Definition #
Delivery of computing services over the internet following three main models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.
Key Characteristics #
- Resource pooling
- Rapid elasticity
- Measured service
- Self-service provisioning
Why It Matters #
Reduces capital expenses by 60% while enabling global scalability (Flexera 2024).
Common Use Cases #
- Web application hosting
- Big data analytics
- Disaster recovery
Examples #
- AWS EC2 instances
- Google Cloud Functions
- Microsoft Azure Kubernetes Service
FAQs #
Q: Cloud vs on-prem costs?
A: Cloud OPEX vs on-prem CAPEX - TCO typically favors cloud at scale.
Q: Security best practices?
A: Follow CIS benchmarks, enable MFA, and use cloud-native monitoring.