Above the Clouds: A Brief Survey

Abstract: Cloud Computing is a versatile technology that can support a broad-spectrum of applications. The low cost of cloud computing and its dynamic scaling renders it an innovation driver for small companies, particularly in the developing world. Cloud deployed enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management applications (SCM), customer relationship management (CRM) applications, medical applications, business applications and mobile applications have potential to reach millions of users. In this paper, we explore the different concepts involved in cloud computing and we also examine clouds from technical aspects. We highlight some of the opportunities in cloud computing underlining the importance of clouds showing why that technology must succeed and we have provided additional cloud computing problems that businesses may need to address. Finally, we discuss some of the issues that this area should deal with.