{"id":6128,"date":"2025-05-21T09:55:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T07:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/?p=6128"},"modified":"2025-05-21T10:36:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:36:50","slug":"cloud-computing-what-it-is-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/cloud-computing-what-it-is-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"Cloud computing: what it is and how it works [3 well-known examples]"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6128\" class=\"elementor elementor-6128 elementor-6114\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13fd32e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"13fd32e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dbd31e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8dbd31e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Cloud computing<\/strong> has revolutionized how <strong>public administrations<\/strong> and <strong>SMEs<\/strong> manage data, applications, and <a href=\"https:\/\/aims.fao.org\/information-and-communication-technologies-ict\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>ICT<\/strong><\/a> infrastructures. Understanding what cloud computing is, how it originated, and how it works is crucial to seizing the opportunities of the <strong>Fourth Industrial Revolution<\/strong> across Europe.<\/p><p>In this article, we\u2019ll provide clear, practical examples of cloud computing in action.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-342f035 elementor-toc--minimized-on-tablet elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"342f035\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;],&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;tablet&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\n\t\t\t\tTable of contents\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__342f035\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__342f035\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__342f035\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-796f8c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"796f8c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is cloud computing exactly?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-08a0c28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"08a0c28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Cloud computing<\/strong> refers to the delivery of computing services (such as servers, storage, applications, and more) over the internet, removing the need for physical infrastructure on-premises. Instead of relying on local data centers, businesses access <strong>on-demand<\/strong> IT resources via the web.<\/p><p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/nvlpubs.nist.gov\/nistpubs\/Legacy\/SP\/nistspecialpublication800-145.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>National Institute of Standards and Technology<\/strong> (<strong>NIST<\/strong>)<\/a>, cloud computing is defined by <strong>4 key characteristics<\/strong>:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7744b80 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"7744b80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\"><path d=\"M160 64c0-11.8-6.5-22.6-16.9-28.2s-23-5-32.8 1.6l-96 64C-.5 111.2-4.4 131 5.4 145.8s29.7 18.7 44.4 8.9L96 123.8V416H32c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32h96 96c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32s-14.3-32-32-32H160V64z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">on-demand self-service;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\"><path d=\"M142.9 96c-21.5 0-42.2 8.5-57.4 23.8L54.6 150.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L40.2 74.5C67.5 47.3 104.4 32 142.9 32C223 32 288 97 288 177.1c0 38.5-15.3 75.4-42.5 102.6L109.3 416H288c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32c-12.9 0-24.6-7.8-29.6-19.8s-2.2-25.7 6.9-34.9L200.2 234.5c15.2-15.2 23.8-35.9 23.8-57.4c0-44.8-36.3-81.1-81.1-81.1z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">resource pooling (a method for regularly monitoring resource status);<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\"><path d=\"M0 64C0 46.3 14.3 32 32 32H272c13.2 0 25 8.1 29.8 20.4s1.5 26.3-8.2 35.2L162.3 208H184c75.1 0 136 60.9 136 136s-60.9 136-136 136H105.4C63 480 24.2 456 5.3 418.1l-1.9-3.8c-7.9-15.8-1.5-35 14.3-42.9s35-1.5 42.9 14.3l1.9 3.8c8.1 16.3 24.8 26.5 42.9 26.5H184c39.8 0 72-32.2 72-72s-32.2-72-72-72H80c-13.2 0-25-8.1-29.8-20.4s-1.5-26.3 8.2-35.2L189.7 96H32C14.3 96 0 81.7 0 64z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">network elasticity;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M189 77.6c7.5-16 .7-35.1-15.3-42.6s-35.1-.7-42.6 15.3L3 322.4c-4.7 9.9-3.9 21.5 1.9 30.8S21 368 32 368H256v80c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32s32-14.3 32-32V368h32c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32s-14.3-32-32-32H320V160c0-17.7-14.3-32-32-32s-32 14.3-32 32V304H82.4L189 77.6z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">measurable service usage.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-478208c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"478208c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are <strong>3 main types<\/strong> of cloud computing models:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-669371f elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"669371f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 256 512\"><path d=\"M160 64c0-11.8-6.5-22.6-16.9-28.2s-23-5-32.8 1.6l-96 64C-.5 111.2-4.4 131 5.4 145.8s29.7 18.7 44.4 8.9L96 123.8V416H32c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32h96 96c17.7 0 32-14.3 32-32s-14.3-32-32-32H160V64z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>public cloud<\/strong>: Services offered by providers like <strong>Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud<\/strong>, accessible to everyone;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\"><path d=\"M142.9 96c-21.5 0-42.2 8.5-57.4 23.8L54.6 150.6c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L40.2 74.5C67.5 47.3 104.4 32 142.9 32C223 32 288 97 288 177.1c0 38.5-15.3 75.4-42.5 102.6L109.3 416H288c17.7 0 32 14.3 32 32s-14.3 32-32 32H32c-12.9 0-24.6-7.8-29.6-19.8s-2.2-25.7 6.9-34.9L200.2 234.5c15.2-15.2 23.8-35.9 23.8-57.4c0-44.8-36.3-81.1-81.1-81.1z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>private cloud<\/strong>: Infrastructure dedicated to a single organization, often for cybersecurity purposes;<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\"><path d=\"M0 64C0 46.3 14.3 32 32 32H272c13.2 0 25 8.1 29.8 20.4s1.5 26.3-8.2 35.2L162.3 208H184c75.1 0 136 60.9 136 136s-60.9 136-136 136H105.4C63 480 24.2 456 5.3 418.1l-1.9-3.8c-7.9-15.8-1.5-35 14.3-42.9s35-1.5 42.9 14.3l1.9 3.8c8.1 16.3 24.8 26.5 42.9 26.5H184c39.8 0 72-32.2 72-72s-32.2-72-72-72H80c-13.2 0-25-8.1-29.8-20.4s-1.5-26.3 8.2-35.2L189.7 96H32C14.3 96 0 81.7 0 64z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>hybrid cloud<\/strong>: a combination of public and private cloud models, offering the advantages of both.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cec4b58 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cec4b58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A brief history of cloud computing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e965c93 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e965c93\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The origins of cloud computing trace back to the <strong>1960s<\/strong>, when \u201c<strong>time-sharing<\/strong>\u201d on mainframe computers enabled multiple users to access computational resources simultaneously.<\/p><p>However, modern cloud computing didn\u2019t take shape until the early <strong>2000s<\/strong> with the rise of the <strong>Internet<\/strong>, <strong>broadband connectivity<\/strong>, and <strong>virtualization<\/strong> (a technology that creates virtual representations of physical resources, reducing the load on local PCs).<\/p><p>In <strong>2006<\/strong>, <strong>Amazon<\/strong> launched <strong>AWS<\/strong>, the first large-scale cloud-based service for the public, offering storage and computing power at <strong>accessible costs<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Since then, the industry has boomed. According to an IT consulting firm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gartner.com\/en\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Gartner<\/strong><\/a> report, the global cloud market reached <strong>$600 billion<\/strong> in <strong>2023<\/strong> and continues to grow rapidly. