Back to: Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet (“the cloud”) instead of relying on local hardware or data centers. It allows businesses and individuals to access and use computing resources on demand, without having to invest in and maintain physical infrastructure.
Key Features of Cloud Computing:
- On-Demand Self-Service – Users can provision computing resources as needed without human intervention.
- Broad Network Access – Services are accessible over the internet from various devices.
- Resource Pooling – Multiple users share computing resources dynamically allocated as needed.
- Scalability & Elasticity – Resources can scale up or down automatically based on demand.
- Measured Service (Pay-as-You-Go) – Users pay only for the resources they consume.
Types of Cloud Computing:
- Public Cloud – Services provided over the internet by third-party providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).
- Private Cloud – Cloud infrastructure dedicated to a single organization, either on-premises or hosted by a third party.
- Hybrid Cloud – A mix of public and private clouds that work together for greater flexibility.
- Multi-Cloud – Using multiple cloud providers for redundancy, compliance, or optimization.
Service Models:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – Virtualized computing resources like servers, storage, and networking (e.g., AWS EC2, Google Compute Engine).
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) – Provides a platform for developers to build applications without managing infrastructure (e.g., AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine).
- Software as a Service (SaaS) – Fully managed applications accessible via the internet (e.g., Gmail, Dropbox, Salesforce).
Cloud computing is widely used for web hosting, data backup, disaster recovery, AI & ML workloads, DevOps, big data analytics, and more. It offers businesses agility, cost savings, and global reach.