Cloud computing means using computing resources such as servers, storage, databases and software over the internet, provided by companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, instead of owning and running them yourself. You pay for what you use and can scale up or down quickly. Cloud skills are in high demand.
The simple idea
Instead of buying a computer server, keeping it in an office and maintaining it, you rent computing power from a provider's data centre and access it over the internet. It is like using electricity from the grid rather than running your own generator.
Everyday examples
- Storing photos online and seeing them on every device.
- Using web email or online documents.
- Streaming video and music.
- AI assistants, which run on huge cloud infrastructure.
Service models
| Model | You manage | Provider manages | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) | Operating system, apps, data | Hardware, networking | Renting virtual servers |
| PaaS (Platform as a Service) | Apps and data | Servers, OS, runtime | App hosting platforms |
| SaaS (Software as a Service) | Your data and settings | Everything else | Online email, office suites |
Major providers
The largest public cloud providers are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, with many others serving specific regions and needs.
Benefits
- Scalability: handle more users quickly.
- Cost flexibility: pay for usage instead of large upfront purchases.
- Reliability: data centres with backups and redundancy.
- Speed: launch new services in minutes.
- Access to advanced tools: AI, analytics and databases as services.
Risks
- Unexpected costs if resources are left running or misconfigured.
- Security misconfigurations, a common cause of data leaks.
- Dependence on a provider.
- Data location and regulation for sensitive data.
Careers
Cloud skills appear in roles such as cloud engineer, DevOps engineer, solutions architect, site reliability engineer and cloud security specialist. See cloud computing careers and our cloud and DevOps course.
Frequently asked questions
Is "the cloud" just someone else's computer?
Essentially yes, but at enormous scale, with automation, redundancy and services that individuals could not run alone.
Can students try cloud services for free?
Major providers offer free tiers and student programmes. Set budget alerts to avoid surprise charges.
Do I need coding for cloud careers?
Basic scripting and Linux skills are very helpful; deeper coding helps in DevOps and engineering roles.
