Cloud computing is a process which involves the transfer of data and applications into the cloud. This lets businesses access them from anywhere they have internet access. Businesses can cut costs by switching to the cloud and scaling their infrastructure up or down rapidly as needed. This allows businesses to innovate faster without having to wait for new technology.
Enterprises benefit from the cloud the typically by hosting their applications on servers of cloud service providers. This type of cloud computing is called Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). SaaS providers provide all the hardware, middleware and application software required to run an enterprise application in their data centers. They typically provide this service on a pay as you go basis, which means that the client only pays for the features they use.
Another popular cloud service is called Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). IaaS allows companies to lease the storage and hardware needed to build its own applications in a cloud computing provider’s data center. This is
to renting a house that you pay for the rooms you’re using, for instance the kitchen when you’re eating dinner or the bedroom at night.
Finally, a newer cloud service called Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) is emerging that offers even more scalability and agility for business users. FaaS breaks down cloud applications into smaller pieces that are activated as needed. This allows you to pay only for the resources that you need.