Cloud computing lets you access IT tools over the Internet, rather than connecting to your on-premises servers. You can use application software built and offered by your cloud provider, or you can run infrastructure systems like virtual computers and networks on a pay-as-you-go basis. In either case, the cloud provider owns and manages hardware systems, networks, security, power and cooling, and the data storage they support.
Cloud apps are accessible via a web browser or app, and the underlying cloud systems automatically adjust their resources to match usage and demand. That means you can run many more applications on the same system without worrying about capacity planning or dealing with outages and performance issues.
Similarly, when the system is busy with users, the cloud provider can add extra computing power to serve those needs. When the system isn’t, they can scale back down. That’s a major benefit for companies that need to manage IT costs, as it eliminates the need for costly investments in onsite servers and networking equipment.
For developers, the cloud offers on-demand scalable resources that streamline development and testing environments. It also reduces the time it takes to set up development, test and production systems, allowing teams to be more agile when creating cloud-native applications. For administrators and IT leaders, the cloud allows them to control and oversee systems through unified dashboards that make it easier to understand and monitor their IT environments. This enables them to be more responsive to business requirements and ensure that systems are available and running efficiently at all times.
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