Glossary – Cloud Computing from A to Z
Cloud knowledge from A to Z
Key terms from the worlds of cloud computing, hosting and IT security – explained in simple terms and with reference to the centron Cloud.
A – B
API (Application Programming Interface)
A programming interface through which applications communicate with services. The centron API automatically manages VMs, clusters and storage – ideal for CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code.
AutoScaling
Automatic adjustment of resources to the current load. In centron Kubernetes, the AutoScaler adds nodes as and when required – and removes them when the load decreases.
Backup
Backing up data or systems for recovery following errors, failures or attacks. At centron, this is automated using cBacks – from hourly to daily, with no basic fee.
Block storage
Storage organised into blocks, like a hard disk – at centron, this takes the form of volumes with NVMe performance, regardless of the VM’s lifecycle.
BSI C5
The Federal Office for Information Security’s Cloud Computing Compliance Criteria Catalogue – the German benchmark for cloud security. centron holds an unrestricted C5:2020 Type 1 attestation for ccloud³ / Managed Cloud.
C – D
CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment)
Automated processes that continuously test and deploy code. Kubernetes and the centron API integrate seamlessly into CI/CD pipelines.
Cloud Firewall
A rule-based network filter that controls traffic before it reaches the server. Centrally manageable via centron, from €5.72 per month.
Colocation
Operating your own server hardware in a provider’s data centre – with a professional power supply, air conditioning and connectivity. At centron’s site in Hallstadt near Bamberg.
Container
A lightweight, portable unit that encapsulates an application and its dependencies (e.g. using Docker). Containers are typically orchestrated using Kubernetes.
GDPR
The EU General Data Protection Regulation. centron processes data exclusively in Germany – compliance with the GDPR is therefore a fundamental principle, not an optional extra.
F – I
Failover
Automatic switchover to a backup system in the event of a failure of the primary system. With cProtect, failover is achieved in seconds – to the most recent clean replication point.
High Availability
An architectural principle that ensures the system can withstand the failure of individual components without any service disruption – for example, through redundant nodes, load balancing and replication in managed clusters.
Hypervisor
Software that divides physical hardware into several virtual machines – the technical basis of virtualisation and cloud computing.
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
A cloud model in which infrastructure such as computing power, storage and networking is procured as a service – e.g. ccloud³ VMs, volumes and VPCs.
ISO 27001
International standard for information security management. centron operates certified to ISO 27001 on the basis of IT-Grundschutz high-security data centres in Germany.
K – O
Kubernetes
Open-source container orchestration system: deployment, scaling and self-healing are automated. Available from centron as a managed service with cStack from €29.99 per month.
Load balancer
Distributes incoming traffic across multiple servers – ensuring even load distribution and high availability. A key component of Kubernetes and cluster set-ups at centron.
Managed Hosting
A hosting model in which the provider takes care of set-up, updates, monitoring and backups – at centron, this ranges from Managed Server to Premium Full Managing.
NVMe
Interface standard for particularly fast SSDs. The standard used by centron for VM storage, volumes and dedicated servers.
Object Storage
Storage architecture that stores data as objects in buckets – virtually unlimited scalability. With centron, S3-compatible with free data transfer.
R – S
RPO (Recovery Point Objective)
Maximum tolerable data loss in the event of a disaster, measured as a period of time. cProtect achieves an RPO of no more than 15 minutes through 15-minute replication.
RTO (Recovery Time Objective)
The maximum permissible time until a service is restored. Failover within seconds using cProtect reduces the RTO to a minimum.
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
Contractual commitments to performance parameters such as availability – e.g. 99.8 per cent monthly availability in the High Availability Pool or 99.9 per cent network uptime for colocation.
Snapshot
A snapshot of the exact state of a VM or volume – created in seconds, ideal as a rollback point prior to updates.
SSL/TLS
Encryption protocols for secure connections (HTTPS). Centron offers certificates at the DV, OV and EV levels with automated management.
U – Z
Uptime
The proportion of time during which a service is available – usually expressed as a percentage per year and guaranteed by SLAs.
Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)
Isolated private network within the cloud: servers communicate via internal IP addresses, isolated from the public internet.
Virtual machine (VM)
Software-defined computer running on shared physical hardware – deployed in seconds as a ccloud³ VM at centron, from €3.11 per month.
Zero-Downtime Deployment
Deploying new software versions without disrupting service – for example, through rolling updates in Kubernetes.
By subject area
An overview of all glossary terms
The complete glossary, organised by subject area.
Cloud & operating models
19Network & protocols
17Security
12Infrastructure & hosting
10Data & development
9
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