Cloud Computing: CNBC Explains Senior Editor, CNBC To hear the
experts tell it, cloud computing may be the most innovative
technology development in decades, or should be dismissed as a
marketing tool for existing know-how that's as old as computers
themselves. We can't settle the debate on the uniquene ss of
cloud computing, but there are some issues that can be resolved
without controversy: just what is cloud computing, who uses it,
and what are the benefits and risks? What is Cloud Computing?
The official definition from the National Institute of Standards
and Technology reads: "Cloud computing is a model for enabling
convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of
configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers,
storage, applications and services)that can be rapidly
provisioned and released with minimal management effort or
service provider interaction." Translation? Accessing the
Internet anywhere, anytime and being able to use any or all of
the data and applications that you want. "Co