The Cloud
Computer Science: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 4.2.21
The Cloud
'The cloud' is a term that refers to storage, services, and applications that exist on the Internet, rather than on a local secondary storage.
File storage and sharing
- The cloud is often used to store files and allows them to be shared easily. For example:
- Google Drive.
- Dropbox.
- iCloud Drive.
Streaming services
- The cloud is often used to store audio and video which can then be streamed by users.
- For example:
- Spotify.
- Netflix.
- BBC iPlayer.
Applications
- Many applications are now accessible through the cloud, so there is no need to install them on secondary storage. For example:
- Google Docs.
- Microsoft Office 365.
- Gmail.
Server hosting
- Many people now choose to use cloud services to host their websites. For example:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS).
- Microsoft Azure.
Test yourself on The Cloud
Why might a user choose to use cloud-based applications?