Cloud computing
Terms related to cloud computing, including definitions about on-demand, distributed computing and words and phrases about software-as-a-service, infrastructure-as-a-service and storage-as-a-service.

- MuleSoft - MuleSoft is an integration platform provider that connects SaaS and legacy applications both on-premises and in the cloud with its Anypoint Platform.
- multi-cloud strategy - A multi-cloud strategy is the use of two or more cloud computing services.
- multi-tenant cloud - A multi-tenant cloud is a cloud computing architecture that allows customers to share computing resources in a public or private cloud.
- Nebula - Nebula is an open source cloud computing program that provides on-demand computing power for NASA researchers and scientists.
- NetScaler (SDX) - Citrix NetScaler SDX is a service delivery networking platform for enterprise and cloud datacenters.
- noisy neighbor (cloud computing performance) - Noisy neighbor is a phrase used to describe a cloud computing infrastructure co-tenant that monopolizes bandwidth, disk I/O, CPU and other resources, and can negatively affect other users' cloud performance.
- NoOps - NoOps (no operations) is the concept that an IT environment can become so automated and abstracted from the underlying infrastructure that there is no need for a dedicated team to manage software in-house.
- NoSQL (Not Only SQL database) - NoSQL is an approach to database management that can accommodate a wide variety of data models, including key-value, document, columnar and graph formats.
- on-demand computing - On-demand computing (ODC) is an enterprise computing delivery model in which computing resources are made available to the user as needed.
- open API (public API) - Review this definition to learn about open APIs, also known as a public APIs, including their associated benefits, industry use cases and unique attributes.
- Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) - The Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA) is a set of standards defining the way in which information is shared among diverse components of large, heterogeneous grid systems.
- Open Virtualization Format (OVF) - The Open Virtualization Format (OVF) is an open source standard for packaging and distributing software applications and services for virtual machines (VMs).
- OpenNebula - OpenNebula is an open source management tool that helps virtualized data centers enable private clouds, public clouds and hybrid clouds.
- OpenStack - OpenStack is a collection of open source software modules and tools that provide a framework to create and manage both public cloud and private cloud infrastructure.
- OpenStack Block Storage (Cinder) - OpenStack Block Storage (Cinder) is open source software designed to create and manage a service that provides persistent data storage to cloud computing applications.
- OpenStack Horizon - OpenStack Horizon is a web-based graphical interface that cloud administrators and users can access to manage OpenStack compute, storage and networking services.
- Oracle Cloud - Oracle Cloud is the database company’s public cloud service offering.
- Oracle Customer Experience Cloud (Oracle CX Cloud) - The Oracle Customer Experience Cloud (Oracle CX Cloud) is a suite of cloud-based tools for CRM and sales, marketing, customer service, e-commerce and other tools.
- pay-as-you-go cloud computing (PAYG cloud computing) - The pay-as-you-go cloud computing (PAYG cloud computing) method charges users only for the services they use, eliminating wasted resources.
- PayPhrase - Amazon's PayPhrase is an Internet point-of-sale (POS) shortcut that allows Amazon customers to use their Amazon payment and shipping authorization credentials while shopping at third-party partner sites.
- PC as a service (PCaaS) - PC as a service (PCaaS) is a device lifecycle management model in which an organization pays a monthly subscription fee to lease endpoint hardware and management services from a vendor.
- personal cloud storage (PCS) - Personal cloud storage (PCS) is a local network-attached storage (NAS) device that lets users store data, photos, music, videos and other files and is optimized for media streaming.
- portable app - A portable application (portable app) is a software product designed to be easily moved from one computing environment to another.
- private cloud appliance - A private cloud appliance is a hardware device that provides software-defined converged infrastructure functions for an organization’s proprietary network.
- private cloud storage (internal cloud storage) - Private cloud storage, also called internal cloud storage, is a service delivery model for storage within a large enterprise.
- private platform as a service (private PaaS) - Private platform as a service (private PaaS) is software that facilitates development, deployment and operations for IT on a private infrastructure or behind a firewall.
- provisioning - In general, provisioning means "providing" or making something available.
- public cloud storage - Public cloud storage, also called storage-as-a-service or online storage is a service model that provides data storage on a pay-per-use basis, similar to the way a public utility like electric or gas provides and charges for services.
- Rackspace Cloud - Cloud provider Rackspace offers several different cloud storage services including Cloud Files, Cloud Block Storage and Cloud Backup.
- Rackspace Fanatical Support - Rackspace Fanatical Support is Rackspace's customer service program, which provides support for customers using its managed hosting services and cloud platforms.
- resource-oriented architecture (ROA) - A resource-oriented architecture (ROA) is the structural design supporting the internetworking of resources.
