Cloud computing lets you move the heavy lifting and crunching of data from your device into massive computer clusters that are located in cyberspace. You access those massive computers through the Internet, allowing you to access your files, applications and development tools wherever you are. This allows you to be more productive with your laptop on an overcrowded train, or even on your smartphone at the table of a conference.
This also means that if the power goes out in your office the work you have done will be waiting for you when it turns back on as cloud storage keeps a backup of all your information and applications. Many of the largest companies around the world have migrated to the cloud, and have tested its security and performance.
There are several different types of cloud service and deployment models. They are typically categorized into four service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Serverless/Function-as-a-Service (FaaS). The terms “cloud” and “cloud computing” are sometimes used interchangeably, but it is crucial to know the difference between IaaS and PaaS and FaaS, so that you can figure out which of these cloud deployment models will best suit your needs.
IaaS, a service, lets you rent a complete range of hardware, which includes firewalls, servers and virtual machines from a cloud service provider. This is a great choice for companies that design special-purpose or proprietary applications that require servers to be maintained and managed however do not want to spend time or money purchasing, storing and setting up their equipment.