What Is Cloud Computing? 15 FAQs for Beginners

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Start with the basics and work your way up to advanced cloud computing concepts with this FAQ-style guide.

[Featured Image] A person in a red sweater and glasses sits at a desk and works with data on both their phone and their laptop using cloud computing services.

What is cloud computing? (with example)

Cloud computing refers to delivering computer resources like data storage via the internet. One of the most common examples of cloud computing is Apple's iCloud. If you have an iPhone, you've likely backed up its contents to iCloud. In other words, you've connected your device to the internet to store and manage data across your Apple devices.

Several types of cloud computing exist beyond this personal use case. The following article answers 15 frequently asked questions that can help you better understand each one. 

Cloud computing concepts

The following section outlines a few components you could consider the building blocks of cloud technology. You can think of these terms as the foundation to build your cloud computing expertise. 

What are computing resources?

Cloud computing aims to provide internet-based access to technology that is traditionally only accessible through physical servers. In the context of cloud technology, computing resources can describe anything from databases to processing power to software applications. 

What is IT infrastructure?

Information technology (IT) infrastructure allows an organisation to build and run the technologies they rely on. It is a set of hardware, software, networks, and processes that support business requirements. The two primary types are traditional and cloud infrastructure. Traditional or on-premises infrastructure includes physical devices like servers and data centres. Cloud infrastructure enables users to access those resources via the internet (through a process called virtualisation).

What is virtualisation?

Virtualisation refers to the creation of a virtual version of something. Using specialised software, virtualisation enables us to mimic hardware functionalities. One way to conceptualise virtualisation is as software pretending to be hardware.   

Types of cloud computing

A notable benefit of cloud computing is customisability. With various designs, cloud infrastructure can support a business, individual, or organisation's specific needs. The following sections describe a few of the most common types of clouds.  

What are public clouds?

Public clouds are offered to users through a third party, such as Microsoft Azure or IBM Cloud. Users don’t own or run them, but this doesn't mean anyone can access them. Public cloud environments can be separated and distributed to multiple entities. iCloud is also a public cloud service.

What are private clouds?

Individuals or a group of individuals are the only ones with access to private cloud services. The environment operates behind that person or group's firewall, providing isolated access. You can build a private cloud on a third-party cloud provider's data centre or on-premises. 

What are hybrid clouds?

Hybrid cloud computing is tricky to define because it varies from IT system to IT system. If applications can move through separate environments through connectivity or integration, you can consider it a hybrid cloud environment. However, management must occur as a single environment. Examples of a hybrid cloud system include one private and one public cloud, two or more private clouds, or two or more public clouds. It can also include virtual environments connected to public or private clouds. 

Cloud computing software

Now that you know the fundamentals of cloud technology, you might be wondering how it all works. This next section elaborates on some of the core concepts we discussed previously.

What is a hypervisor in cloud computing?

A hypervisor is a thin software layer separating a system's operating system (OS) and resources from the physical machine. Hypervisors are sometimes called virtual machine monitors (VMM) because they organise these separated resources into files called virtual machines.

What is a virtual machine in cloud computing?

A virtual machine is a file replicating a physical machine's computing environment. By imitating these environments, virtual machines enable us to perform computer system functions with software instead of hardware.

What is a container?

Containers have a purpose similar to virtual machines. However, virtual machines virtualise more physical device components, including a version of its operating system (OS). Instead of creating a new, virtual version of the hardware's OS, containers share the same one. This frees up space and computational power for a smaller, faster, and more portable system.

Cloud computing services

Now that you understand cloud technology's core concepts, explore these FAQs regarding cloud services and providers. 

What is SaaS in cloud computing?

SaaS stands for software as a service and refers to a cloud-based software delivery model. It enables users to access on-demand software applications via the internet rather than having to install them. Examples of these cloud applications include Dropbox and Google Workspace.

What is IaaS in cloud computing?

IaaS stands for infrastructure as a service, and it refers to cloud-based services that allow you to rent IT infrastructure components. Cloud vendors provide things like networks and cloud servers on a pay-as-you-go basis so that organisations don't need to purchase and maintain cloud infrastructure independently. It's similar to renting your router from your WiFi service provider instead of buying your own. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an example of an IaaS cloud provider. 

What is PaaS in cloud computing?

PaaS stands for the platform as a service. Like IaaS, cloud platforms provide organisations with access to application software and tools. However, PaaS focuses on providing application development tools rather than compute resources. This cost-effective cloud computing model enables businesses to use the Internet as a development, testing, and deployment environment. 

What is FaaS (or serverless) cloud computing?

FaaS stands for function as a service. This serverless, back-end cloud computing model enables users to develop and deploy event-driven code. In other words, developers can write code and execute it in response to specific events without manual intervention. 

Benefits of cloud computing

This next section defines commonly used terminology surrounding the benefits of cloud computing technology. 

What is scalability in cloud computing?

Scalability measures a system's ability to increase or decrease IT resources as needed. It’s often regarded as one of the most significant benefits of cloud computing. Especially in enterprise-level businesses, cloud infrastructure must be able to accommodate fluctuating demands. For example, if a company expands, more employees are likely to access its cloud technology. Despite handling more users, the system should not suffer from performance issues. 

What is elasticity in cloud computing?

In cloud computing, elasticity refers to an IT system's ability to match the resources administered to the resources required. It's often used in pay-as-you-go cloud services such as IaaS models because it helps ensure the customer only pays for the resources they need at a given time. Although it's very similar to scalability, scalability focuses more on removing or adding resources based on demands. Elasticity can be part of a scalability plan. 

Learn more about cloud computing with Coursera.

Cloud computing delivers resources over the internet. It includes several types of clouds, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, all of which have slightly different characteristics. 

Continue exploring cloud computing concepts and enhance your cloud computing expertise with IBM’s self-paced, online course Introduction to Cloud Computing. In addition to learning more about cloud computing trends, technologies, and applications, you’ll complete a hands-on project with IBM Cloud and earn a shareable certificate upon completion. 

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