Skip to content

Understand the internet

Understanding the basics of how the internet works can enhance your ability to leverage cloud resources effectively and navigate the cloud ecosystem.

The internet is the foundation upon which cloud computing is built, providing the connectivity and infrastructure necessary for delivering cloud services.

What is the internet?

The internet is a global network of interconnected computers and devices that communicate using standardized protocols, primarily the Internet Protocol (IP). It allows users to access information, communicate, and interact with web-based applications and services.

Key components of the internet

  • Devices, which include computers, smartphones, servers, routers, and other networking equipment that connect to the internet.

  • Networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and the global network that connects them all.

  • IP addresses, for every device connected to the internet, a unique IP address, which is used to identify and locate the device on the network.

  • Domain names, which are human-readable addresses (for example, www.example.com) mapped to IP addresses through the Domain Name System (DNS), making it easier for users to access websites and services.

  • Protocols, to define how data is transmitted and received. The most important protocols include the Internet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

How data travels across the internet

  • Data packets, for information sent over the internet that is divided into small units called packets. Each packet contains a portion of the data, the sender's IP address, the recipient's IP address, and other routing information.

  • Routers and switches, to direct packets through the network, using routing protocols to determine the best path from the source to the destination.

  • Transmission, when data packets travel through various physical mediums, such as copper wires, fiber-optic cables, and wireless signals, to reach their destination.

  • Reassembly at the destination, where the packets are reassembled in the correct order to reconstruct the original data.

The Role of the internet in cloud computing

  • Accessibility for users to access cloud resources, such as virtual machines, storage, and applications, from anywhere with an internet connection.

  • Scalability to leverage the internet's infrastructure to deliver scalable services, allowing you to easily expand or reduce your resource usage as needed.

  • Interconnectivity that enables seamless communication and integration between different cloud services and external applications.

  • Data transfer to upload, download, and synchronize data between local devices and the cloud.