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated adoption, as businesses embraced <strong>remote work models<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18f5809 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"18f5809\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-2-EN.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6136\" alt=\"cloud computing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-2-EN.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-2-EN-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-2-EN-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-2-EN-768x417.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc1d8c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc1d8c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What is cloud computing used for? Benefits and use cases<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-857367f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"857367f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cloud computing offers multiple benefits to companies and end users, such as:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-522d539 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"522d539\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Data backup<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9046b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e9046b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>One of the most common uses is the ability to remotely access and store large amounts of data. <strong>Dropbox<\/strong>, for instance, provides cloud storage and synchronization services to millions of users.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9579166 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9579166\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. App development<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bb929c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5bb929c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Platforms like <strong>Microsoft Azure<\/strong> allow developers to build, test, and deploy applications at scale\u2014without managing physical servers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1bc496 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c1bc496\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Big data analytics<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e33b0d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e33b0d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cloud computing supports <strong>big data processing<\/strong>. <strong>Netflix<\/strong>, for example, uses AWS to analyze user preferences and personalize recommendations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-711234e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"711234e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Security<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7259ffd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7259ffd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cloud providers implement cutting-edge tools to protect data, such as <strong>end-to-end encryption<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-be91d64 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"be91d64\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Scalability<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf97b16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf97b16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Companies can scale cloud resources up or down depending on their needs, optimizing costs. For instance, during <strong>Black Friday<\/strong>, retailers like <strong>Zalando<\/strong> rely on cloud-based services to manage traffic surges.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-371e862 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"371e862\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Real-world examples of cloud computing<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e548185 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"e548185\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>Amazon Web Services (AWS)<\/strong>: used by <strong>Airbnb and Spotify<\/strong> to host applications and manage vast data volumes.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>Google Cloud Platform (GCP)<\/strong>: Powers services like <strong>YouTube<\/strong> and provides advanced tools for integrating <strong>AI and machine learning<\/strong>.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-check\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M173.898 439.404l-166.4-166.4c-9.997-9.997-9.997-26.206 0-36.204l36.203-36.204c9.997-9.998 26.207-9.998 36.204 0L192 312.69 432.095 72.596c9.997-9.997 26.207-9.997 36.204 0l36.203 36.204c9.997 9.997 9.997 26.206 0 36.204l-294.4 294.401c-9.998 9.997-26.207 9.997-36.204-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><strong>Microsoft Azure<\/strong>: Trusted by both public and private entities, including the <strong>UK government<\/strong>, to modernize digital services.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9d2913c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9d2913c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Within the <strong>European Union<\/strong>, cloud computing plays a central role in the <a href=\"https:\/\/gaia-x.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>GAIA-X<\/strong><\/a> project\u2014an initiative aimed at building a sovereign, cross-border cloud infrastructure that ensures cybersecurity and data protection for <strong>member States<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e8d6ca elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3e8d6ca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#contact-form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1400\" height=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-3-EN.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-6138\" alt=\"PMF Research contacts\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-3-EN.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-3-EN-300x163.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-3-EN-1024x556.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.pmf-research.eu\/pmf-research.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Cloud-computing-3-EN-768x417.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-452e734 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"452e734\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Opportunities for businesses: partner with PMF Research<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4600859 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4600859\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/\"><strong>PMF Research<\/strong><\/a> is actively involved in <strong>research and development (R&amp;D<\/strong>) projects based on cloud computing solutions. We are currently seeking partners interested in participating in European calls for proposals focused on cloud computing.<\/p><p>Whether you are a <strong>company<\/strong>, <strong>research center<\/strong>, or <strong>startup<\/strong>, contact us today. You\u2019ll benefit from our 20+ years of experience in <strong>EU project design<\/strong> and gain access to a pan-European innovation network. Let\u2019s work together!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cloud computing has revolutionized how public administrations and SMEs manage data, applications, and ICT infrastructures. Understanding what cloud computing is, how it originated, and how it works is crucial to seizing the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution across Europe. In this article, we\u2019ll provide clear, practical examples of cloud computing in action. Table of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":6131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6128"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6128\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6155,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6128\/revisions\/6155"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pmf-research.eu\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}