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CLOUD-BASICS5 MIN READ

What Makes Cloud Actually Cloud

Recognize the five NIST cloud characteristics and use them to test whether a platform behaves like cloud infrastructure.

If a team still waits weeks for capacity, it has not captured the main promise of cloud yet. The five characteristics NIST defines cloud computing through five behaviors. On-demand self-service means a team can provision compute or storage without opening a human ticket. Broad network access means the service is reachable through standard mechanisms from phones, laptops, or systems. Resource pooling means provider resources are shared and abstracted so consumers do not manage a specific physical machine. Rapid elasticity means capacity can expand or shrink quickly, often appearing unlimited. Measured service means usage is metered so both provider and customer…

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