What Is Cloud Computing?

At its core, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet ("the cloud"). These services typically use a pay-as-you-go model, allowing businesses to scale resources up or down as needed.

Cloud Deployment Models

There are three main deployment models for cloud computing:

• Public Cloud Cloud services are delivered over the internet and shared among multiple customers. Infrastructure is owned and operated by cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
  Best for: Scalability, rapid deployment, and lower upfront costs.
• Private Cloud Cloud infrastructure is used exclusively by a single organization. It can be hosted on-premises or by a third party.
  Best for: Greater control, security, and compliance—especially in regulated industries.
• Hybrid Cloud A combination of public and private cloud environments, with data and applications moving between them.
  Best for: Balancing security and flexibility, integrating legacy systems, and managing sensitive workloads.

Example: A healthcare provider stores Protected Health Information (PHI) in a secure on-premises or private cloud environment to comply with HIPAA regulations, while hosting patient portals and scheduling systems in the public cloud. This hybrid approach ensures data privacy while delivering a user-friendly experience to patients.

Key Cloud Service Models

Cloud services generally fall into three categories:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Provides virtualized computing resources online.
  Examples: AWS EC2, Azure Virtual Machines, Google Compute Engine
• Platform as a Service (PaaS) Offers tools and environments for developers to build and deploy applications without managing infrastructure.
  Examples: AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Services, Google App Engine
• Software as a Service (SaaS) Delivers software applications over the internet via subscription.
  Examples: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce

Meet the Top Cloud Providers

• Amazon Web Services (AWS) Launched in 2006, AWS is the most mature and widely used cloud platform. It offers an extensive range of services across compute, storage, networking, databases, machine learning, and more.
• Microsoft Azure Known for its tight integration with Microsoft products, Azure is a favorite among enterprises and hybrid cloud adopters. It supports a broad set of programming languages, tools, and frameworks.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) GCP is known for strengths in data analytics, AI/ML, and open-source technologies. With innovations like BigQuery, TensorFlow, and Kubernetes (co-developed by Google), GCP excels in data-heavy workloads and developer ecosystems.

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