Cloud computing (also rare: Computer Cloud) describes the approach, abstracted IT infrastructures (eg processing power, data storage, network capacity, or even ready-made software) dynamically adapted to the needs of a network to provide. From the user point of view, provided abstracted IT infrastructure seems distant and obscure, hidden in a "cloud" to happen. Supply and utilization of these services take place exclusively via defined technical interfaces and protocols. The range of cloud computing as part of services offered covers the complete spectrum of information technology and includes, among other things, infrastructure (such as processing power, memory) and software platforms.
Simplified one can follow the concept can be described as: A part of the IT environment (in this context, such as hardware such as data center, data storage and software) is on the user side not operated more or be provided locally, but with one or more providers hired as a service usually located geographically far away. The applications and data are no longer on the local machine or in the corporate data center, but in the (metaphorical) cloud (English, cloud '). The design element of an abstract outline of clouds in network diagrams often used to represent an unspecified part of the Internet.
The access to the remote systems via a network, such as the Internet. But there are also companies in the context of so-called "private clouds" in which it is deployed via a corporate intranet. Most providers of cloud solutions leverage the pooling effects that arise from the sharing of resources for their business model.