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Cloud computing refers to the delivery of various computing services over the internet, allowing users to access and utilise resources like storage, processing power, and software applications without needing to own or manage physical hardware. It has rapidly transformed the IT landscape, enabling businesses, individuals, and organisations to scale and innovate more efficiently. This comprehensive wiki page explores the concepts, types, advantages, challenges, and future of cloud computing.

== Introduction ==

=== What is Cloud Computing? ===
Cloud computing refers to the on-demand delivery of computing resources, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and more, over the internet. Users can access and use these resources as needed, without the need for physical hardware or local infrastructure. Cloud computing eliminates the need for organisations to invest in and maintain expensive hardware, enabling them to focus on their core business activities.

=== Key Concepts and Components ===

* Virtualisation: The foundational technology that enables cloud computing by allowing multiple virtual machines (VMs) to run on a single physical server.
* Scalability: The ability to easily adjust resources up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance and cost efficiency.
* Elasticity: The automatic scaling of resources in response to changing workloads, ensuring smooth operations during peak usage.
* Multi-Tenancy: The practice of serving multiple customers (tenants) from the same physical infrastructure, while maintaining isolation and security.
* Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Contracts that define the level of service a cloud provider will deliver, including uptime, performance, and support.

== Types of Cloud Computing ==

=== Public Cloud ===
A public cloud is operated by a third-party provider and offers computing resources to the general public over the internet. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

=== Private Cloud ===
A private cloud is dedicated to a single organisation and may be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider. It offers enhanced security and control but requires more management and investment.

=== Hybrid Cloud ===
A hybrid cloud combines public and private cloud infrastructure, allowing data and applications to be shared between them. It provides greater flexibility and optimisation of resources.

=== Community Cloud ===
A community cloud is shared among several organisations with common concerns, such as regulatory compliance. It allows participants to share resources while maintaining isolation.

== Cloud Service Models ==

=== Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) ===
IaaS provides virtualised computing resources over the internet, including storage, networking, and virtual machines. Users have control over the operating system and applications.

=== Platform as a Service (PaaS) ===
PaaS provides a platform and environment for developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without worrying about infrastructure management.

=== Software as a Service (SaaS) ===
SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, eliminating the need for installation and maintenance. Users access applications through a web browser.

=== Function as a Service (FaaS) ===
FaaS, also known as serverless computing, allows developers to execute code in response to events without managing server infrastructure. It scales automatically based on demand.

== Advantages of Cloud Computing ==

=== Scalability and Flexibility ===
Cloud computing allows businesses to scale resources up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance during peak usage periods.

=== Cost Savings ===
Cloud computing eliminates the need for upfront capital investment in hardware and allows businesses to pay only for the resources they use.

=== Accessibility and Mobility ===
Users can access cloud resources from anywhere with an internet connection, enabling remote work and collaboration.

=== Rapid Deployment and Innovation ===
Cloud services can be provisioned quickly, allowing businesses to deploy applications and services faster and innovate at a rapid pace.

=== Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity ===
Cloud computing offers built-in backup and recovery solutions, ensuring data resilience and minimising downtime in the event of a disaster.

== Challenges and Concerns ==

=== Security and Privacy ===
Organisations must address security concerns related to data breaches, access control, and compliance with data protection regulations.

=== Data Governance and Compliance ===
Data stored in the cloud may be subject to various regulations, requiring businesses to ensure compliance and proper data handling.

=== Vendor Lock-In ===
Switching between cloud providers or migrating data and applications to a different platform can be complex and costly.

=== Downtime and Reliability ===
Cloud service outages can impact business operations. Organisations need to carefully consider the reliability and uptime guarantees offered by providers.
	'''Cloud computing''' is the delivery of computing resources over a network as a service. Instead of owning all the physical servers, storage, networking, and software locally, a user or organisation can rent access to shared resources from a provider and scale that use as needed.

== Cloud Providers and Platforms ==
	The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines cloud computing as on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or provider interaction. That definition is still widely used because it separates cloud computing from ordinary remote hosting.

=== Amazon Web Services (AWS) ===
AWS offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing power, storage, databases, machine learning, and analytics.
	== Core Characteristics ==
	NIST describes five essential characteristics:

=== Microsoft Azure ===
Azure provides cloud services for building, deploying, and managing applications across a global network of data centres.
	* On-demand self-service, where customers can provision resources without manual contact for each request.
	* Broad network access, where services are available over a network through standard mechanisms.
	* Resource pooling, where provider resources serve multiple customers while keeping workloads logically separated.
	* Rapid elasticity, where capacity can scale up or down quickly.
	* Measured service, where usage can be monitored, controlled, reported, and billed.

=== Google Cloud Platform (GCP) ===
GCP offers cloud services for computing, storage, machine learning, and data analytics, with a focus on open-source technologies.
	These characteristics are why cloud services can feel flexible compared with buying physical equipment in advance.

=== IBM Cloud ===
IBM Cloud provides a suite of cloud computing services, including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS offerings.
	== Service Models ==
	Cloud services are commonly grouped into three main service models:

=== Oracle Cloud ===
Oracle Cloud offers cloud infrastructure and software services, including database management, analytics, and application development.
	=== Infrastructure as a Service ===
	Infrastructure as a Service provides virtual machines, storage, networks, firewalls, load balancing, and related infrastructure. The customer usually controls the operating system and applications, while the provider runs the underlying facilities and hardware.

