Cloud Computing
Last updated: March 16, 2026
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a model that provides computing resources on demand over the internet. Instead of owning physical hardware, users rent servers, storage, databases, and networking from cloud providers on a pay-as-you-go basis. Major providers include AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure.
What problem does it solve?
Purchasing and maintaining physical servers requires significant upfront investment and ongoing operational effort. Provisioning new hardware takes weeks or months, making it difficult to respond to changing demands. Overprovisioning wastes money, while underprovisioning leads to outages during traffic spikes.
How does it help?
Cloud computing lets businesses scale resources up or down within minutes, paying only for what they actually use. There is no upfront capital investment, which lowers the barrier to launching new projects and experimenting with new ideas. Teams can focus on building their product instead of managing data centers, while benefiting from the provider's expertise in security, availability, and global infrastructure.