If you are someone in the business world, then there’s a good chance that you have heard of cloud computing. Even if you haven’t, then it’s likely that you have seen it in action because more and more businesses are using it as a means to keep their files and perform their operations. But is it really a big deal, and what does all this technical jargon mean? Let’s find out.
Meaning
Cloud computing is an approach to using software and hardware that delivers services through a central data storage system over the Internet—a computer network that connects millions of computers around the world.
Characteristics
Computing services on-demand: From a business perspective, the cloud is like one-stop shopping for data storage and IT services. But it’s also about convenience for users, who can access the software and systems they need — when they need them — from anywhere in the world. Cloud computing provides users with faster performance, more flexibility, and increased security.
Wide network access: Cloud computing services are delivered to users via the Internet by way of the broad range of devices they prefer, including desktop, laptop, and mobile devices. And because cloud software is stored on remote servers and accessed over the Internet, it is accessible from anywhere through those same devices. This means you can collaborate with coworkers from your laptop in the morning in your office, then access all of your files from a home computer in the evening after work.
Pooling of resources: This refers to the pooling of resources such as storage, memory, processing, and/or network bandwidth within a cloud environment. The cloud provider is able to meet the varying demands of client consumers by rapidly provisioning and releasing resources.
Greater elasticity: Rapid elasticity is where cloud computing shines. Data centers are able to rapidly add extra capacity in minutes and just as easily take it away when demand recedes. This makes cloud computing an essential resource for organizations facing dramatic changes in peak demand.
Enables tracking: In cloud computing, resources can be metered and billed according to some usage metering and pricing policy. This means that your company will pay a predetermined amount for cloud services on a per-use basis. This service model brings predictable costs and allows you to easily scale upward and downward as necessary to fit your business needs.