Internship
Student login
← Cloud Computing Fundamentals learning path
Cloud Computing Fundamentals · Module 1 of 10

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing means renting computing resources over the internet and paying for what you use.

📖 Key ideas

  1. You get servers, storage, databases and software on demand.
  2. NIST lists five traits: on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service.
  3. Big providers: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud; Indian options include Jio Cloud and others.
  4. Pay-as-you-go turns big upfront hardware costs into monthly bills.
  5. You can start in minutes instead of waiting weeks for hardware.
💡 Real-life example: Like electricity from the grid: you switch it on when needed and pay for the units used, instead of building a power plant.
On-demandGet resources whenever you need them
ElasticityScale up and down quickly
Pay-as-you-goPay only for what you use
Resource poolingShared hardware for many customers