1.2. What is Cloud Computing?

At its core, cloud computing is about delivering computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud"). Instead of owning your own computing infrastructure or data centers, you can access computing services from a cloud provider like Amazon Web Services (AWS) as needed.

💡 First Principle: The First Principle of cloud computing is on-demand access to shared, scalable computing resources over the internet, transforming IT from a capital expense to an operational one. This fundamental shift allows businesses to access computing power as a utility, paying only for what they use.

This section explores the basic definition and key characteristics of cloud computing, highlighting how it differs from traditional on-premises IT infrastructure.

Scenario: A company is considering moving away from owning and maintaining its own servers and data centers. They are exploring "cloud computing."

Reflection Question: How does cloud computing, by providing on-demand access to shared computing resources over the internet, fundamentally transform IT from a large upfront capital expense to a more flexible, pay-as-you-go operational expense?