1 Cloud Computing Fundamentals and Benefits
Learn what cloud computing is, how customers use on-demand resources, and when agility, cost efficiency, and global reach can benefit an organization.
What cloud computing provides
Cloud computing is the of computing resources over a network, usually the internet. Resources can include servers, storage, databases, networking, and software.
Rather than buying and maintaining all the hardware themselves, customers provision resources from a when needed and release them when they are no longer required. NIST describes cloud computing as network access to a that can be rapidly provisioned and released.
Using cloud resources
A customer can use a to run an application, store files, or host a database without owning the physical servers supporting those services. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one example of a .
This model lets customers request computing resources as needs arise and release them when they are no longer required, instead of maintaining all the supporting hardware themselves.
through rapid provisioning
Cloud resources can often be provisioned in minutes, rather than waiting to purchase, install, and configure physical equipment. This can help teams test ideas, develop applications, and respond to changing needs more quickly.
For example, a developer can create a temporary test server, evaluate a new feature, and remove the server when testing is complete.
Cost efficiency and its limits
Cloud computing can reduce the need for large upfront investments in servers and data centers. With , customers pay for the resources they consume rather than buying capacity in advance. Shared infrastructure can also let providers benefit from .
Cloud use does not automatically guarantee lower costs. Expenses depend on the services selected and how they are used. Monitoring resource usage and removing unneeded resources can help avoid waste.
Serving users across regions
Cloud providers operate infrastructure in multiple geographic areas. Organizations can use available locations to serve users in different parts of the world, potentially reducing the distance data travels and improving access for those users.
For example, a business expanding into a new market may deploy its application in a nearby cloud location instead of building a local data center. Global infrastructure gives organizations options, but they still need to choose suitable locations and configure applications to use them.
Benefits depend on resource choices
Cloud computing provides computing resources on demand over a network. It can help organizations work more agilely, avoid some upfront infrastructure costs, and serve users across geographic areas.
These are potential benefits, not automatic results. Organizations must choose and manage resources appropriately.