What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet (“the cloud”) rather than using local servers or personal devices. This approach allows individuals and organizations to access and use powerful computing resources on demand without the need to own and maintain physical infrastructure. The main advantages of cloud computing include scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Users can quickly scale resources up or down based on their needs, only paying for what they use. Additionally, cloud providers handle maintenance, security, and updates, enabling businesses to focus on their core activities instead of IT management. There are several common cloud service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which offers virtualized hardware; Platform as a Service (PaaS), which provides development tools and environments; and Software as a Service (SaaS), which delivers ready-to-use applications over the internet. Together, these services support a wide range of use cases, from hosting websites to running complex data analytics and machine learning applications.