What is cloud computing?

Marketing buffs will remember just a few years ago when Microsoft® launched its "To the cloud" advertising campaign. The premise was simple. A person was confronted with a situation that only the cloud could resolve -- like the need to share a document with coworkers, for example. He or she would then proclaim, "To the cloud," and the answer to the problem would immediately appear.

The campaign was clearly Microsoft's attempt to cash in on the emerging technology and draw attention to one of the biggest buzzwords at the time. The problem was that the commercials didn't do much to explain what exactly the cloud was, nor did all the situations necessarily need the cloud for a resolution.

The "To the cloud" campaign did not last long, and unless a person was already in the know, the ads likely caused more questions than answers. But though "To the cloud" may be gone, the cloud itself still remains strong, and whether people realize it or not, the technology is already making a huge impact on our daily lives.

An explanation

Cloud computing has many facets, but the term basically describes the delivery of computing and applications as a service rather than a product. Cloud services are typically delivered over the internet and can be accessed through the end user's web browser.

The services can include any number of computing applications, with some of the most popular being email, data storage, image sharing programs and social networks. Gmail™ and Hotmail® are two examples of cloud-based email services with which most people are familiar. Other well-known cloud services include Google Docs™, ImageShack® and, to an extent, social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Rather than download any sort of software to access these programs, users simply log onto the internet to get to them.

There are several forms of cloud computing, including Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service. Of the three, Software-as-a-Service, or SaaS, is the most well known, as it describes the aforementioned hosted email, as well as various productivity suites and other programs.

What's the big deal?

Businesses and individuals that use the cloud are afforded numerous advantages, perhaps the most notable being the flexibility the technology provides. Through the cloud, people can access programs, applications, data and more on virtually any internet-connected device, including laptop and desktop PCs, as well as tablet computers and smartphones.

This grants computer users greater access to files or applications, eliminating the hassle of attempting to retrieve a document or photo, for example, when away from the computer on which the file is stored.

In an enterprise setting, this means employees can take their work almost anywhere, whether at home, a hotel or on the road. These benefits also extend to the consumer, who is able to listen to his or her music library, share pictures and check email wherever there's an internet connection.

Developments to come

According to a November 2011 report from research firm Global Industry Analysts, the global cloud computing services market will reach $127 billion by 2017. During this time, the cloud is expected to evolve significantly, looking drastically different than it does today.

Some experts predict that as the cloud matures, it will become a bigger part of our daily lives, expanding beyond computers and servers and into automobiles, household appliances and more. Some of these trends are already beginning to unfold. For example, several auto manufacturers now allow owners to control certain functions of their vehicles, such as remote unlocking and energy management for electric cars, through the cloud.

At the same time, awareness of the cloud will grow as well. The technology is already being discussed in most enterprise IT departments, but as the confusion around the "To the cloud" ad campaigned showed, the majority of the population is still scratching its head. As the cloud continues to evolve, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is here to stay.