Cloud computing is a service where information, software, and shared resources are provided to electronic devices such as computers as a utility over the internet. It provides storage services, data access, software, and computation that do not require knowledge by the end users of the configuration and physical location of the system that carries out the services.

Characteristics of Cloud Computing

• End users are empowered by letting them control the resource provisioning.
• Users have the ability to re-arrange technological framework resources which eventually improves agility.
• Machines are able to interact with cloud software by making application programming interface (API) accessible to software.
• The public cloud delivery model converts capital expenditure to operational expense. Cost of taking advantage of the service is lower than purchasing the resources especially when a company has one-time or infrequent need of such resources.
• Users can access the system through the web browser and is neither limited by the device or location. As long as the company has access to the internet, the users can connect to the service from anywhere.
• Large number of users share costs and resources making the cloud system more efficient and utilized as compared to a company which maintains its own resources.
• The third party providers of this type of service have improved the reliability of the system by providing multiple redundant sites which makes it sufficient for disaster recovery and business continuity.
• The resources are provisioned almost real-time and on a self-service basis, which makes the system elastic and scalable.
• The centralization of data has improved security due to the provisioning of resources that are focused on providing data security.
• Applications are basically maintenance free on the part of the companies availing of such services.

Models of Cloud Computing Deployment

• Public Cloud: The resources are provisioned dynamically for the use of the general public and accessed through the internet from a third-party provider on a self-service manner.
• Community Cloud: Organizations or companies in a specific community share the infrastructure which can either be managed by a third party or the community itself. The resources can be hosted off-site or internally. The cost of maintenance is typically shouldered by the members of the community.
• Hybrid Cloud: A combination of two or more cloud where the entities have maintained their uniqueness even though they are bound in one cloud. This type of cloud has the capability of enjoying the benefits of different deployment models.
• Private Cloud: This type of cloud is for the exclusive use of a single company which can be managed by third part or internally and hosted off-site or within the company’s premises.

 Cloud Computing Issues

Third-party providers have access of any data of any company which is on the cloud and that they can deliberately of accidentally delete or alter some of these data. Not only does the system have privacy issues, it also has compliance issues as well. In order to acquire compliance with US and/or UK regulations, companies have to avail hybrid or community deployment models which have limited benefits and are, in general, more expensive.

Read more about what cloud computing is here.