Cloud Computing Definition – Techopedia

Introduction

Cloud computing is a popular term used to describe the concept of storing, sharing and accessing information and data over the Internet. Cloud computing allows users to access their files from any location, on any device and from any application by leveraging a shared infrastructure that supports the entire workflow in the cloud. Rather than owning or managing hardware, software and infrastructure resources, organizations can leverage third party providers for these services. The result is cost savings through lower maintenance costs as well as flexibility in deploying new applications or upgrading existing ones with minimal downtime.

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is a type of computing that offers on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications and services). Cloud providers or cloud service providers (CSPs) offer their services over the internet.

Cloud-based solutions are typically available as a Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). A SaaS solution is delivered via the web and accessible from any device with an internet connection, such as smartphones and tablets; PaaS provides both hardware and software needed for application development; IaaS delivers raw computing power via virtualized servers accessed through remote desktops or mobile devices connected through private networks

How does cloud computing work?

Cloud computing is an on-demand service that provides access to shared resources, software, and information for businesses and consumers. It’s one of the most popular implementations of Internet-based computing.

Cloud providers offer their customers access to data centers with large amounts of computational power, storage capacity and network bandwidth—all at a fraction of what it would cost them to buy those resources themselves from vendors like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure or Google Compute Engine. Cloud providers can also provide applications as well as storage space so that you don’t have to worry about configuring software before you launch your project!

Cloud computing services are hosted on the Internet, accessed through a web browser or dedicated software like Microsoft Office 365 (which includes Word), Dropbox or Google Drive – all paid for by the minute or by the hour depending upon how much capacity you want for each project at any given time during its lifetime cycle.”

Why is cloud computing growing in popularity?

Cloud computing is growing in popularity because it offers many benefits over traditional data storage solutions. For example, cloud-based services are typically much less expensive than their on-premises counterparts. Cloud providers usually charge based on usage, so you only pay for what you need and can scale up or down as needed without having to worry about hardware maintenance costs. Additionally, since most cloud providers offer multiple services and have a large customer base utilizing those services at any given time (they’re using the same infrastructure), they can provide redundancy that makes your data safer than if it were stored locally on your own servers.

Cloud computing vs. virtualization.

Cloud computing is a type of virtualization. Virtualization is a way to use software to create an abstracted layer between hardware and applications, allowing users to access their resources from anywhere via the Internet. Cloud computing extends this concept by also offering storage and other services over the Internet instead of having them be tied directly to specific hardware or software packages. This makes it possible for companies that may not have been able to afford expensive hardware in-house before now have access to powerful tools without having to spend money upfront on expensive infrastructure upgrades (or buying new computers).

Cloud computing can also be considered utility computing because it allows businesses–and individuals–to pay only for what they need rather than paying fixed costs every month regardless if they use all those resources or not (as would happen with traditional licensing agreements).

Cloud computing vs. on-premise infrastructure.

Cloud computing is a way of delivering software and other services over the Internet. It’s a flexible, cost-effective and secure alternative to on-premise infrastructure, which means you don’t have to buy or maintain servers in your own office.

Cloud providers offer a wide range of applications (including email) that can be accessed via any device that has an Internet connection – including smartphones, laptops and tablets. You only pay for what you use so there are no upfront costs or long-term commitments required when using cloud services; this makes them ideal for small businesses as well as large corporations looking to save money by outsourcing their IT needs without compromising quality or reliability

Cloud computing allows for the use of hosted software, storage and other services over the Internet.

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage and applications) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model also allows customers to pay only for what they use—and if they don’t need it anymore it will disappear automatically.

The advantage of this approach over other options like buying individual server licenses or hiring IT staff is that you don’t have to worry about updating software or hardware when the time comes; instead you simply pay for what you use and let the provider handle those tasks for you!

Cloud Computing Definition – Techopedia

Conclusion

Cloud computing is a technology that allows you to access software, storage and other services over the Internet. It can be used by businesses of any size, but it has especially helped companies who need to store large amounts of data or run complex programs without having to buy expensive hardware or software licenses. Cloud computing offers many benefits over traditional on-premise infrastructure including cost savings and scalability–which means that your business will always have enough resources available when needed!