Email and documents (SaaS)
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What is cloud computing?
Quick answer
Cloud computing is renting computing resources — servers, storage, databases and software — over the internet from a provider, instead of owning the machines. It comes as IaaS, PaaS or SaaS, deployed on public, private or hybrid clouds. Everyday examples in India include browser-based email, remote accounting and websites on cloud servers.
For students and business owners who want a clear definition of cloud computing, its models and how it compares with ordinary hosting.
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- Read time
- 3 min
- Sections
- 6
- Updated
- 14 Nov 2026
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- WebJi® team
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing is renting computing resources — servers, storage, databases and software — over the internet from a provider's data centre, instead of buying and running every machine yourself. You pay for what you use or for a fixed size, and you reach it from a browser, an app or an API.
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST SP 800-145) gives the definition most textbooks use. A service counts as cloud when it has these five traits:
| Characteristic | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| On-demand self-service | You provision it yourself, without a ticket | Creating a mailbox in an admin panel |
| Broad network access | Reachable over the network from many devices | Opening the same file on phone and laptop |
| Resource pooling | The provider's hardware serves many customers | Many companies' VMs on one host cluster |
| Rapid elasticity | Capacity grows or shrinks quickly | Adding RAM to a cloud server before a sale |
| Measured service | Usage is metered and billed | Paying per user per year for email |
The business case — and its limits — is covered in benefits of cloud computing.
What are IaaS, PaaS and SaaS?
IaaS rents virtual infrastructure you manage, PaaS rents a ready platform where you only deploy code, and SaaS rents finished software you simply log in to use. The higher up the stack, the less you manage and the less you can customise.
| Model | You rent | You still manage | Typical example |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | Virtual servers, storage, networks | Operating system, software, data | A cloud server running your website |
| PaaS | A runtime and managed database | Your application code and data | An app platform where you push code from Git |
| SaaS | A complete application | Users, settings and your data | Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, online billing |
The full responsibility chart is in SaaS vs PaaS vs IaaS.
What is the difference between public, private and hybrid cloud?
A public cloud is shared provider infrastructure open to many customers, a private cloud is reserved for one organisation, and a hybrid cloud connects the two so workloads can sit where they fit best. NIST also names a fourth model, community cloud, shared by organisations with common requirements.
- Public: lowest entry cost and the widest scale; each customer is isolated by software.
- Private: single tenant, more control, more cost; see private cloud hosting explained.
- Hybrid: for example, patient records on a private pool and the public website on a shared cloud; see hybrid cloud hosting.
How does virtualisation make cloud computing possible?
Virtualisation lets one physical server behave like many separate computers: a hypervisor splits its CPU, memory and disk into virtual machines, each with its own operating system. Providers pool thousands of such hosts and hand out virtual machines on demand, which is what makes self-service and elasticity possible.
- Physical hosts in a data centre run a hypervisor such as KVM or VMware ESXi.
- The hypervisor allocates vCPU, RAM and disk to each virtual machine.
- An orchestration layer places new machines on hosts with spare capacity.
- Customers share hardware but cannot see each other's files or memory.
The mechanism in more depth: what is virtualization.
What are everyday examples of cloud computing in India?
Most Indian businesses already use cloud computing through ordinary tools: browser-based email and documents, accounting software accessed remotely, and websites on rented servers.
Accounting over RDP
Tally run on a cloud server so branches and the CA use one company file; see Tally on cloud.
Websites and stores (IaaS)
A shop's WooCommerce site on a cloud server instead of a PC in the back office.
Backups and files
Off-site copies kept in cloud storage rather than on a USB drive.
How does cloud hosting differ from traditional shared hosting?
Shared hosting places many sites on one server under a fixed plan without root access, while cloud hosting gives you a server of a stated vCPU, RAM and disk size that you administer and can resize.
| Attribute | Shared hosting | Cloud hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Machine | An account on a shared server | Your own virtual server |
| Root access | No, control panel only | Yes |
| Resizing | Change plan | Change vCPU, RAM and disk |
| WebJi® from | ₹299 a month | ₹5,900 a month (2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB) |
WebJi® published prices; checkout confirms the current figure. Plans are on cloud hosting in India; the VPS alternative is compared in cloud vs VPS.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is cloud computing safe for business data?
Large providers secure hardware and networks well, but most breaches come from weak passwords, open sharing links and unpatched software, which remain the customer's job. Use two-factor login, least-privilege access and an independent backup. Common pitfalls are in cloud security challenges.
Does cloud computing need a fast internet connection?
It needs a reliable one. Email and documents work on ordinary broadband or 4G, while remote desktop and large file transfers benefit from steady upload speed. Keep a backup connection if staff cannot work offline.
Is cloud always cheaper than owning servers?
Not always. It avoids upfront hardware cost and pays off for variable or growing workloads. A steady, fully used workload over many years can cost less on owned or dedicated hardware, especially once data transfer charges are counted.
Where is cloud data physically stored?
In the provider's data centres, in whichever region you or the provider chose. Under India's DPDP Act your business stays responsible for personal data, so confirm the region before storing customer records.
Last editorial update: 14 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
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