- RightScale Inc. - RightScale is a software as a service (SaaS) provider that offers cloud management and analytics tools for public, private and hybrid clouds.
- SaaS ERP - SaaS ERP is a type of cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that runs on the vendor's or cloud provider's servers, is sold through subscription and delivered as a service over the internet.
- Salesforce App Cloud - The Salesforce App Cloud offers developers a series of frameworks and tools to create applications within the Salesforce platform or to create third-party apps on top of it.
- Salesforce Commerce Cloud - Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly called Demandware, is a cloud-based service for unifying the way businesses engage with customers over any channel or device.
- Same Origin Policy (SOP) - The Same Origin Policy (SOP), also called Single Origin Policy, is a security measure used in Web browser programming languages such as JavaScript and Ajax to protect the confidentiality and integrity of information.
- SAP Analytics Cloud - SAP Analytics Cloud (or SAP Cloud for Analytics) is a software as a service (SaaS) business intelligence (BI) platform designed by SAP.
- SAP Business ByDesign - SAP Business ByDesign is a cloud-based ERP system designed for the middle and upper range of the SME market, as well as for subsidiaries of large enterprises in a two-tier ERP scenario.
- SAP Cloud Platform - SAP Cloud Platform (SCP) is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) product that provides a development and runtime environment for cloud applications.
- Scalr - Scalr is an information technology (IT) vendor that offers a management platform for cloud computing.
- SDDC (software-defined data center) - An SDDC (software-defined data center) is a data storage facility in which networking, storage, CPU and security are virtualized and delivered as a service.
- Security as a Service (SaaS) - Security-as-a-service (SaaS) is an outsourcing model for security management.
- Security, Trust and Assurance Registry (STAR) - The Security, Trust and Assurance Registry (STAR) is an online registry of cloud provider security controls.
- self-service cloud computing - Self-service cloud computing is a form of private cloud service where the customer provisions storage and launches applications without going through an external cloud service provider.
- serverless computing - Serverless computing is an event-driven application design and deployment paradigm in which computing resources are provided as scalable cloud services.
- ServiceNow - ServiceNow is a cloud-based company that provides software as a service (SaaS) for technical management support.
- sharding - Sharding is a type of database partitioning that separates large databases into smaller, faster, more easily managed parts.
- Simian Army - The Simian Army is a collection of open source cloud testing tools created by the online video streaming company, Netflix.
- single-tenancy - Single-tenancy is an architecture in which a single instance of a software application and supporting infrastructure serves one customer.
- Skytap - Skytap is a software company that makes applications for cloud automation and virtual machine (VM) management, development and testing.
- SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) - SMAC (social, mobile, analytics and cloud) is the concept that the convergence of four technologies is currently driving business innovation.
- SnapLogic - SnapLogic is a software company that offers cloud integration products to allow customers to connect cloud-based data and applications with on-premise business systems.
- Software as a Service (SaaS) - Software as a service (SaaS) is a software distribution model in which a third-party provider hosts applications and makes them available to customers over the Internet.
- Software as a Service BI (SaaS BI) - Software as a Service business intelligence (SaaS BI) is a delivery model for business intelligence in which applications are typically deployed outside of a company’s firewall at a hosted location.
- SPI model - SPI is an acronym for the most common cloud computing service models, software as a service, platform as a service and infrastructure as a service.
- SQL-on-Hadoop - SQL-on-Hadoop is a class of analytical application tools that combine established SQL-style querying with newer Hadoop data framework elements.
- stateless app - A stateless app is an application program that does not save client data generated in one session for use in the next session with that client.
- storage container - A storage container is a defined, specific location in high-volume storage.
- streaming application - A streaming application is a program that has its necessary components downloaded as needed instead of being installed ahead of time on a computer.
- subscription-based pricing model - A subscription-based pricing model is a payment structure that allows a customer or organization to purchase or subscribe to a vendor's IT services for a specific period of time for a set price.
- The Boomi Platform - The Boomi Platform, previously known as Boomi AtomSphere, is a low-code and cloud-native integrated Platform as a Service (iPaaS).
- TOSCA (Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications) - The Topology and Orchestration Specification for Cloud Applications (TOSCA) is an open-source language used to describe the relationships and dependencies between services and applications that reside on a cloud computing platform.
- Trusted Cloud Initiative - The Trusted Cloud Initiative is a program of the Cloud Security Alliance industry group created to help cloud service providers develop industry-recommended, secure and interoperable identity, access and compliance management configurations and practices.
- turnkey cloud - A turnkey cloud is a product that includes pre-tested and certified packages of software and/or hardware and storage that a cloud provider or enterprise can deploy quickly.
- uncloud (cloud repatriation) - Unclouding, also called cloud repatriation, is the retrieval of applications and data from a cloud computing platform.
