Cloud Computing

1. What is cloud computing?

According to Azure, cloud computing delivers computing services such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the internet, offering faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.

2. Is cloud computing a new technology per se? In other words, what are the unique technology features of cloud computing, if any?

According to ZDNet, cloud computing has been around since the 2000s, but the concept of computing dates back to the 1960s. It offers unique features such as cost management, performance monitoring, and encryption for security.

3. What are the three major cloud service models?

Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS).

4. Name at least 3 real-world domains where the application of cloud computing was (or can be) very enabling and effective.

Data backup, email, software development, and testing are all real-world applications of cloud computing.

5. What is the economic/business model of cloud computing?

Cloud-based business models are classified as IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS and monetized via subscriptions.