What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing refers to the practice of using a network of remote servers to store, manage and process data (rather than an on-premise server or a personal computer) with access to such data provided through the Internet (the cloud). Programs, applications and other services may also be hosted in the cloud, which frees companies from the task and expense of building and maintaining data centers and other infrastructure. There are a few types of common cloud computing models. Private clouds provide access to data and services via dedicated data centers or servers for specific audiences (e.g., a company’s employees). They may offer customized infrastructure, storage and networking configurations. Often used by small and medium-sized businesses with fluctuating computing requirements, public clouds are typically based on shared hardware, offering data and services on-demand usually through “pay-as-you-go” models that eliminate maintenance costs. Hybrid clouds combine aspects of both private and public clouds. For example, companies can use the public cloud for data, applications and operations that are not considered mission critical and the private cloud to ensure dedicated resources are available to support core processes and essential computing tasks.

Teradata take: Effective cloud computing capabilities have become essential elements in the most effective Big Data environments.