What is natural?
Cloud computing is a way of using the internet to store, manage, and process data on remote servers instead of on your own computer or local servers. Think of it like renting space in a huge, shared computer that you can access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Let's break it down
- Servers: Powerful computers that run in big data centers.
- Internet: The highway that lets you talk to those servers.
- Services: Different things you can do, such as storing files (storage), running applications (platform), or using whole computers (infrastructure) on demand.
- Pay‑as‑you‑go: You only pay for the resources you actually use, like electricity or water.
Why does it matter?
It lets individuals and businesses avoid buying and maintaining expensive hardware. You can start small, grow quickly, and focus on building your product or service instead of worrying about the underlying tech.
Where is it used?
- Streaming movies and music (Netflix, Spotify)
- Online photo storage (Google Photos, iCloud)
- Business apps like email, CRM, and accounting
- Gaming platforms (Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Now)
- Scientific research that needs massive computing power
Good things about it
- Scalability: Add or remove resources instantly.
- Cost efficiency: No upfront hardware costs.
- Accessibility: Work from any device with internet.
- Reliability: Providers often have backups and multiple data centers.
- Speed of innovation: Launch new features without waiting for hardware upgrades.
Not-so-good things
- Dependence on internet: No connection, no access.
- Ongoing costs: Pay‑as‑you‑go can add up if not monitored.
- Security concerns: Storing data off‑site requires trust in the provider’s safeguards.
- Vendor lock‑in: Switching providers can be complex and costly.
- Latency: Some tasks may be slower if the server is far away.