Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. ⚙️
Key Concepts 📌
- Definition: A model for delivering on-demand computing resources via the internet.
- Core Characteristics:
- On-demand self-service: Users access resources automatically without human interaction.
- Ubiquitous access: Available from anywhere with an internet connection.
- Resource pooling: Shared infrastructure serving multiple customers.
- Rapid elasticity: Scalable resources that adjust dynamically to demand.
- Measured service: Pay only for the resources used.
Service Models 📦
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet.
- PaaS (Platform as a Service): Offers a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage applications.
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Delivers software applications over the internet.
Deployment Models 🏢
- Public Cloud: Services hosted by third-party providers (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud).
- Private Cloud: Dedicated to a single organization, either on-premises or hosted.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private cloud environments.
- Community Cloud: Shared by several organizations with common concerns.
Benefits ✅
- Cost Efficiency: Eliminates upfront infrastructure costs.
- Scalability: Easily scale resources up or down.
- Global Reach: Access data and applications from anywhere.
- Disaster Recovery: Enhanced data backup and recovery options.
For a deeper dive into cloud computing types, visit our Cloud Computing Types guide. 📚
Want to explore practical use cases? Check out Cloud Computing Applications. 🌱