Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is an emerging trend in information technology in which computer-based services are delivered over the Internet — "the cloud" — and are accessible to the user from anywhere, using any device. Your data and programs no longer have to live on the machine in front of you.

What services, and who provides them?

The services delivered through the cloud include:

• software
• hardware (servers)
• databases
• storage, and more

These resources are supplied by companies called cloud service providers, who usually charge on a pay-per-use basis — much like the way we pay for electricity: you pay for what you consume, not for owning the power station.

You already use the cloud

Everyday activities are already cloud services:

• storing pictures and files as backup on the Internet
• hosting a website on the Internet

Why the cloud is powerful

Through cloud computing, a user can run a bigger application or process a large amount of data without owning the required storage or processing power on their personal computer — the only requirement is an Internet connection. The heavy lifting happens on the provider's machines, far away.

The economics …