Slightly baffled by the terminology surrounding the cloud? We demystify cloud computing terms.
Broadband:
You’ll need this to access the cloud in the first place. As cloud applications get more complex, broadband quality will need to be increased.
Cloud app:
A software application that sits on the internet, not on a local PC.
Cloud broker:
An entity that creates and maintains relationships with multiple cloud service providers.
Cloud:
A metaphor for a global network, first used in reference to the telephone network and now commonly used to represent the internet.
Cloud centre:
A large internet company, such as Amazon.com or Google, that provides firms with infrastructure via the web.
Cloud computing:
A networking solution in which everything from computing power to infrastructure, applications, business processes and collaboration are delivered as a service anytime, anywhere.
Cloud service:
The delivery of software, infrastructure or storage that has been packaged, automated and delivered online.
Cloud sourcing:
Replacing traditional IT services with cloud services.
Cloudstorming:
Connecting multiple cloud computing environments.
Private cloud:
An internal cloud that sits behind an organisation’s firewall. The cloud can then be managed by that company’s IT department, which can then offer cloud services to workers.
Public cloud:
A cloud-computing environment that is open for use by the general public. For example, Gmail, Hotmail, even Facebook.
Software-as-a-service (SaaS): Software services that are available over the internet to organisations’ workers such as CRM databases via Salesforce. com
Storage-as-a-service:
The ability to host and retrieve private data securely online, for example Amazon.com’s S3.
Software plus services:
Combining hosted services with capabilities best achieved with locally running software, for example Microsoft’s Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS).
