What is a cloud?

[RH-Calvin]

What is a cloud?

[ek9]

A cloud is basically a type of web hosting service that instead of using just a single server for the hosting infrastructure it uses a group of servers (as know as nodes) in a cloud. These nodes are compute, network, storage, and monitor. This allows a cloud hosting service to be more flexible, more reliable and more scalable.

[melisaassunta]

Cloud is a model of computing where servers, networks, storage, development tools, and even applications (apps) are enabled through the internet. Instead of organizations having to make major investments to buy equipment, train staff, and provide ongoing maintenance, some or all of these needs are handled by a cloud service provider.

[manoharparakh]

The cloud refers to servers, applications and data that are ubiquitous and lacking a definite physical location. Rather than having applications run on a specific server (or in a tenant space on a virtualised server), applications and data centers are in an abstracted layer above, where they are shared amongst different servers that together support a platform with built in redundancy. That way, if a physical failure happens, it can be replaced without affecting the performance of the applications and data.

The cloud also changes the CapEx model - whereby space and server time is bought as you use (consume) it - and doesn’t require a big capital outlay in server acquisition and paying for licences and software.