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Cloud Computing: SaaS and PaaS
14
Reading
●
2
Read the journal article. Then, choose the
correct answers.
1
What is the main idea of the article?
A
the challenges of developing cloud computing
software
B
recent changes in cloud computing technology
C
the history of the development of cloud
computing
D
an overview of cloud computing models
2
What is true of SaaS users?
A
They access software that is provided by a
network host.
B
They rent software from a cloud computing
provider.
C
They purchase software from the developer.
D
They need a specialized web browser.
3
Which of the following is NOT required for users to
access a cloud?
A
web browser
C
a fee
B
software license
D
a large bandwidth
Vocabulary
●
3
Match the words (1-8) with the definitions
(A-H).
1
___
cloud computing
6
___
online
2
___
distribution
7
___
bandwidth
3
___
software license
8
___
software on
4
___
computer platform
demand
5
___
browser
A
a software system that is used to gain access to
information on the internet
B
being connected to the internet
C
a measure of a computer system’s capacity to
send and receive information
D
a combination of hardware and system software
that allows an application to run
E
a model in which software is rented from a
provider
F
a legal agreement which grants the buyer of a
program the right to use it
G
the action of supplying a product or service
H
a model in which computing is delivered as a
service rather than as a product
Get ready!
●
1
Before you read the passage, talk about
these questions.
1
What are some ways that software is distributed?
2
How do users pay for cloud computing services?
Cloud computing
is changing the
distribution
of
computing and storage services. Cloud computing is a
network of companies and users sharing resources.
Software engineers must be ready to meet demands for
this specialized software.
One model of cloud computing is
SaaS
, or Software as
a Service. In this model, software is hosted by a provider
and accessed over a network. Another example is
PaaS
,
or Platform as a Service. In this model, computer
hardware and software are rented.
Software on demand
falls under the PaaS category.
To provide their services, companies purchase
software
licenses
. Then they charge users for access to the
software. Some companies charge users by
metered
fees
. This means that users pay afterwards for whatever
they used. Others support
pay-as-you-go
systems. In
these cases,
software as a product
is purchased in
advance, when it is needed.
Several requirements of the
computer platform
are
necessary to access cloud technology. The computer
must be
online
. The
bandwidth
of the system needs to
be large in order to quickly send and receive information.
But if the specifications are right, cloud computing is a
tremendously useful tool. Users can easily access data
from web
browsers
, among other methods. A tip to
software engineers: get into this expanding industry!
Computer World:
Specialized Software
metered fee
cloud computing
