Grid and cloud computing are the famous buzzwords of the IT industry. Both technologies are used in a distributed computing environment to provide services through sharing resources and capabilities.

Both the technologies involve massive computer infrastructures and offer their own set of advantages to businesses. However, they are different from each other. Grid computing can be used in cloud computing but it is not a part of the cloud. So, let us begin by understanding what do these technologies mean and how they are different from each other.

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Also Read: How to choose the right public cloud?

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What is Grid Computing?

Grid computing is a group of networked computers which work together as a virtual supercomputer to perform large tasks, such as analysing huge sets of data or weather modelling. It involves forming a cluster of computers running parallelly to solve complex problems.

Advantages of Grid Computing

• Can solve larger, more complex problems in a shorter time
• Easier to collaborate with other organizations
• Make better use of existing hardware
• Grid environments are much more modular and don’t have single points of failure. If one of the servers/desktops within the grid fail, there are plenty of other resources to pick the load.

What is Cloud Computing?

In simple words, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services such as servers, storage, databases, network, and software over the Internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.

Advantages of Cloud Computing

• Once the data is stored in the cloud, it is easier to get back-up and restore that data
• Cloud applications improve collaboration by enabling remote teams to quickly and easily share information via shared storage.
• Cloud allows employees to easily access stored information anytime and from anywhere in the world
• Cloud computing is cost efficient as it reduces both CAPEX and OPEX
• Cloud offers many advanced features and tools related to security, thereby enhancing data security

How grid computing is different from cloud computing?

In grid computing, the service of connected computers is used to run independent tasks for solving complex problems whereas cloud computing is nothing but the delivery of computing resources.

The primary difference between grid computing and cloud computing is that the grid is used for scheduling jobs, a task is broken down into smaller problems and are shared among the network of interconnected computers. In cloud computing, there is one central computing unit that takes care of the distribution of all the available resources.

The Future…

With the advent of new-age technologies and 5G, we have entered the highly distributed age of computing. With the pandemic introducing us to remote and hybrid working models, the need to capture, store, and process data closer to the edge of the network has accelerated by leaps and bounds.

Now, cloud computing alone is not enough as it lacks speed and consistency. When data is collected and sent to a central cloud for computation, the problem of latency arises. Hence, the future of distributed computing lies in edge and mobile edge computing. Edge is increasingly converging with other new-age technologies such as IoT, AI and ML to not only turn insights into actions but also revamp the business model and offerings of several businesses and industries.