Cloud Basics Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is the cloud?
It’s the delivery of computing services—like servers, storage, databases, networking, and software—over the Internet using a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to rent compute power and storage from someone else’s data center.
What does ‘pay-as-you-go’ mean in cloud computing?
You only pay for the resources you actually use, for as long as you use them—no need to invest in or maintain physical hardware.
Instead of maintaining CPUs and storage in your own data center, what do you do in the cloud?
You rent the computing resources you need from a cloud provider, use them on demand, and release them when done, reducing cost and complexity.
Who maintains the infrastructure in the cloud model?
The cloud provider is responsible for maintaining and updating the physical infrastructure, so you can focus on your applications and services.
What is meant by ‘on-demand access’ in the cloud?
You can spin up and shut down cloud resources whenever needed, just like you would use resources in your own data center, but with more speed and flexibility.
What is the real value of the cloud?
Speed—cloud computing allows you to quickly deploy solutions, test ideas, and solve business problems faster than traditional infrastructure.
How fast can you create and deploy a website on Azure?
In just a few minutes—often faster than eating lunch—you can launch a full website, saving days or weeks compared to traditional setups.
Why is the cloud important for businesses today?
It helps organizations move faster, innovate more easily, and access tools like AI, storage, and analytics without heavy upfront investment.
What are two key trends in tech development today?
- Teams release software features rapidly, often multiple times a day. 2. Users expect immersive, responsive experiences across many device types.
How have software release schedules changed?
Instead of months or years between updates, companies now release smaller, more frequent updates, enabling continuous delivery and faster feedback.
What do end users expect from modern software?
Highly interactive experiences that respond to voice, touch, and even facial recognition across devices like phones, VR headsets, and tablets.
Give examples of how users interact with modern devices?
Users can talk to their devices, unlock them with face recognition, and use them across platforms like mobile, desktop, VR, and web.
What resources does the cloud offer on-demand?
Virtually unlimited computing power, scalable storage, high-speed networking, AI tools, and advanced services like speech recognition and analytics.
What are cognitive services in the cloud?
Pre-built AI tools like speech recognition and image analysis that let developers easily add intelligence to their apps without building models from scratch.
What do analytics services in the cloud help with?
They help you collect, process, and interpret data from software or devices, enabling smarter decisions and better user experiences.
Is moving apps to virtual machines in the cloud enough?
It’s a start, but the cloud offers much more—like AI, auto-scaling storage, and advanced services that go beyond simple VM hosting.
What are some advanced capabilities of the cloud beyond VMs?
Cloud platforms offer machine learning, AI, scalable storage, real-time data processing, and managed services that support innovation and growth.
