| In the Information Technology industry, cloud | | | | connection. For this reason, it is also called utility |
| computing refers to an on-demand computing service | | | | computing. |
| where the users are provided computing resources | | | | Unlike conventional computing, cloud computing |
| and services through the Internet. | | | | operates on a much larger scale. It is very efficient in |
| Most cloud computing service provider offer this as | | | | the way it delivers, manages and integrates |
| shared hosting, VPS hosting or SaaS (Software as a | | | | applications. It is also very beneficial for hosting |
| Service) hosting. Other than SaaS, cloud computing | | | | services providers. A cloud can be either public or |
| also involves Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and | | | | private. The public cloud, also called external cloud, is |
| Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). The basic purpose | | | | free to sell services to anyone online. The services of |
| of this service is to cut down expenditures as | | | | a private cloud are available to only a few people. |
| customers pay for only the services they use. | | | | There is also a possibility of a hybrid cloud or a virtual |
| For instance, if a clinic needs a software solution to | | | | private cloud. This cloud is formed when a private |
| maintain patient records and appointments, it would | | | | service provider uses a public cloud to offer their |
| normally need to buy a server and software solutions | | | | services. |
| bearing huge installation costs. On top of this, the | | | | It is estimated that in the near future, cloud hosting |
| clinic will have to shell out monthly maintenance costs. | | | | will get divided into two types- proprietary platform |
| It'll also need to pay salaries of various professionals | | | | clouds and services clouds. |
| such as network engineer, project manager and | | | | Cloud computing is a new concept but it's gaining |
| other technicians. In cloud computing, the clinic can | | | | popularity very fast due to its benefits. This services |
| opt for a yearly or monthly plan from an Internet | | | | reduces cost as well as gives added advantage of |
| based service provider. In such a case, the entire | | | | flexibility of storing information from any location. All |
| software solution is hosted by third party servers | | | | major technology players in the market today are |
| that are accessible through the Internet. The service | | | | offering cloud-computing services. Though cheaper |
| is completely managed by the provider (the data and | | | | than traditional software solutions, each cloud |
| the application). and the customer does not own any | | | | computing service provider has their own billing |
| physical infrastructure. Thus, customers pay for what | | | | method. Therefore, you must choose carefully. |
| they use, similar to a telephone or electricity | | | | |