The cloud, explained
Cloud computing means using computing resources over a network, usually the internet. Instead of buying and maintaining every server yourself, you use resources operated by a provider.
Those resources include processing power, storage, databases, and applications. A web-based email service is a familiar example: you open it in your browser while the service runs on remote computers.
Three building blocks
- Compute: processing power that runs websites, applications, and background tasks.
- Storage: a place to keep files, images, backups, and other data.
- Networking: the connections that let users, applications, and services communicate.
Why use it...
You can start small, add resources as demand grows, and avoid maintaining physical hardware. Many services charge by usage, so understanding what runs and how much it consumes is part of using the cloud well.
A small shop needs a website. Which resources would store its product photos, run its application, and connect it to customers...
Next, learn how different service models divide responsibility between you and a provider.