This document provides an overview of cloud computing by defining it, describing its key characteristics and models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), discussing its advantages and disadvantages, challenges, and major providers for each cloud service model. Specifically:
- Cloud computing refers to storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of a computer's hard drive. It provides on-demand access to shared computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned with minimal management effort.
- The major cloud service models are SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. SaaS provides software applications, PaaS provides platforms for developing apps, and IaaS provides basic computing infrastructure like servers and storage.