The document provides an introduction to cloud computing. It discusses how computing is transitioning to a utility-based model where resources are accessed on-demand via the internet. Cloud computing allows users to access applications, storage, and other services from any device. Early computer scientists envisioned this type of computing utility. The document outlines characteristics of cloud computing like multi-tenancy, scalability, and the various deployment models. It also discusses some of the technical aspects that enabled cloud computing such as virtualization, distributed systems, and web technologies. Challenges of cloud computing are security, privacy, outsourcing, and heterogeneity between provider platforms.