The document defines cloud computing as a model that provides convenient on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources over a network. These resources include networks, servers, storage, applications and services. Cloud computing provides availability and scalability through features like self-service, broad network access, resource pooling and rapid elasticity. It discusses cloud computing models of Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) as well as deployment models of private, community, public and hybrid clouds. Key enabling technologies are high-speed networks, powerful low-cost servers and efficient virtualization.