What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing refers to the use of networked infrastructure software and the capacity to provide resources to users in an on-demand environment. With cloud computing, information is permanently stored in servers on the Internet and cached temporarily on desktop computers, notebooks, handhelds, or other client devices. In this model, often referred to as “utility computing,” users can access common business applications online from virtually any end user device, on a pay-per-use basis.
By design, cloud computing is scalable and elastic, offering IT departments a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on demand, without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software.
Enterprises are beginning to leverage the cloud computing model to expand on-premise infrastructure and add capacity on demand. Small and Medium sized businesses can leverage cloud computing to fully outsource their infrastructure and lower their cost of doing business.