What is Cloud computing? What are the types of cloud computing?

What is Cloud computing

• Uses Internet technologies to offer scalable and  elastic services. The term “elastic computing” refers to the ability of dynamically acquiring computing resources and  supporting a variable workload.
• The resources used for these services can be metered and the users can be charged only for the resources they used.
• The maintenance and security are ensured by service providers.
• The service providers can operate more efficiently due to specialization and centralization.
• Lower costs for the cloud service provider are past to the cloud users.
• Data is stored: ¨closer to the site where it is used. ¨ in a device and in a  location-independent manner.
• The data storage strategy can increase reliability, as well as security, and can lower communication costs.

Types of clouds

• Public Cloud - the infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by the organization selling cloud services.
• Private Cloud – the infrastructure is operated solely for an organization.
• Community Cloud - the infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a community that has shared concerns.
• Hybrid Cloud - composition of two or more clouds (public, private, or community) as unique entities but bound by standardized technology that enables data and application portability.