The document discusses cloud computing, including definitions, characteristics, and survey results on adoption of and attitudes toward cloud computing. It defines cloud computing as a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources over the internet rather than having local servers, with the goal of applying high-performance computing power normally used by research facilities to large networks of connected computer systems. A survey found that familiarity with cloud computing is still low but that respondents saw benefits in areas like scalability, costs, and flexibility. Barriers to adoption included concerns about security, control, and the readiness of organizations and IT departments.