Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the internet (the cloud) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Instead of owning and maintaining physical data centers and servers, businesses can rent access to technology services on a pay-as-you-go basis. Cloud computing allows organizations to scale their IT resources up or down quickly according to their needs, without the upfront costs and complexities associated with traditional on-premises IT infrastructure.

There are several models of cloud computing, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Each model provides different levels of control, flexibility, and management, allowing businesses to choose the right model for their specific needs. Cloud computing is widely adopted across industries due to its cost efficiency, accessibility, and ability to support innovation and collaboration in increasingly digital environments.