Define: The cloud

Tags: webdevelopment, computers, networking.
By lucb1e on 2012-01-14 00:09:44 +0100

According to Wikipedia, this is the definition of "Cloud Computing". The new kid on the block, something overhyped that nobody understands.
"Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network (typically the Internet)."

(Note that SaaS is a known term among both IT people and a lot of management staff, they didn't need to invent a new term for the sole difference that the cloud is typically used over the internet.)

Now, what is a server according to Wikipedia?
"Servers often provide essential services across a network, either to private users inside a large organization or to public users via the Internet."

Sounds quite similar to me. It both serves a service over a network. So there you go, the simple definition of "The Cloud" is "The Internet", "My Cloud" is "My Server" and "Utilizing Cloud Computing" is "Working on a Server".

Buzzwords...