# Cloud computing

> Cloud computing is defined by the ISO as “a paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on demand”. It is commonly referred to as “the cloud”. Characteristics In 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) identified five “essential […]

**Cloud computing** is defined by the ISO as “a paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on demand”. It is commonly referred to as “the cloud”.

## Characteristics

In 2011, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) identified five “essential characteristics” for cloud systems. Below are the exact definitions according to NIST:

- On-demand self-service: “A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.”

- Broad network access: “Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).”

- Resource pooling: ” The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically

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*Source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing)*

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## Metadata

- **URL:** https://wpsearchai.com/cloud-computing/
- **Published:** 2026-01-28T18:48:25+00:00
- **Modified:** 2026-01-28T18:48:25+00:00
- **Author:** admin
- **Categories:** Cloud computing