cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers,

storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the
Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and
economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping
you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and
scale as your business needs change.
Cloud computing terms
artificial intelligence (AI)
The capability of a computer system to imitate human intelligence. Using math and
logic, the computer system simulates the reasoning that humans use to learn from new
information and make decisions. Learn more about artificial intelligence (AI).
business analytics tools
Tools that extract data from business systems and integrate it into a repository, such as
a data warehouse, where it can be analyzed. Analytics tools range from spreadsheets
with statistical functions to sophisticated data mining and predictive modeling
tools. Learn more about business analytics tools.
business intelligence (BI) tools
Tools that process large amounts of unstructured data in books, journals, documents,
health records, images, files, email, video, and so forth, to help you discover meaningful
trends and identify new business opportunities. Learn more about business intelligence
tools.
cloud
A metaphor for a global network, first used in reference to the telephone network and
now commonly used to represent the Internet. Learn more about the cloud.
cloud bursting
A configuration that’s set up between a private cloud and a public cloud. If 100 percent
of the resource capacity in a private cloud is used, then overflow traffic is directed to the
public cloud using cloud bursting. Learn more about cloud bursting.
cloud computing
A delivery model for computing resources in which various servers, applications, data,
and other resources are integrated and provided as a service over the Internet.
Resources are often virtualized. Learn more about cloud computing.
cloud computing types
There are three main cloud computing types, with additional ones evolving—software-
as-a-service (SaaS) for web-based applications, infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) for
Internet-based access to storage and computing power, and platform-as-a-service
(PaaS) that gives developers the tools to build and host Web applications. Learn more
about cloud computing types.
cloud service provider
A company that provides a cloud-based platform, infrastructure, application, or storage
services, usually for a fee. Learn more about cloud service providers.
cloud storage
A service that lets you store data by transferring it over the Internet or another network
to an offsite storage system maintained by a third party. Learn more about cloud
storage.
computer grids
Groups of networked computers that act together to perform large tasks, such as
analyzing huge sets of data and weather modeling. Cloud computing lets you assemble
and use vast computer grids for specific time periods and purposes, paying only for
your usage, and saving the time and expense of purchasing and deploying the
necessary resources yourself. Learn more about grid computing.
database sharding
A type of partitioning that lets you divide your large database into smaller databases,
which can be managed faster more easily across servers. Learn more about database
sharding.
DevOps
The union of people, process, and technology to enable continuous delivery of value to
customers. The practice of DevOps brings development and operations teams together
to speed software delivery and make products more secure and reliable. Learn more
about DevOps.
elastic computing
The ability to dynamically provision and de-provision computer processing, memory,
and storage resources to meet changing demands without worrying about capacity
planning and engineering for peak usage. Learn more about elastic computing.
hybrid cloud
A cloud that combines public and private clouds, bound together by technology that
allows data and applications to be shared between them. A hybrid cloud gives
businesses greater flexibility to scale up and down and offers more deployment
options. Learn more about hybrid cloud computing.
infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
A virtualized computer environment delivered as a service over the Internet by a
provider. Infrastructure can include servers, network equipment, and software. Also
called hardware as a service (HaaS). Discover the advantages of IaaS.
machine learning
The process of using mathematical models to predict outcomes versus relying on a set
of instructions. This is made possible by identifying patterns within data, building an
analytical model, and using it to make predictions and decisions. Machine learning bears
similarity to how humans learn, in that increased experience can increase accuracy. Learn
more about machine learning.
machine learning algorithms
Help data scientists identify patterns within sets of data. Selected based upon the
desired outcome—predicting values, identifying anomalies, finding structure, or
determining categories—machine learning algorithms are commonly divided into those
used for supervised learning and those used for unsupervised learning. Learn more
about machine learning algorithms.
Microsoft Azure
The Microsoft cloud platform, a growing collection of integrated services, including
infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS) offerings. Learn more
about Azure.
middleware
Software that lies between an operating system and the applications running on it. It
enables communication and data management for distributed applications, like cloud-
based applications, so, for example, the data in one database can be accessed through
another database. Examples of middleware are web servers, application servers, and
content management systems. Learn more about middleware.
NoSQL
NoSQL is a set of nonrelational database technologies—developed with unique
capabilities to handle high volumes of unstructured and changing data. NoSQL
technology offers dynamic schema, horizontal scaling, and the ability to store and
retrieve data as columns, graphs, key-values, or documents. Learn more about NoSQL.
platform as a service (PaaS)
A computing platform (operating system and other services) delivered as a service over
the Internet by a provider. An example is an application development environment that
you can subscribe to and use immediately. Azure offers PaaS. Discover the advantages
of PaaS.
private cloud
Services offered over the Internet or over a private internal network to only select users,
not the general public Learn more about private cloud computing.
public cloud
Services offered over the public Internet and available to anyone who wants to purchase
them. Learn more about public cloud computing.
software as a service (SaaS)
An application delivered over the Internet by a provider. Also called a hosted
application. The application doesn’t have to be purchased, installed, or run on users’
computers. SaaS providers were previously referred to as ASPs (application service
providers). Discover the advantages of SaaS.
serverless computing
A computing model in which the cloud provider provisions and manages servers. It
enables developers to spend more time building apps and less time managing
infrastructure. Learn more about serverless computing.
virtual machine
A computer file (typically called an image) that behaves like an actual computer.
Multiple virtual machines can run simultaneously on the same physical computer. Learn
more about virtual machines.
virtualization
The act of creating a virtual rather than a physical version of a computing environment,
including computer hardware, operating system, storage devices, and so forth. Learn
more about virtualization.
Types of Cloud Models:
Compare the Cloud Models:
Types of Cloud Services:
Compare the Cloud Services: