What is
cloud computing?

Consider the example of a music streaming service like Spotify.

In the past, if you wanted to listen to music, you had to buy CDs or vinyl, store them in your home, and maintain them. This required an initial investment to purchase the music, space to store the CDs or vinyl, and time to maintain them. Plus, if an album became obsolete or your musical tastes changed, you had to buy new CDs or vinyl.

With a music streaming service like Spotify, you pay a monthly subscription and get access to a huge library of music. You don't need to buy or store music, and you can listen to what you want, when you want. Spotify takes care of purchasing, storing and maintaining music. Plus, you always have access to the latest releases.

This is similar to moving from a traditional IT system, where purchasing and maintaining your own hardware and software is required, to a cloud system such as Azure or M365. In these, you pay a subscription to access IT resources maintained by a service provider, such as Microsoft. These resources can be used according to your requirements, without the constraints of acquisition, storage or maintenance. You also benefit from constant access to the latest technologies. In short, this marks a shift from physical ownership to service operation.