What are the standard definitions for the word cloud computing?
Go through these web definitions added below to learn more about cloud computing. To understand cloud computing better, you may also want to check out these presentations on cloud computing and read this cloud computing article.
Standard Definitions of Cloud Computing
After investing several years and 15 drafts, National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) published a “working definition of cloud computing” as follows:
Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.
Macmillion has a simplified definition for Cloud computing:
Cloud Computing is a type of computing in which computing resources are shared via the Internet, rather than the use of local servers or personal computing devices.
Gartner, one of the world’s leading IT research company, defines the term cloud computing as:
A style of computing in which massively scalable IT-enabled capabilities are delivered “as a service” to external customers using Internet technologies.
According to Oxford Dictionary,
Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
Collins online dictionary clarifies that cloud computing is available for users on a temporary basis:
A model of computer use in which services stored on the internet are provided to users on a temporary basis.
Cambridge dictionary describes Cloud computing as…
The use of technology, services, software, etc. on the internet rather than software and hardware that you buy and install on your computer.
The Free Dictionary says,
Cloud computing means using the Web server facilities of a third party provider on the Internet (the “cloud”) to store, deploy and run applications.
Experian QAS has another easy-to-follow definition on cloud computing:
Cloud computing is internet based computing, where software, services, information and storage are accessed over the Internet (or “cloud”).
