The next big thing in computers is cloud computing. It may look like something fluffy and floating in the sky, but it’s not. Cloud computing got its name from the symbol used to describe it on charts. What it is, basically, is on-demand hosting. Instead of all computing tasks being performed by a dedicated machine, it is spread across multiple connections and other computers over the Internet.

Cloud computing is often called utility computing because it is a pay-as-you-go service, similar to your electricity bill. This is particularly true for the infrastructure as a service model. The best-known model of this type of cloud computing is Amazon Web Services. What they do is give you a unique IP address and blocks of available storage. The company then provides a user interface that allows the user to access, start, or stop the software. This usage can be sold by the minute, or by the hour, so you only pay for what you actually use.

The cloud service can be public or private. A public cloud has services that are offered to anyone who pays for them and anyone has the ability to access them. A private cloud is owned and managed by a particular company, and limits access to the people who work for them or to the customers who need those services. A service provider can create a private cloud in a public cloud, thus creating something called a virtual private cloud.

One concern when it comes to cloud computing is security. For starters, computer security is a huge ongoing problem, with theft occurring even with firewalls and security systems in place. Then add the nebulous nature of cloud computing to the mix, and many people worry about information security. Normal security precautions do not work in the clouds. Since many different connections are used, each one is a potential weak point. There are steps that can be taken to protect data and information, and more are being developed. Right now, it’s best to be vigilant when it comes to security and cloud computing. Clouds are the way to the future, they allow more computing to happen.