their projects before deciding to commit to a paid subscription.

Azure

Azure free account

These products are free up to the specified monthly amounts. Some are always free to all Azure customers, and some are free for 12 months to new customers only.

After your $200 credit, only pay for what you use beyond the free amounts of services. With pay as you go, there’s no fee to maintain your Azure free account, and no upfront commitment. Cancel anytime.

After your credit, move to pay as you go to keep getting popular services and 55+ other services. Only pay if you use more than the free monthly amounts.

Koolabs

KooLabs is Huawei Cloud’s official exercise platform, where lab environments can be launched with a few clicks. It is FREE

Following the lab tutorial, you can quickly get started with Huawei Cloud services and implement, debug, and verify them on the cloud. The simplified process provides a smooth experience and helps you learn quickly.

Huawei Cloud has launched more than 20+ KooLabs exercises

For information detail about Koolabs Huawei please check out this link : https://lab.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/experiment-list . This solution for everyone to learn cloud service, there is no credit card, credit/coupon.

And there are many more services from cloud providers that provide FREE services, especially for those who are trying it for the first time and it’s free here, which means that the device used is lightweight and not intended for production.

“Ayo #RaihMasaDepanmu bersama Telkom University!”

References :

  1. https://www.firstfocus.com.au/insights/article/cloud-computing/
  2. https://aws.amazon.com/free/?trk=f42fef03-b1e6-4841-b001-c44b4eccaf41&sc_channel=ps&ef_id=Cj0KCQjwuZGnBhD1ARIsACxbAVg53QM3KdH628ZbxmddYHgNeFFBiA-zr1RMZGuP0DREGoMRPE_51sEaAvdHEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!4422!3!637354294245!e!!g!!aws%20free%20tier!19044205571!139090166770&all-free-tier.sort-by=item.additionalFields.SortRank&all-free-tier.sort-order=asc&awsf.Free%20Tier%20Types=*all&awsf.Free%20Tier%20Categories=*all
  3. https://developer.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/activity/1312d9198fa141768653cf982fdfc074
  4. https://azure.microsoft.com/id-id/free
  5. https://telkomuniversity.ac.id/
  6. https://lab.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/experiment-list

--

--

MIQ
MIQ

Written by MIQ

keep it simple, stupid (kiss)

No responses yet