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Cloud computing lets you use computing resources over a network without buying and operating the provider’s underlying hardware. You can access software, storage, application platforms, or virtual infrastructure from a suitable device, but you still need network access—and the service may cost money.
What cloud computing means
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort. In practical terms, a provider operates computing equipment and makes some of its capabilities available to users over a network.
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That shifts the need to purchase and maintain the provider’s servers and related infrastructure. It does not remove the need for an endpoint, such as a computer, tablet, or phone, or a working network connection. Nor does it mean the service is free: access is governed by the provider’s terms and pricing.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat makes a service “cloud”
NIST’s framework describes five essential characteristics. Together, they distinguish cloud computing from simply using a remote computer.
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- On-demand self-service: Users can provision computing capabilities as needed, without requiring direct human interaction with the provider for each request.
- Broad network access: Capabilities are available over a network and can be reached through different kinds of client devices.
- Resource pooling: The provider serves multiple users from pooled resources, allocating capacity as demand changes.
- Rapid elasticity: Resources can be provisioned or released quickly to respond to changing needs.
- Measured service: Resource use can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both provider and user.
These characteristics come from NIST’s cloud-computing definition and taxonomy in Special Publication 800-145.
Choose the service model that fits the task
The service model describes what the provider makes available. The three models in NIST’s framework differ in how much of the computing stack the user manages.
| Model | What you use | Plain-language example |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS (Software as a Service) | A provider’s software service, accessed over a network. | Use an online application rather than installing and operating the application’s underlying infrastructure yourself. |
| PaaS (Platform as a Service) | A provider’s platform for building or running applications. | Develop or run software on a managed platform instead of setting up the full underlying infrastructure. |
| IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) | Configurable infrastructure, such as virtual servers, networks, or storage. | Provision virtual computing resources without buying the physical equipment they run on. |
These are different ways of consuming technology, not a ranking from best to worst. The right fit depends on whether you need finished software, a place to build or run software, or more direct control over computing infrastructure.
Understand the deployment models
Deployment models describe how a cloud environment is organized and shared. NIST identifies four categories:
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- Public cloud: Cloud infrastructure is made available for use by the general public.
- Private cloud: Cloud infrastructure is provisioned for exclusive use by a single organization.
- Community cloud: Infrastructure is shared by organizations with common concerns or requirements.
- Hybrid cloud: Two or more distinct cloud infrastructures are connected to enable data or application portability.
These categories are not a simple quality ladder. Requirements around organization, access, and how environments are combined determine which model is appropriate. NIST’s definitions are in SP 800-145.
Know what you still have to manage
Using a provider’s infrastructure does not automatically transfer every responsibility to that provider. Cloud use involves shared responsibility: the provider operates the services it supplies, while the user’s responsibilities depend on the service and how it is configured and used. For example, using a finished software service is different from provisioning virtual infrastructure that you configure yourself.
Microsoft Learn includes shared responsibility, cloud models, and consumption-based pricing in its beginner curriculum, Describe cloud computing. Treat security and configuration responsibilities as part of choosing and using a service, rather than assuming that “in the cloud” means “someone else handles everything.”
How cloud pricing works—and what to check
Consumption-based pricing ties charges to the services used and the time they are used. AWS says most of its services use pay-as-you-go pricing; the applicable rates and billing details vary by service. This pricing approach can make it possible to adjust resource use, but it is not a guarantee that cloud will cost less than owning equipment.
Before using a service, identify what you are provisioning and review its current pricing and billing terms. Monitor usage, including resources that may keep running when you no longer need them. AWS explains its pricing approach at AWS Pricing.
Decide whether cloud access fits your needs
Compare options using the details that affect how you will work and pay:
- Service model: Do you need finished software (SaaS), an application platform (PaaS), or configurable infrastructure (IaaS)?
- Deployment model: Does your requirement point to public, private, community, or hybrid infrastructure?
- Responsibility boundaries: What does the provider operate, and what will you configure or manage?
- Pricing basis: Which services are charged, how is usage measured, and how long will resources remain active?
- Expected usage: How much capacity do you need, and is demand likely to change?
- Access requirements: Do you have a suitable device and reliable network access for the service?
Cloud computing’s central appeal is access: you can use provider-operated computing capabilities without owning the hardware behind them. Whether that trade-off suits you depends on the service, your responsibilities, your usage, and its terms.
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