What is “cloud computing” ?

As the web evolves, so does the need for constant education surrounding the latest and most prevalent technologies that affect our daily lives.

“Cloud computing” is a term which is being used more and more as it has become more of a reality in our every day lives. This is a term which we use a lot on this site, and we decided to dedicate a post to help all understand its meaning and importance with regards to the evolution of the web.

Cloud computing is a generalised term for any product or service that is delivered via the web – instead of being delivered via your local computer.

Defined by wikipedia:

Cloud computing is Internet- (“cloud-”) based development and use of computer technology (“computing“).^[1] In concept, it is a paradigm shift whereby details are abstracted from the users who no longer need knowledge of, expertise in, or control over the technology infrastructure “in the cloud” that supports them.^[2] Cloud computing describes a new supplement, consumption and delivery model for IT services based on Internet, and it typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet.^[3][4]

The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents.^[5] Typical cloud computing providers deliver common business applications online which are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers.

Here are 2 video’s related to this term – firstly a basic introduction, secondly a more in-depth look into this term.