Cloud Computing Concepts

This chapter examines the fundamentals of cloud computing and its applications. Beginning with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) definition of cloud computing, it covers the five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models the NIST has defined. It introduces compute, storage, database, and network as components that work together to create a modern data center. It presents an overview of virtualization, a disruptive technology that paved the way to the cloud. Business drivers for cloud adoption are presented. This chapter concludes by comparing a legacy to a virtualized three-tier web architecture.