Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. It is a model for enabling ubiquitous, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
One of the most basic forms of cloud computing is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). IaaS providers offer virtualized computing resources over the internet, including servers, storage, and networking. This allows users to rent computing resources on-demand, rather than building and maintaining their own infrastructure. Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Another form of cloud computing is Platform as a Service (PaaS). PaaS providers offer a platform for building, deploying, and scaling applications, without the need to manage the underlying infrastructure. This includes things like databases, web servers, and other services that are needed to run applications. Examples of PaaS providers include Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, and Google App Engine.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
The most common form of cloud computing is Software as a Service (SaaS). SaaS providers offer software applications over the internet, rather than installing them on individual computers. This includes things like email, customer relationship management (CRM), and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. Examples of SaaS providers include Salesforce, Office 365, and Google Workspace.
Private, Public, and Hybrid Cloud
Cloud computing can be deployed in a variety of ways, including private clouds, public clouds, and hybrid clouds. A private cloud is a cloud infrastructure that is operated solely for a single organization. A public cloud is a cloud infrastructure that is open to the public and owned by a third-party cloud service provider. A hybrid cloud is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain distinct entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability.
In conclusion, Cloud computing is a model for delivering IT services over the internet. It includes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) that allows users to rent computing resources on-demand, rather than building and maintaining their own infrastructure. The cloud can be deployed in a variety of ways, including private clouds, public clouds, and hybrid clouds. It enables faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale, and is considered as the future of IT.