Cloud Computing Definition

While working on a cloud computing research topic, came across The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing and I found it quite comprehensive and found it worth sharing:

“Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”

The definition paper also outlines what the cloud model is:

“This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.”

As states in the paper, the essential characteristics refer to:

1) On-demand self-service
2) Broad network access
3) Resource pooling
4) Rapid elasticity
5) Measured service

Three service models are:

1) Software as a service (SaaS)
2) Platform as a service (Paas)
3) Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

Four Deployment Models are:

1) Private cloud
2) Community cloud
3) Public cloud
4) Hybrid cloud

In a nutshell, it provides a excellent overview of the cloud computing and its model.

Thanks,

Ujjwal Soni