Definition and Characteristics of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of IT services, such as computing power, storage, and databases, over the Internet (“the cloud”) on demand. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, companies can acquire technology resources as needed, paying only for what they consume.
Key Characteristics
- On-demand self-service: Users can access cloud resources independently without requiring interaction with service providers.
- Broad network access: Resources can be accessed from various devices with internet connectivity.
- Resource pooling: Cloud providers combine resources from multiple users to create a shared pool.
- Rapid elasticity: Resources can be quickly scaled up or down based on demand.
- Measured service: Users pay only for the resources consumed.
How it Works
Cloud computing providers maintain large data centers filled with servers. When a user requests a service, the cloud provider allocates resources from the pool and delivers them over the internet. This model eliminates the need for organizations to invest heavily in hardware and IT infrastructure.
In essence, cloud computing is about providing computing resources as a utility, similar to electricity or water.
What are the key characteristics of cloud computing?
On-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service.
How does cloud computing work?
Cloud providers manage large data centers and allocate resources to users as needed.
What are the benefits of cloud computing?
Cost-efficiency, scalability, flexibility, reliability, and speed.
What are the challenges of cloud computing?
Security, vendor lock-in, and potential performance issues.
What is cloud computing?
The delivery of IT services over the internet, allowing users to access resources on demand.