At the most fundamental level, cloud computing provides flexible real time access to a shared pool of computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services). Indeed, one of the main attractions of cloud computing is its capability to provide on demand IT resources and services offering rapid provision and de provisioning as well as “pay by the drink” pricing.
Cloud computing as having the following essential characteristics:
On demand self service: A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities such as server time and network storage as needed. This can happen automatically, without human interaction, system administration, or service provider support.
Broad network access: Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops and PDAs).
Resource pooling: The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources, but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction. Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth, and virtual machines.
Rapid elasticity: Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and then rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
Measured service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
Cloud computing as having the following essential characteristics:
On demand self service: A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities such as server time and network storage as needed. This can happen automatically, without human interaction, system administration, or service provider support.
Broad network access: Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops and PDAs).
Resource pooling: The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand. There is a sense of location independence in that the customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources, but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction. Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, network bandwidth, and virtual machines.
Rapid elasticity: Capabilities can be rapidly and elastically provisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out and then rapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be purchased in any quantity at any time.
Measured service: Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
