What Is Cloud Computing? Azure Cloud Computing 101

Simply put, cloud computing is storing your data on someone else’s hardware somewhere out on the internet. That may sound a little scary and crazy. But it comes with a lot of advantages. Let’s take a deeper look at what cloud computing is and how you can use it to optimize and improve your organization’s infrastructure.

What is cloud computing? 

This is the awesome part: By taking advantage of cloud computing, my company does not have to purchase servers or be concerned about replacing them every few years. If a hard drive in a server fails, that is no longer my responsibility. The cloud provider is completely responsible for all hardware. 

But here’s the scary part: I don’t have complete control over the physical architecture. What if breaks? How do I make sure my websites, applications, and data are all still online and accessible? (Keep reading for those answers.) 

I think of cloud computing as a farm. I could plant and harvest my food. I could be responsible for every step in the process of food preparation. Or I could order delivery — and trust that the company I am paying has harvested and fully prepared the food. 

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