- unified computing system (UCS) - A unified computing system (UCS) is is a converged data center architecture that integrates computing, networking and storage resources to increase efficiency and enable centralized management.
- usage-based pricing - Usage-based pricing is a consumption-based pricing model in which customers are only charged when they use a product or service.
- user self-provisioning - User self-provisioning, also known as cloud self-service, is a system that allows end users to set up and launch applications and services in a cloud computing environment without the direct intervention of an IT organization or a service provider.
- utility storage - Utility storage is a service model in which a provider makes storage capacity available to an individual, organization or business unit on a pay-per-use basis.
- vendor lock-in - Vendor lock-in is a situation in which a customer using a product or service cannot easily transition to a competitor’s product or service.
- vertical cloud - A vertical cloud is a set of cloud computing services optimized for use in a particular industry, or for a specific business model.
- Vertical SaaS (Software as a Service) - Vertical SaaS describes a type of Software as a Service cloud computing solution created for a specific industry.
- virtual firewall - A virtual firewall is a firewall device or service that provides network traffic filtering and monitoring for virtual machines (VMs) in a virtualized environment.
- virtual private cloud (VPC) - A virtual private cloud (VPC) is the logical division of a service provider's public cloud multi-tenant architecture to support private cloud computing.
- VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version) - The VM hardware version (virtual machine hardware version) designates the virtual hardware functions supported by a virtual machine (VM), which relates to the hardware on the host server.
- VMware vCloud Suite - VMware vCloud Suite is a collection of applications built on VMware's vSphere platform for building a private cloud infrastructure.
- wake word - A wake word is a phrase spoken to the Amazon Echo hands-free speaker and virtual assistant that causes the device to "wake up" and process a user's request.
- WAN optimization (WAN acceleration) - WAN optimization -- also known as WAN acceleration -- is a collection of technologies and techniques used to improve the efficiency of data transfer across a wide area network (WAN) between organizations' centralized data centers and their remote locations.
- What is a cloud database? An in-depth cloud DBMS guide - A cloud database is an organized and managed collection of data in an IT system that resides on a public, private or hybrid cloud computing platform.
- What is a private cloud? - Private cloud is a type of cloud computing that delivers similar advantages to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through a proprietary architecture.
- What is cloud backup and how does it work? - Cloud backup, also known as online backup or remote backup, is a strategy for backing up data that involves sending a copy of the data over a proprietary or public network to an off-site server and storage system.
- What is cloud management? Everything you need to know - Cloud management refers to the exercise of control over public, private or hybrid cloud infrastructure resources and services.
- What is cloud migration? An introduction to moving to the cloud - Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications or other business elements to a cloud computing environment.
- What is fog computing? - Fog computing is a decentralized computing infrastructure in which data, compute, storage and applications are located somewhere between the data source and the cloud.
- What is hybrid cloud? Everything you need to know - A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment that uses a mix of on-premises, private cloud and third-party, public cloud services with orchestration between these platforms.
- What is iPaaS? Guide to integration platform as a service - This guide explains all about integration platform as a service (iPaaS), a set of automated tools that integrate software applications that are deployed in different environments.
- What is PaaS? Platform as a service definition and guide - Platform as a service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model where a third-party provider delivers hardware and software tools to users over the internet.
- What is public cloud? Everything you need to know - A public cloud is a platform that uses the standard cloud computing model to make resources -- such as virtual machines (VMs), applications or storage -- available to users remotely.
- What is the internet of things (IoT)? - The internet of things, or IoT, is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
- white box server - A white box server is a data center computer that is not manufactured by a well-known brand name vendor.
- white label cloud service - A white label cloud service is a cloud provider that sells customers resources that they can, in turn, offer to their own customers under their own brand.
- Windows Azure Fabric Controller (FC) - The Azure Fabric Controller (FC) is the part of the Windows Azure platform that monitors and manages virtual and physical servers and coordinates resources for software applications.
- Windows containers - Windows containers are abstracted, isolated and portable operating environments supported by the Microsoft Windows Server 2016 operating system and managed with tools such as Docker and PowerShell.
- Windows Live SkyDrive - Windows Live SkyDrive is a free online file storage system from Microsoft.
- XaaS (anything as a service) - XaaS is a collective term that refers to the delivery of anything as a service.
- Zadara VPSA and ZIOS - Zadara Storage provides block, file or object storage with varying levels of compute and capacity through its ZIOS and VPSA platforms.
- zero client - Zero client, also known as ultrathin client, is a server-based computing model in which the end user's computing device has no local storage.
- Zuora - Zuora sells software that helps companies manage their cloud subscriptions, including sales, pricing, billing, collection and renewal.