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What Is Cloud Computing?

We define cloud computing in simplest terms, as follows: A set of pooled computing resources, delivered over the web, powered by software. Cloud computing – not to be confused with grid computing, utility computing, or autonomic computing – is a form of computing that involves the interaction of several virtualized resources, meaning that many servers are connecting and sharing information that can expand and contract across servers depending on the amount of servers needed to manage the amount of traffic on various sites. Cloud computing is often provided “as a service” over the internet, typically in the form of infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), or software as a service (SaaS). The “cloud” in “cloud computing” stems from the interconnectivity of the computers and computer networks that form the internet because, when these relationships are diagramed, the resulting image looks like a cloud.

Benefits of cloud computing

• Agility improves with users able to rapidly and inexpensively re-provision technological infrastructure resources
• Cost is greatly reduced as infrastructure is provided by SkySphere and does not need to be purchased for one-time or infrequent intensive computing tasks. Pricing on a utility computing basis is fine-grained with usage-based options and fewer IT skills are required for implementation.
• Reliability improves through the use of multiple redundant sites, which makes cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster recovery.
• Scalability via dynamic provisioning of resources on a fine-grained, self-service basis near real-time, without users having to engineer for peak loads.
• Security improves due to centralization of data, increased security-focused resources, etc.
• Sustainability comes about through improved resource utilization and more efficient systems.