What is put?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing resources-such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics-over the internet (“the cloud”) instead of having to own and manage physical hardware on‑premises. You simply rent what you need, when you need it, and access it through a web browser or API.

Let's break it down

  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): You rent raw virtual machines, storage, and networks. Think of it as renting a blank computer you can configure yourself.
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS): The provider supplies the operating system, runtime, and development tools, so you can focus on writing code without worrying about the underlying hardware.
  • Software as a Service (SaaS): Fully finished applications delivered over the web (e.g., email, CRM, office suites). You just use the software; everything else is managed for you.
  • Public, Private, and Hybrid Clouds: Public clouds are shared among many customers, private clouds are dedicated to a single organization, and hybrid clouds combine both for flexibility.

Why does it matter?

  • Cost Efficiency: Pay‑as‑you‑go pricing means you only pay for what you actually use, avoiding large upfront hardware purchases.
  • Scalability: Resources can be quickly scaled up or down to match demand, supporting everything from small blogs to global services.
  • Speed & Innovation: Developers can spin up environments in minutes, test ideas fast, and bring new features to market quicker.
  • Reliability: Major cloud providers offer high‑availability architectures and automatic backups, reducing downtime.

Where is it used?

  • Web and Mobile Apps: Most modern apps (e.g., Netflix, Instagram) run on cloud infrastructure.
  • Data Storage & Backup: Services like Amazon S3 or Google Cloud Storage store files, images, and backups.
  • Big Data & Analytics: Cloud platforms provide tools for processing massive datasets (e.g., AWS Redshift, Azure Synapse).
  • Machine Learning: Pre‑built AI services and GPU instances let developers train models without buying expensive hardware.
  • Enterprise IT: Companies move email, collaboration tools, and internal applications to SaaS solutions like Office 365 or Salesforce.

Good things about it

  • Flexibility: Choose the exact services and scale you need.
  • Global Reach: Deploy applications in data centers around the world for low latency.
  • Security Expertise: Leading providers invest heavily in security certifications and compliance.
  • Maintenance Free: Patches, hardware upgrades, and network management are handled by the provider.
  • Innovation Access: Immediate use of cutting‑edge technologies (AI, IoT, serverless) without building them yourself.

Not-so-good things

  • Ongoing Costs: While there are no upfront hardware expenses, long‑term usage can become expensive if not monitored.
  • Vendor Lock‑in: Moving workloads to another provider can be complex and costly.
  • Limited Control: You rely on the provider’s policies for updates, configurations, and sometimes performance throttling.
  • Data Privacy Concerns: Storing sensitive data off‑site may raise compliance and regulatory issues.
  • Internet Dependency: Access to services requires a reliable network connection; outages can disrupt operations.