Cloud Computing is the delivery of computing services—such as storage, servers, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.

Key Features of Cloud Computing

• On-demand self-service – Users can access resources whenever they need them.

• Broad network access – Services are available over the Internet.

• Resource pooling – Resources are shared among multiple users.

• Rapid elasticity – Resources can scale up or down quickly.

• Measured service – Pay only for what you use.

• Types of Cloud Deployment Models

1. Public Cloud – Services provided over the internet (e.g., Google Cloud, AWS).

2. Private Cloud – Used by a single organization, more secure.

3. Hybrid Cloud – Combines public and private cloud features.

Cloud Service Models 

 IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

1. – Provides virtual servers, storage, and networks.
   – Example: Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure VMs

2. PaaS (Platform as a Service)
   – Provides tools to develop and manage apps.
   – Example: Google App Engine, Heroku

3. SaaS (Software as a Service)
   – Delivers software over the internet.
   – Example: Gmail, Microsoft 365, Dropbox

Benefits of Cloud Computing

• Reduced IT costs

• Scalability and flexibility

• Disaster recovery and backup

• Improved collaboration

• Automatic software updates

• Environmental sustainability

Challenges

• Data privacy and security

• Downtime or service outages

• Compliance issues

• Vendor lock-in