Page 242 - How Cloud Computing Is Transforming Business and Why You Cant Afford to Be Left Behind

MANA GEMENT STRATEGIES F O R THE CL OUD R EV OL UTION

Definition of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable com-
puting resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications,
and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released

with minimal management effort or service provider interac-
tion. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed
of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four
deployment models.

Essential Characteristics

On-demand self-service. A consumer can unilaterally provi-
sion computing capabilities, such as server time and net-
work storage, as needed automatically without requiring
human interaction with each service’s provider.

Broad network access. Capabilities are available over the
network and accessed through standard mechanisms
that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client
platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling. The provider’s computing resources are
pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multitenant
model, with different physical and virtual resources dy-
namically assigned and reassigned according to consumer
demand. There is a sense of location independence in
that the customer generally has no control or knowledge
over the exact location of the provided resources but

222