Cloud computing concepts have evolved since the 1950s with early concepts like remote job entry (RJE). The cloud symbol emerged in the 1970s to represent computing networks. In the 1990s, virtual private networks provided cloud-like services at lower costs. The term "cloud computing" arose in the late 1990s and cloud services became popular in the mid-2000s with Amazon's EC2 launch. Major tech companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle now offer cloud computing platforms and services.