Cloud Computing Explained: No Umbrella Needed
- Daniela Vidal
- May 9
- 4 min read
Hi there! In this blog, I wanted to explore the very common term 'cloud computing'. As a non-developer, I wanted to understand exactly what it is and why it is so important for the online world.
This blog is written for non-experts like me. I want to describe and explain some terms related to this topic to help us fully understand what a 'cloud' means in the software dictionary.
Let's start!
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—like servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet (“the cloud”) rather than using local servers or personal devices.
Key Points:
On-demand access: You can access resources whenever needed without managing physical infrastructure.
Scalability: Easily scale up or down based on demand.
Pay-as-you-go: You only pay for what you use.
Types of Cloud:
Public Cloud (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
Private Cloud (used exclusively by one organization)
Hybrid Cloud (a mix of public and private)
Common Uses:
Hosting websites and apps
Data backup and recovery
Streaming services
AI and machine learning processing
Remote collaboration tools (like Google Docs or Microsoft 365)
Why is cloud computing important?
Cloud computing is important because it fundamentally changes how individuals and businesses access, store, and process data. Here’s why it matters:
Scalability: You can quickly scale resources up or down based on demand without needing to invest in physical hardware.
Cost Efficiency: Pay-as-you-go models reduce upfront costs and eliminate the need for maintaining on-premise infrastructure.
Accessibility: Cloud services are available from anywhere with an internet connection, enabling remote work and global collaboration.
Reliability: Leading cloud providers offer high uptime, automated backups, and disaster recovery solutions.
Security: While security is a shared responsibility, cloud platforms invest heavily in advanced security features and compliance standards.
Innovation Speed: Developers can build, test, and deploy applications faster using cloud tools, platforms, and APIs.
Data Management: Cloud makes it easier to store, process, and analyze large volumes of data (big data) for insights and business intelligence.
I have heard the word 'cloud' used in many different ways. Here, I will research the definitions of some of these uses.
☁️ Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid cloud combines a private cloud (your own infrastructure) with a public cloud (like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud). It allows businesses to keep sensitive data on private servers while using the public cloud for scalability and flexibility.
🌐 Multi-Cloud Strategy
A multi-cloud strategy means using services from more than one cloud provider at the same time. This reduces the risk of relying on a single provider, increases reliability, and gives businesses the flexibility to use the best services from each provider. Explore more on VMware
🛠️ Cloud Foundry
Cloud Foundry is an open-source platform that helps developers build, test, deploy, and scale apps quickly in the cloud. It handles things like scaling and resource management automatically, so developers can focus on writing code. Learn more in Cloud Foundry Documentation
🚀 Cloud-Native
Cloud-native refers to apps specifically built to run in cloud environments. These apps are designed to be scalable, resilient, and easy to update. They’re usually made using microservices and containers.🔗 Cloud-Native explained by AWS
I think I’m following so far, but what about the environmental impact people often mention on social media—like the damage caused by the massive data centers powering cloud services?
What environmental damage does cloud computing cause?
While it's true that cloud data centers consume substantial energy, leading cloud providers are actively working to mitigate their environmental impact.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has achieved a milestone by matching 100% of the electricity consumed across its global operations with renewable energy in 2023, seven years ahead of its original 2030 goal.
Google Cloud has set an ambitious target to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy across all its data centers and offices by 2030.
Microsoft Azure has been carbon neutral since 2012 and aims to be carbon negative by 2030.
In fact, centralized cloud infrastructure can often be more efficient than traditional on-premise servers, as cloud providers can optimize power usage and cooling systems at scale.
That said, there's still work to do. Choosing a cloud provider with strong environmental commitments—and optimizing your usage—are good steps toward more sustainable tech.
I am happy to read that. We must make every effort to make this word available.
Conclusion
Cloud computing has transformed how individuals and businesses access, store, and manage data by offering unmatched flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. It enables companies to innovate rapidly, collaborate across borders, and scale operations without large upfront infrastructure costs.
While concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of the massive data centers powering cloud services, many leading providers are actively investing in green energy and carbon reduction initiatives.
For example, companies like Google, Microsoft, and AWS are working toward using 100% renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in their data centers. As cloud technology continues to advance, it plays a growing role not only in digital transformation but also in driving more sustainable and energy-conscious computing practices across the globe.
