1) NoSQL databases were developed to address problems with scaling relational databases (RDBMS) and fitting certain types of data and use cases. 2) NoSQL databases are non-relational and come in different types including key-value, wide column, document, and graph databases. They are designed for high scale, simplicity, and distribution across clusters. 3) The cloud allows for massive data analysis by providing unlimited scalability through mounting large compute clusters to process vast amounts of diverse data from various sources.