== Cloud Adoption and Implementation ==
	=== Platform as a Service ===
	Platform as a Service gives developers a managed environment for applications. The provider handles more of the runtime, scaling, database, or deployment layer. The customer focuses more on the application code and configuration.

=== Migration Strategies ===
Organisations can choose from various migration strategies, including rehosting, re-platforming, refactoring, and rebuilding applications for the cloud.
	=== Software as a Service ===
	Software as a Service provides a complete application over the network. Users access the software through a browser, app, or client without managing the servers that run it. Email, document collaboration, customer-management systems, and support desks are common examples.

=== Best Practices ===
Successful cloud adoption involves careful planning, selecting the right service model, optimising costs, and ensuring security and compliance.
	== Deployment Models ==
	NIST also describes four deployment models:

=== Case Studies ===
Numerous businesses and organisations have successfully adopted cloud computing, achieving benefits such as improved agility, cost savings, and enhanced collaboration.
	* Public cloud, where infrastructure is offered for use by the public or a broad customer base.
	* Private cloud, where cloud infrastructure is used by one organisation.
	* Community cloud, where infrastructure is shared by organisations with common needs.
	* Hybrid cloud, where separate cloud environments are connected in a way that allows data or workloads to move between them.

== Emerging Trends ==
	In practice, many organisations use a mixture of public cloud, private systems, hosted servers, and on-site equipment.

=== Edge Computing ===
Edge computing brings computation closer to data sources, reducing latency and enabling real-time processing for IoT and other applications.
	== Advantages ==
	Cloud computing can reduce the need to buy hardware before demand is known. It can make testing, deployment, backup, disaster recovery, and global distribution faster. It can also give smaller teams access to infrastructure that would previously have required a larger operations department.

=== Serverless Computing ===
Serverless computing allows developers to focus solely on code without managing server infrastructure, improving efficiency and resource utilisation.
	Cloud platforms can provide managed databases, queues, monitoring, identity tools, security services, content delivery, machine-learning tools, and automation. These services can speed up delivery, but they also increase dependence on the provider's platform and pricing model.

=== Multi-Cloud and Hybrid Cloud Strategies ===
Organisations are adopting multi-cloud strategies and hybrid cloud approaches to avoid vendor lock-in and optimise performance and costs.
	== Risks and Limitations ==
	Cloud computing does not remove responsibility from the customer. Access control, data classification, backups, software security, logging, compliance, and cost management still matter.

=== AI and Machine Learning Integration ===
Cloud platforms are integrating AI and machine learning capabilities, enabling businesses to leverage data-driven insights and automate processes.
	Common risks include:

== Future of Cloud Computing ==
	* Misconfigured storage, identity, or network rules.
	* Unexpected bills caused by traffic, storage growth, or inefficient design.
	* Vendor lock-in, where services are hard to move elsewhere.
	* Outages affecting services in one provider or region.
	* Data residency and compliance issues.
	* Weak monitoring that hides failures until users notice them.

=== Continued Growth and Innovation ===
Cloud computing is expected to continue growing as more businesses embrace digital transformation and migrate to the cloud.
	The best cloud design treats the provider as a powerful tool, not as a substitute for engineering judgement.

=== Enhanced Security Measures ===
Cloud providers will continue investing in advanced security measures to address evolving threats and protect sensitive data.
	== Data Centres ==
	Cloud computing depends on large [[Data Centre\|data centres]] connected by high-capacity networks. Users may not see the physical hardware, but the service still depends on buildings, power, cooling, fibre routes, spare parts, technicians, security, and operational discipline.

=== Integration with Emerging Technologies ===
Cloud computing will further integrate with emerging technologies such as quantum computing and 5G, unlocking new possibilities for innovation.
	The growth of cloud and AI services has increased public attention on electricity demand, water use, resilience, and planning around data-centre sites.

=== Ethical and Environmental Considerations ===
The cloud industry will address ethical concerns related to data privacy, fairness in AI, and the environmental impact of data centres.
	== See Also ==
	* [[Data Centre]]
	* [[Microsoft]]
	* [[Domain name system]]

== References ==	== References ==
	* [https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/145/final NIST SP 800-145: The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing]
	* [https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2011/10/final-version-nist-cloud-computing-definition-published NIST: final version of cloud computing definition]
	* [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-of-growth-of-data-centres-on-energy-consumption GOV.UK: impact of growth of data centres on energy consumption]

# "Understanding Cloud Computing: A Guide for Managers and Business Professionals" by Soshagani, K. (2013).
# "Cloud Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture" by Erl, T., Mahmood, Z., & Puttini, R. (2013).
# "Cloud Native Transformation: Practical Patterns for Innovation" by Gschwind, D., & Martin, O. (2020).
# "Cloud Computing: Principles and Paradigms" by Buyya, R., Broberg, J., & Goscinski, A. M. (2011).
# "Cloud Computing Bible" by Sosinsky, B. (2011).
	[[Category:Computing]]
	[[Category:Internet]]
	[[Category:Technology]]