ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a comprehensive introduction to Cloud Computing (CC). It begins by looking at the essential characteristics and technological enablers of CC. The chapter covers different cloud services, deployment models, mobile CC, and cloud service provides. It examines the benefits and challenges of CC. The CC architecture consists of a massive network of interconnected servers, often with a user-friendly front–end interface, which allows users to select services. CC allows access to the collection of computing resources via the Internet. CC is essentially a combination of many preexisting technologies. The key technological enablers for CC include the following: virtualization technologies, grid computing, distributed computing, multitenancy, and elasticity. CC is the environment which enables users and businesses to employ application on the Internet such as retrieving, storing, and protecting their personal file or data.
