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Cloud Computing is now one of the cornerstones of business IT infrastructure. This article explores the fundamental concepts behind this technology, its deployment models and the impact it has on the operations of organisations across different sizes and industries.
Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing resources, including servers, storage, databases, networks and software, over the internet, without the need for local physical infrastructure.
Instead of purchasing and maintaining their own equipment, organisations access these resources as a service, with costs based on actual usage. This model eliminates the need for significant upfront investment in hardware and reduces associated maintenance costs.
Resources are hosted in data centres managed by specialised providers, which are responsible for ensuring the availability, performance and security of the underlying infrastructure.
Cloud Computing is built around three fundamental principles:
Virtualisation
The physical resources of a server are divided into multiple independent virtual environments. This allows several users or organisations to share the same physical infrastructure while maintaining isolation and security between environments.
Remote access via the Internet
All access to resources is provided remotely through authentication and encryption protocols that ensure the integrity and confidentiality of transmitted data.
Dynamic scalability
Available capacity can be adjusted in real time according to demand, without requiring physical intervention in the infrastructure.
There are three main service models in Cloud Computing, each offering a different level of management and responsibility between the provider and the customer.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Full control in your hands
Provides virtualised infrastructure resources such as servers, storage and networks. The customer is responsible for managing the operating system, middleware and applications. This model is commonly used by technical teams that require greater control over their IT environments.
Platform as a Service (PaaS): Focus on what Rrally matters
Provides a complete environment for developing, testing and deploying applications, including operating systems, middleware and development tools. The provider manages the underlying infrastructure, allowing development teams to focus on building software.
Software as a Service (SaaS): The solution closest to everyday business
Provides fully functional applications accessible through a web browser, without requiring local installation. Examples include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and CRM platforms such as Salesforce. This is the most widely adopted model among end users and organisations of all sizes.
Beyond service models, Cloud Computing can be deployed in three different ways:
Resources are shared across multiple customers and managed by providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform. This model is characterised by lower costs and rapid deployment.
The infrastructure is dedicated exclusively to a single organisation, offering greater control, customisation and regulatory compliance. It is frequently adopted by sectors with specific legal requirements, such as healthcare, public administration and banking.
Combines elements of public and private cloud environments, allowing sensitive data to remain in a private environment while other workloads benefit from the scalability of the public cloud. This model is widely adopted by medium-sized and large organisations.
Adopting Cloud Computing offers measurable operational and financial benefits.
The ORBCOM supports organisations in defining and implementing cybersecurity strategies aligned with their operational requirements.
Through specialised services in cybersecurity, networking, cloud, infrastructure, IT consulting and custom development, we help businesses strengthen access controls, protect critical data and improve their incident response capabilities.
A well-implemented Zero Trust strategy helps reduce risk, increase visibility and better protect users, applications, devices and sensitive information.
Get in touch with our team at info@orbcom.pt.
The case of unauthorised access to SNS user data demonstrates the importance of controlling credentials, permissions and access in organisations that manage sensitive information. A compromised credential can enable improper access to critical data, especially when there is no adequate monitoring or visibility over who is consulting the information.
Compromised credentials can allow apparently legitimate access to internal systems, exposing personal data, health information, internal processes and essential services. This type of access is often difficult to detect immediately, increasing the potential impact of a security incident.
The cybersecurity directly affects service continuity, the protection of citizens’ data, public trust and the response capacity of organisations. For this reason, it should be seen as a strategic and operational priority, not just a technological responsibility.
No. Security does not depend only on the amount of technology implemented. Without integration, monitoring, access control and well-defined processes, an organisation can remain vulnerable even when using several tools. Visibility and governance are essential factors for reducing risk.
Public entities can strengthen their security posture through access control, multi-factor authentication, permission management, continuous monitoring, endpoint protection, cloud security, detection of anomalous behaviour and regular team training. Process traceability is also essential to prevent and respond to incidents.
The ORBCOM supports public entities through cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, networking, technology consulting and custom development services. It also provides solutions such as JAT Fleet, for fleet management, JAT Center, for centralised communications and service flows, and Rolling Legal, for legal process management. The goal is to increase security, operational efficiency and organisational response capacity.
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