Cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet and central remote server s to maintain data and applications.

Cloud computing allows consumers and busine sses to use applications without installation and access their personal files at any computer with internet access. This technology allows for much more efficie nt computing by centralizing storage, memory, processing and bandwidth. A simple example of cloud computing is Yahoo email, Gmail, or Hotmail etc. You d ont need software or a server to use them. All a consumer would need is just an i nternet connection and you can start sending emails. The server and email manage ment software is all on the cloud (internet) and is totally managed by the cloud service provider Yahoo, Google etc. The consumer gets to use the software alone and enjoy the benefits. The analogy is: If you need milk, would you buy a cow ? All the users or consumers need is to get the benefits of using the software or hardware of the computer like sending emails etc. Just to get this benefit (m ilk) why should a consumer buy a (cow) software/hardware? Cloud computing is broken down into three segments: "application" "storage" and "connectivity." Each segment serves a different purpose and offers different pro ducts for businesses and individuals around the world. In June 2011, a study con ducted by Version One found that 91% of senior IT professionals actually don t k now what cloud computing is and two-thirds of senior finance professionals are c lear by the concept, highlighting the young nature of the technology. In Sept 20 11, an Aberdeen Group study found that disciplined companies achieved on average an 68% increase in their IT expense because cloud computing and only a 10% reduction in data center power costs. 1. Introduction Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers a nd other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typica lly the Internet).Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rath er than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provi ded to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet). End users access cloud based applications through a web browser or a light weigh t desktop or mobile app while the business software and data are stored on serve rs at a remote location. Cloud application providers strive to give the same or better service and performance than if the software programs were installed loca lly on end-user computers. 2. Characteristics Cloud computing shares characteristics with: Autonomic computing Computer system s capable of self-management. 2.1. Clientserver model Clientserver computing refers broadly to any distributed a pplication that distinguishes between service providers (servers) and service re questers (clients). 2.2. Grid computing "A form of distributed and parallel computing, whereby a su per and virtual computer is composed of a cluster of networked, loosely coupled computers acting in concert to perform very large tasks." Mainframe computer Po werful computers used mainly by large organizations for critical applications, t ypically bulk data processing such as census, industry and consumer statistics, police and secret intelligence services, enterprise resource planning, and finan

cial transaction processing. 2.3. Utility computing The "packaging of computing resources, such as computatio n and storage, as a metered service similar to a traditional public utility, suc h as electricity." 2.4. Peer-to-peer Distributed architecture without the need for central coordina tion, with participants being at the same time both suppliers and consumers of r esources (in contrast to the traditional clientserver model). 2.5. Cloud computing exhibits the following key characteristics: Empowerment of end-users of computing resources by putting the provisioning of those resources in their own control, as opposed to the control of a centralized IT service (for example) 2.5.1. Agility improves with users ability to re-provision technological infras tructure resources. 2.5.2. A programming interface (API) accessibility to software that enables mach ines to interact with cloud software in the same way the user interface facilita tes interaction between humans and computers. Cloud computing systems typically use REST-based APIs. 2.5.3. Cost is claimed to be reduced and in a public cloud delivery model capita l expenditure is converted to operational expenditure.This is purported to lower barriers to entry, as infrastructure is typically provided by a third-party and does not need to be purchased for one-time or infrequent intensive computing ta sks. Pricing on a utility computing basis is fine-grained with usage-based optio ns and fewer IT skills are required for implementation (in-house). Device and location independence enable users to access systems using a web brow ser regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile phone). As infrastructure is off-site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from anywhere. 2.5.4. Virtualization technology allows servers and storage devices to be shared and utilization be increased. Applications can be easily migrated from one phys ical server to another. 2.5.5. Multi-tenancy enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users thus allowing for: Centralization of infrastructure in locations with lower costs (such as real est ate, electricity, etc.) Peak-load capacity increases (users need not engineer for highest possible loadlevels) Utilization and efficiency improvements for systems that are often only 1020% uti lized. 2.5.6. Reliability is improved if multiple redundant sites are used, which makes well-designed cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster rec overy. 2.5.7. Scalability and Elasticity via dynamic ("on-demand") provisioning of reso urces on a fine-grained, self-service basis near real-time, without users having to engineer for peak loads. 2.5.8. Performance is monitored and consistent and loosely coupled architectures are constructed using web services as the system interface. 2.5.9. Security could improve due to centralization of data, increased securityfocused resources, etc., but concerns can persist about loss of control over cer tain sensitive data, and the lack of security for stored kernels. Security is of ten as good as or better than other traditional systems, in part because provide rs are able to devote resources to solving security issues that many customers c annot afford. However, the complexity of security is greatly increased when data

is distributed over a wider area or greater number of devices and in multi-tena nt systems that are being shared by unrelated users. In addition, user access to security audit logs may be difficult or impossible. Private cloud installations are in part motivated by users desire to retain control over the infrastructur e and avoid losing control of information security. Maintenance of cloud computing applications is easier, because they do not need to be installed on each user s computer and can be accessed from different place s.