Where is it? What can you do with it? How does it work?
These and more are questions that home and business users ask on a regular basis. The term "cloud computing" has been bandied about for so long, it's become just another technology phrase, what does it mean though?
In 2011 the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) brought together a final definition of the term cloud computing. "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".
The NIST then went on to list five essential characteristics of cloud computing: on‑demand self‑service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity or expansion and measured service. Furthermore there are three listed Service Models: software, platform and infrastructure, and four Deployment Models: public, community, hybrid and private.
For more information check the summary of the tech guide "Cloud for Beginners" from Black Dog Media. Creative application of Cloud technology is part of the daily practice of self‑organizing and self‑managing teams.
