Overview
Let’s learn about the essential characteristics of Cloud Computing in this tutorial. These are defined by the NIST( National Institute of Standards and Technology)
Characteristics Of Cloud Computing
The characteristics of cloud computing are as follows:
- On-demand self-service
- Broad network access
- Resource pooling
- Rapid elasticity
- Measured services
On-demand self-service
Cloud users can provision and de-provision computing resources like servers, networks, and storage automatically without human interaction with the cloud service provider.
Broad network access
Cloud provider resources should be accessible over the network. Users can access cloud services using a wide range of heterogeneous clients(Thin/Thick or Fat Clients)
Users can use various clients like Desktop computers, Workstations, and portable small-screen devices like Tablets, Mobile phones, etc.
Rapid Elasticity
Cloud resources should allow autoscaling. They can be elastically provisioned and de-provisioned to scale out or in with the consumer demand.
Resource Pooling
Cloud provider resources( like computing servers, storage, and network bandwidth) are pooled using a multi-tenancy model to serve multiple users.
Measured Services
Cloud resources (storage, processing, bandwidth, etc) usage can be
monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service. The cloud provider charges using a pay-per-use model or subscription model to the customer.
About NIST
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) was founded in 1901 and is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The mission of NIST is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology to enhance economic security and improve quality of life.
More information on NIST can be found at: