Cloud Computing is a technology that provides hardware and software-based services over the Internet on an on-demand basis.

The resources provided include, for example: computing power, storage space, data transmission tools, and even application services. A company that requires such resources to deliver its online services can rely on a cloud service provider to purchase and configure a set of resources, with the assurance that this set can be expanded over time based on business and system capacity needs. The characteristics that have made Cloud Computing a successful technology are: cost containment, system scalability, and security assurance.

Cost Containment

Primarily, it eliminates the need to manage a personal IT infrastructure, including hardware and software procurement, system maintenance, and hiring specialized personnel. Furthermore, the concept of Cloud Computing is tied to the flexibility of costs based on the actual resources used (pay-as-you-go model).

System Scalability

The ability to increase or decrease available resources depending on the required capacity ensures system stability. For example, resources can be increased to handle a larger data volume or heightened traffic to an online service.

Security Assurance

A reliable service provider implements all necessary measures to ensure compliance with security policies, protection of data stored in the cloud, and adherence to certifications required for services demanding appropriate security levels (e.g., data encryption, authentication, antivirus, disk encryption, etc.).

Types of Cloud Computing

The main types of Cloud Computing technology are classified as follows:

• DaaS (Data as a Service): The provider delivers and manages data storage only.
• SaaS (Software as a Service): The provider delivers and manages software services.
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): The provider delivers and manages hardware resources only.
• PaaS (Platform as a Service): The provider delivers and manages hardware infrastructure along with software resources, offering an integrated solution for application delivery.