This document provides an overview of cloud computing, including:
- A definition of cloud computing as networked hardware and software resources delivered as a service over the Internet.
- A brief history of cloud computing origins dating back to the 1960s with milestones like Amazon Web Services launching in 2002.
- Descriptions of cloud computing characteristics like on-demand self-service, broad network access, and resource pooling.
- Explanations of cloud service models including Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS).
- Reasons for the popularity of cloud services like scalability, reliability, and reducing costs compared to owning infrastructure.