What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is a technology that allows individuals and organizations to access and use computing resources—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet (“the cloud”) instead of relying on local computers or on-premises servers. This means that instead of owning and maintaining physical hardware and software, users can rent or subscribe to these resources from cloud service providers on-demand. The main advantages of cloud computing include flexibility, scalability, cost-efficiency, and accessibility. Users can quickly scale up or down their computing needs based on demand without significant upfront investments. Cloud services are typically offered in different models, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), catering to various technical and business requirements. Overall, cloud computing has transformed how businesses operate by enabling faster innovation, improved collaboration, and simplified IT management. It supports a wide range of applications, from data storage and backup to running complex machine learning models and hosting websites.