--- title: "What is cloud computing?" description: "What is cloud computing?" author: "Diya Ladia" published: 2022-07-13 canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97856/what-is-cloud-computing category: "technology" tags: ["cloud computing"] reading_time: 4 minutes --- # What is cloud computing? Significance of cloud computing and how does it work? [Explain the working](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/33651/explain-the-working-of-google-adwords) [structure](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/23258/choose-your-business-structure-wisely)? ## Answers ### Answer by Sarda Kumari #### Cloud Computing- Introduction Cloud refers to the servers accessed over the internet. Therefore, Cloud computing means storing, managing, and accessing the data and programs on **remote servers** hosted on the internet. In other words, cloud computing is the **on-demand availability** of computer system resources **without direct active management**. [Amazon Web Services(AWS)](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/297772/a-comprehensive-guide-on-aws-cloud-computing) and Google Cloud Platform are the most widely used cloud services. \ ![What is cloud computing?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/b3031732-319b-4848-86fb-b3f88817f742/images/1f94d517-7947-412a-8c87-29495ec85d45.jpeg)\ \ **Significance of Cloud Computing.**\ **\** **1. Flexibility:** Cloud computing enables employees to be flexible in and out of the workplace. Organizations can choose cloud infrastructure and services according to their needs. \ **2. Scalability:** We can use as many resources as we want with cloud computing. It allows us to upscale or downscale our IT requirements per our needs. \ **3. Cost-effective**- we only have to pay for the resources we use. This makes Cloud computing an economically better option than investing in personal resources. \ **4. Security-** the cloud service providers carefully monitor the resources and data safety. \ **5. Recovery-** the cloud backup and data recovery are fast and reliable. \ **Cloud Computing- working.** ![What is cloud computing?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/b3031732-319b-4848-86fb-b3f88817f742/images/afb49faf-1513-4dac-9034-851f7262bde9.png) **\** **\** **\** A Cloud computing system comprises servers, computers, databases, and central servers. The main servers perform their functions/operations following a **set of protocols.** They use software and **middleware** for seamless connectivity between the devices. The [Cloud Computing Architecture](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/801/cloud-computing-concepts-paas) contains the front end and the back end. The **front end** consists of all the client user interfaces and applications to access cloud resources. The **backend** refers to the Cloud itself that the service provider is using. It includes storage, virtual machines, applications, deployment models, etc. It contains and manages the resources and provides security mechanisms. The **internet acts as a bridge** between the front and back end and establishes the connection between them. #### \ ### Answer by Diya Ladia Cloud computing refers to delivering hosted services over the internet. It refers to having access to some technology services and typically works on pay-as-you-go. It would lead to a reduction in capital expenses but would increase unexpected operating expenses. ![What is cloud computing?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/b3031732-319b-4848-86fb-b3f88817f742/images/4aa78197-d4ae-449a-a639-e8efb39ac172.jpeg)\ ## Working on Cloud Computing - It allows data to be accessed by enabling client devices over the internet. - The internet connection connects the front end with the back end, the front end includes access to client devices and cloud software applications, and the back end includes databases, servers, and computers. - There is a central server that is responsible for the communication between the front end and the back end and facilitates the exchange of data. - Cloud computing majorly depends on virtualization that converts computing devices into logical entities that a user can utilize. - Another major part of cloud computing is automation technologies that give the user the self-service opportunity without the interruption of cloud computing IT staff. ## Types of Cloud Computing Hereby listed are the 3 main types of cloud computing: 1. **Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):** It is majorly responsible for providing access to networking software and computers. One of the best examples of this is Amazon Web Services (AWS) which provides the virtual server for storage and APIs that helps users to transfer the data on the virtual server. 2. **Platform as a Service (PaaS):** Through PaaS, users are allowed to access some development tools over the internet. It is used for general software development. Some of these examples include Salesforce's lightning platform and Google App Engine. 3. **Software as a Service (SaaS):** Through SaaS, users have access to software applications over the internet. These applications are often known as web services and can be easily accessed from anywhere around the world. The most commonly known example of this model is Microsoft 365. Moreover, cloud computing services provide very easy access to a different range of technologies resulting in providing a very different customer experience and transforming any business to be successful. It also saves your physical cost and can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Nowadays, days every kind of organization uses cloud computing services for the instantaneous growth of their organization. \ \ --- Original Source: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/97856/what-is-cloud-computing Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.