Cloud is an infrastructure and service delivery model in which compute, storage, and network resources are provided as abstracted, on-demand services, managed through centralized control systems and accessed via APIs, web interfaces, or automation tools.
The defining characteristic of cloud is resource abstraction and orchestration, not the physical location of servers.
What “Cloud” Means in Practice?
In real operational terms, cloud means:
- Physical resources are pooled and managed centrally
- Users interact with logical resources, not hardware
- Provisioning and management are automated
- Infrastructure behavior is defined by software and policies
- Resources can be created, modified, and removed dynamically
Cloud replaces manual infrastructure management with controlled automation.
Core Cloud Principles
A system can be considered “cloud” if it provides:
1. Resource Abstraction
Compute, storage, and networking are presented as logical units rather than physical devices.
2. Self-Service Access
Users can provision and manage resources without direct human intervention from the provider.
3. Centralized Control Plane
All resources are managed through a unified system:
- APIs
- Web portals
- Automation tools
4. Orchestration
Resources are coordinated automatically:
- Scheduling
- Scaling
- Networking
- Access control
Cloud Is an Operating Model, Not a Location
Cloud does not inherently mean:
- Public internet
- Third-party ownership
- Shared hardware
- Global scale
Cloud can exist:
- On dedicated servers
- In a private data center
- On top of or with bare metal
- Within a single organization
Cloud vs Traditional Infrastructure
| Aspect | Cloud | Traditional Infrastructure |
| Resource access | Logical | Physical |
| Provisioning | Automated | Manual |
| Scaling | Software-driven | Hardware-driven |
| Management | Centralized | Fragmented |
| Flexibility | High | Limited |
| Predictability | Depends on the model | High |
Cloud increases flexibility, but may reduce transparency.
Main Cloud Categories
Cloud is a category root for several distinct models:
- Public Cloud
Shared infrastructure operated by a third-party provider. - Private Cloud
Cloud control and automation running on dedicated infrastructure. - Hybrid Cloud
A combination of private and public cloud environments. - Bare Metal Cloud
Dedicated physical servers integrated into an infrastructure with cloud-style management.
Each model represents different trade-offs between flexibility, control, cost, and predictability.
What Cloud Is Not
❌ Not inherently scalable without design
❌ Not automatically reliable
❌ Not always cost-effective
Cloud simplifies operations, but does not eliminate engineering responsibility.
Cloud and Cost Model
Cloud pricing is typically:
- Usage-based
- Metered per resource unit
- Variable over time
This enables flexibility, but complicates budgeting and long-term planning, especially under unpredictable load.
Business Value of Cloud
For clients:
- Faster time to deployment
- Reduced operational friction
- Easier experimentation and iteration
- Flexible resource management
For providers:
- Efficient resource utilization
- Centralized control
- Scalable service delivery
Our View of Cloud
We treat cloud as:
- A tool, not a goal
- A management model, not a magic solution
- Something that must be built on a reliable infrastructure
Cloud delivers value only when abstraction does not hide responsibility, and automation does not replace understanding.