Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing. Instead of buying, owning, and maintaining physical data centers and servers, organizations can access technology services such as computing power, storage, and databases on an as-needed basis from a cloud provider.

Cloud Service Models

Cloud services are typically offered through three primary models:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. Examples include Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure VMs, and Google Compute Engine.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): Offers hardware and software tools over the internet, typically for application development. Examples include AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Heroku, and Google App Engine.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): Delivers software applications over the internet, on a subscription basis. Examples include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce.

Deployment Models

Organizations can deploy cloud resources through different models:

• Public Cloud: Services offered by third-party providers over the public internet, available to anyone who wants to use or purchase them.
• Private Cloud: Cloud computing resources used exclusively by a single business or organization, physically located on the company's on-site datacenter or hosted by a third-party service provider.
• Hybrid Cloud: Combines public and private clouds, allowing data and applications to be shared between them.
• Multi-Cloud: Using cloud services from multiple providers to leverage specific services and reduce dependency on a single vendor.

Business Advantages of Cloud Computing

For enterprises working with Leverture, cloud computing offers numerous benefits:

• Cost Efficiency: Eliminates capital expenses for hardware and reduces IT operational costs.
• Scalability: Resources can be scaled up or down based on demand, ensuring optimal performance during peak times.
• Business Continuity: Cloud providers offer data backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity solutions.
• Innovation Acceleration: Provides access to emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and IoT without significant upfront investment.
• Global Reach: Allows businesses to deploy applications worldwide in minutes, reaching customers wherever they are.

As businesses increasingly migrate to cloud environments, understanding how to leverage cloud computing effectively becomes essential for maintaining competitive advantage and operational excellence.