pay-as-you-go cloud computing
Pay-as-you-go cloud computing (PAYG cloud computing) is a payment method for cloud computing that charges based on usage. The practice is similar to that of utility bills, using only resources that are needed.
One major benefit of the pay-as-you-go method is that there are no wasted resources, since users only pay for services procured, rather than provisioning for a certain amount of resources that may or may not be used. With traditional enterprise desig...
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Cloud Computing Definition
Cloud Computing Definition
Cloud computing is a general term for the delivery of hosted services over the internet.
Cloud computing enables companies to consume a compute resource, such as a virtual machine (VM), storage or an application, as a utility -- just like electricity -- rather than having to build and maintain computing infrastructures in house.
Cloud computing characteristics and benefits
Cloud computing boasts several attractive benefits for businesses and end users. Five o...
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XaaS (Anything as a Service) Definition
XaaS (Anything as a Service) Definition
XaaS is a general, collective term that refers to the delivery of anything as a service. It recognizes the vast number of products, tools and technologies that vendors now deliver to users as a service over a network -- typically the internet -- rather than provide locally or on-site within an enterprise.
Examples of XaaS
There are countless examples of XaaS, but the most common encompass the three general cloud computing models: Software as a Ser...
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Platform as a Service (PaaS) Definition
Platform as a Service (PaaS) Definition
Platform as a service (PaaS) is a cloud computing model in which a third-party provider delivers hardware and software tools -- usually those needed for application development -- to users over the internet. A PaaS provider hosts the hardware and software on its own infrastructure. As a result, PaaS frees users from having to install in-house hardware and software to develop or run a new application.
PaaS architecture and how it works
PaaS does no...
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Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Definition
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Definition
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) is a form of cloud computing that provides virtualized computing resources over the internet. IaaS is one of the three main categories of cloud computing services, alongside software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS).
IaaS architecture and how it works
In an IaaS model, a cloud provider hosts the infrastructure components traditionally present in an on-premises data center, includin...
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Security as a Service (SaaS) Definition
Security as a Service (SaaS) Definition
What is security-as-a-service (SaaS)?
Security-as-a-service (SaaS) is an outsourcing model for security management. Typically, Security as a Service involves applications such as anti-virus software delivered over the Internet but the term can also refer to security management provided in-house by an external organization.
Security-as-a-Service offers a number of benefits, including:
Constant virus definition updates that are not reliant on use...
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Storage as a Service (SaaS) Definition
Storage as a Service (SaaS) Definition
Storage as a Service is a business model in which a large company rents space in their storage infrastructure to a smaller company or individual.
In the enterprise, SaaS vendors are targeting secondary storage applications by promoting SaaS as a convenient way to manage backups. The key advantage to SaaS in the enterprise is in cost savings -- in personnel, in hardware and in physical storage space. For instance, instead of maintaining a large...
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Software as a Service (SaaS) Definition
Software as a Service (SaaS) Definition
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. SaaS is one of three main categories of cloud computing, alongside infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS).
SaaS removes the need for organizations to install and run applications on their own computers or in their own data centers. This eliminates the e...
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Customer Analytics (customer data analytics)
Customer Analytics (customer data analytics)
Customer analytics, also called customer data analytics, is the systematic examination of a company's customer information and customer behavior to identify, attract and retain the most profitable customers.
Why customer analytics matters
Customers have access to information anywhere, anytime including where to shop, what to buy, how much to pay and so on. This makes it increasingly important to utilize predictive analytics and data to fo...
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Age of the customer
Age of the customer
Age of the customer is the concept that consumers are more empowered than ever because they can access information about products and services over the Internet in real time.
The customer's ability to quickly access information has resulted in a sea change in the marketplace. In the past, vendors held the most power because they were the only ones who knew what the profit margin would be for a particular product or service. Today, informed customers are able to r...
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