Cloud computing is a method which involves the transfer of applications and data into the cloud. It allows businesses to access their data from anywhere they have an internet connection. When businesses make the switch to cloud, they can eliminate expensive hardware investment and swiftly expand or reduce infrastructure according to the need. This lets companies innovate more easily, without having to wait for the latest technology to arrive.
Enterprises benefit from the cloud the most commonly by hosting their applications on the servers of cloud service providers. This type of cloud computing is called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). SaaS providers host all of the middleware, hardware and application software required to run an enterprise app in their data centers. The service is usually offered on a pay-as you basis, which means that the customer only pays for what they use.
Another popular cloud service is called Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). With IaaS, a company rents the storage and hardware needed to develop their own apps in a data center that’s maintained by the cloud computing provider. This is similar to renting a home where you only pay for the rooms that you’re using, for instance the kitchen during dinner or the bedroom when you go to bed.
Finally, a newer cloud service called Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) is emerging that offers even more scalability and agility for business users. FaaS breaks cloud applications into small components that are only activated when they’re needed to ensure that you pay for the resources you need only when you’re using them.
