What is cloud computing in systems design?

Cloud computing in systems design refers to the delivery of computing services over the Internet. This encompasses a wide range of resources and services, including storage, processing power, networking, software, and databases, provided through remote servers that are managed by cloud service providers.

One significant advantage of cloud computing is its flexibility and scalability. Organizations can quickly scale up or down based on their requirements without the need for substantial upfront investment in physical hardware. This approach allows businesses to access advanced technologies and infrastructures that might otherwise be too costly or complex to manage on-premises.

In systems design, leveraging cloud computing facilitates higher efficiency, collaboration, and innovation, as it enables teams to work together in real-time, access shared resources, and deploy applications more swiftly. The model supports various deployment types, such as public, private, or hybrid clouds, giving organizations options that best fit their operational needs.

By contrast, relying on local servers for data management restricts scalability and flexibility, and hosting services on dedicated hardware entails significant capital expenses and maintenance efforts. Although the importance of data encryption and security in cloud computing cannot be overlooked, it is only one aspect of a much broader framework provided by cloud environments.