Cloud Computing refers to the delivery of computing services, such as storage, processing power, and software, over the internet. Some key features of Cloud Computing include:
- On-Demand Self-Service: Users can provision and manage computing resources, such as virtual machines and storage, without requiring human intervention from the service provider.
- Broad Network Access: Cloud services are accessible over the internet from various devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets, enabling users to access their data and applications from anywhere.
- Resource Pooling: Cloud providers pool resources from multiple customers to serve multiple users, optimizing resource utilization and efficiency.
- Rapid Elasticity: Cloud resources can be scaled up or down quickly to accommodate changing workload demands. This scalability ensures that users only pay for the resources they use.
- Measured Service: Cloud usage is metered, allowing users to be billed based on their actual consumption. This pay-as-you-go model offers cost savings and flexibility.
- Multi-Tenancy: Multiple users or organizations can share the same physical resources while maintaining data separation and security through virtualization and other technologies.
- Service Models: Cloud Computing offers different service models:
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking.
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers a platform and environment to develop, deploy, and manage applications without dealing with underlying infrastructure complexities.
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet, eliminating the need for users to install and maintain the software locally.
- Deployment Models: Cloud services can be deployed in various ways:
- Public Cloud: Services are offered to the general public over the internet. Resources are owned and operated by third-party providers.
- Private Cloud: Services are used exclusively by a single organization. The cloud infrastructure can be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combines both public and private cloud models, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
These features collectively contribute to the flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility of Cloud Computing services