Definition

Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet (“the cloud”). It offers flexible resources, faster innovation, and economies of scale.

Types

Types of Cloud Computing:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet.

Example: Amazon Web Services (AWS) EC2 instances.

Platform as a Service (PaaS):
Supplies an environment for developing, testing, and managing applications.

Example: Google App Engine.

Software as a Service (SaaS):
Delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis.

Example: Microsoft Office 365.

Function as a Service (FaaS):
Allows developers to build, run, and manage application functionalities without managing the infrastructure.

Example: AWS Lambda.

Benefits

Benefits of Cloud Computing:

Cost Savings:
Reduces the capital expense of buying hardware and software.

Example: Paying only for the compute resources used.

Scalability:
Easily scales resources up or down based on demand.

Example: Auto-scaling to handle traffic spikes for an e-commerce site.

Performance:
Offers high-performance computing resources and faster innovations.

Example: Leveraging global data centers for low-latency access.

Security:
Provides advanced security features to protect data and applications.

Example: Data encryption and identity management systems.