MÓDULO 2 - Video 2: Aplicaciones, seguridad y tendencias del cloud computing

We welcome you again to Module 2: Cloud Computing. Now that you know what this technology is and how it works, it's time to discover how it is transforming the way we work, innovate and use digital resources. Let's get started. Remember to take notes and pause the video when you need it.

Imagine that you run a small business and use digital tools to store information from your customers, coordinate your team and sell online. But, have you ever wondered where it is convenient to store all that information? How safe is it? And how to choose among so many available technological options? Currently, much of our daily activities depend on digital services.

When we send an email, we store online photos, make video calls, or work with shared documents. We use technologies that work through cloud services. However, cloud computing is not only present in the personal sphere. Companies, schools, hospitals, and organizations of different sizes use these services to store information, run applications, and facilitate collaborative work from different places.

In this context, choosing the right tools and technological services becomes increasingly important, since not all solutions offer the same level of flexibility, control or security. Throughout this video, we will explore the main types of cloud, its advantages, some risks and good security practices, as well as technological trends that continue to transform the future of computing in the cloud.

To understand how to use the cloud computing system, it is important to recognize that there are different types of cloud. Each one responds to different needs and offers different levels of control, flexibility, security and cost. Next, we will know what they are.

One of the most common models is the public cloud. In this scheme, a provider offers technological services through the Internet for multiple users. Although the physical infrastructure is shared, each user or organization keeps their data, applications and configurations separate.

This model is present in daily tools such as email services, file storage, collaborative applications or video conferences. Its great advantage is the speed of its implementation. It is enough to have an internet connection and a user account to start using the services. By not requiring own servers or complex maintenance, it becomes a very attractive alternative for entrepreneurs and small companies that seek flexibility at the lowest possible cost.

Another model is the private cloud. In this case, the infrastructure is exclusively dedicated to a single organization, which allows greater control over configurations, security policies and resource management, that is, greater customization and adaptation to the specific needs of each environment. This model is usually used in institutions that handle sensitive information such as banks, hospitals or government dependencies.

However, it involves higher costs and requires specialized technical personnel for its administration. Another model is the hybrid cloud, which combines elements of public and private cloud. For example, a company can conserve critical information in private infrastructure and at the same time use public services to host its website, store backups or respond to temporary demand increases. This approach seeks to balance security, efficiency and flexibility according to the needs of each organization.

Finally, many organizations adopt multi-cloud strategies, which consist of using services from different suppliers according to their specific needs. For example, a company could use a storage platform, another for data analysis, and another for artificial intelligence tools. This approach can provide greater flexibility and reduce the dependence of a single supplier. However, it can also make the administration of technological services more complex.

Now that we know the main types of cloud, you will surely be wondering, why so many organizations around the world are adopting these services? The answer is in its key advantages, and we will discover them below.

Part of the answer is found in the characteristics that we reviewed in the previous video, such as scalability, which allows you to increase or reduce resources according to demand, flexibility, which facilitates the adaptation of technological capabilities quickly, and availability, which allows access to services and resources from different places via the Internet.

For example, an online store can receive a considerable increase in visitors during high-demand seasons. Instead of permanently investing in expensive infrastructure, the cloud allows you to temporarily increase resources and adjust them again when demand decreases. Another important advantage is collaboration. Currently, many people work in geographically distributed teams, so cloud platforms make it easier to share documents, coordinate activities and work in real-time on updated information.

The cloud computing also helps to optimize costs, as it reduces the need to acquire physical infrastructure and reduces maintenance tasks. In addition, it allows you to use resources according to the real needs of each organization. Finally, the support and recovery mechanisms help to strengthen the operational continuity in the face of technical failures, equipment losses or local interruptions.

As we have seen, although the cloud computing offers multiple advantages, it also implies risks that must be understood and properly managed.

One of the main risks is unauthorized access to information, since third parties could access sensitive data if accounts use weak passwords, share credentials, or do not have adequate protection mechanisms. An escape or loss of information may also occur due to incorrect configurations, accidental file elimination, or security incidents. For example, a document configured as public by mistake could be exposed.

Como podemos observar, muchos de estos riesgos se relacionan con errores humanos y prácticas inseguras, como reutilizar contraseñas, abrir enlaces sospechosos o compartir accesos.

Another important aspect is the provider's dependence. When a large part of the technological operation depends on external services, changes in availability, costs or policies can directly affect the operation of an organization. In addition, although providers implement robust infrastructure, temporary interruption in service may occur due to technical or maintenance failures.

Faced with this scenario, there are good fundamental practices, such as using safe passwords, activating multi-factor authentication, limiting access according to roles, making periodic backups, and reviewing privacy settings.

In addition, the adoption of cloud services must be carefully planned, considering aspects such as security, availability and information management. Therefore, cloud security does not only depend on technology, but also on the habits, responsibilities and decisions of the people who use these services.

Currently there are multiple cloud providers, each with tools and approaches oriented to different needs. In the following diagram you can see some of the most used providers currently and their capacities that distinguish them. One of the most recognized is Amazon Web Services or AWS, used by companies, startups and institutions because it offers storage services, databases, virtual servers, data analysis and artificial intelligence.

Microsoft Azure is usually an attractive option for organizations that already use Microsoft ecosystem tools such as Windows Server or Microsoft 365. Google Cloud stands out for its capabilities of data analysis, artificial intelligence and large-scale processing. Oracle Cloud has a strong presence in business environments, especially in organizations that use databases and corporate applications.

However, there is no universally better provider. The choice depends on factors such as the budget, technological needs, security, support and ease of integration with other services. As we have seen, organizations can choose between different providers and services according to their needs. However, this ecosystem continues to evolve constantly thanks to new technologies and implementation approaches.

One of the main trends is the integration between artificial intelligence, automatic learning and cloud services, which allows access to advanced capacities without having specialized infrastructure.

Hybrid and multi-cloud strategies also grow, where organizations combine different services and providers to obtain greater flexibility and reduce dependence on a single platform. Another important trend is edge computing, a approach that allows processing information closer to the place where data is generated, reducing response times on smart devices, sensors or monitoring systems.

Also, there are more and more cloud services specialized for sectors such as health, education, finance or commerce, adapted to specific needs. Also, models such as Serverless arise, where applications can be executed without directly administering servers. Cloud Native, which promotes applications designed specifically to take advantage of the cloud. And Finos,

aimed at optimizing the consumption and costs of cloud services. Finally, security and technological sustainability continue to strengthen as priorities within the cloud ecosystem, promoting more efficient, safe and less environmental services. These trends show that cloud computing will continue to transform the way we work, learn and use digital services. Let's now return to the beginning.

Let's imagine again that small business that uses digital tools to store information, coordinate activities, and serve online customers. After reviewing these topics, it is clearer to choose services in the cloud. It does not depend solely on popularity or immediate convenience. It also implies identifying what type of cloud best responds to the needs of each organization, what provider offers the right tools.

and how to take advantage of its characteristics such as scalability, flexibility and collaboration to optimize resources and facilitate digital work. However, adopting these services also requires acting responsibly. Information protection, access management and good security practices are fundamental elements to reduce risks and use these technologies in a reliable way.

More than a passing trend, cloud computing has become a strategic tool to promote productivity, innovation and operational continuity in an increasingly digital world. Understanding its possibilities and challenges allows you to make more informed, secure and aligned decisions with the real needs of each context. Do you have any questions or is there a concept that you would like to delve into? Write it down and share it during the synchronous class. Until next time.