What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.
It's a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Key Concepts & Benefits
On-Demand Self-Service
Users can provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service's provider.
Learn More →Broad Network Access
Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
Learn More →Resource Pooling
The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
Learn More →Rapid Elasticity
Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.
Learn More →Measured Service
Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Learn More →Cost Efficiency
Shift from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx). Pay-as-you-go models reduce waste and optimize spending.
Learn More →Cloud Service Models
The three primary service models of cloud computing are:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, including operating systems and applications. It offers the highest level of flexibility and management control over your IT resources.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications that are built using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. PaaS allows developers to focus on building applications without worrying about managing the underlying infrastructure.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider’s applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a web browser or application interface. The provider manages all aspects of the application.
Productivity Suites
Online office applications and collaboration tools.
Discover Productivity Tools →Cloud Deployment Models
Cloud deployment models define where your cloud infrastructure resides and who manages it:
- Public Cloud: Services offered over the public internet and available to anyone who wants to purchase them.
- Private Cloud: Cloud computing resources used exclusively by a single business or organization.
- Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds, bound together by technology that allows data and applications to be shared between them.
- Multi-Cloud: The use of cloud services from more than one cloud provider.
Getting Started with Cloud Computing
Ready to harness the power of the cloud? Here are some resources to help you begin your journey:
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft's comprehensive cloud platform. Explore services, pricing, and documentation.
Learn about Azure →Cloud Certifications
Validate your cloud skills with industry-recognized certifications.
View Certifications →Cloud Best Practices
Guides and recommendations for building secure, scalable, and cost-effective cloud solutions.
Read Best Practices →