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Cloud computing can have different meanings depending on the context that it is used. A popular view of cloud computing is delivering computing as services, rather than an individual product (for example SaaS, software as a service, and cloud vps hosting). This would mean that resources and software are shared, and information is provided to computers and other devices in the cloud as a metered service via the Internet.
Cloud computing removes the physical boundaries of a single computational node infrastructure, and enables via the use of intelligent software the scaling of computer resources both on a private network (LAN, Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network, such as the Internet). This allows users to use the cloud without being aware of the details of the infrastructure, nor the location.
End users can access cloud based software via a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile app. This allows business software and data to be stored on a cloud server at a remote location. Cloud application providers such as cloud hosting companies aim to give the same or better performance and service as if the hosting platform were on a traditional dedicated server, but with the redundancy of the cloud infrastructure. Typically in a cloud vps hosting platform if one node in a cloud fails, resources are automatically transfered to a new node maintaining the website uptime.
At the roots of cloud vps hosting is a wider concept of infrastructure convergence and shared services. This type of data centre environment (often scaled via the internet between multiple data centres) allows companies to get their websites up and running faster, with easier manageability and less maintenance, and enables webmasters to more rapidly adjust website resources (such as server nodes, storage, and bandwidth) to meet fluctuating and unpredictable business demand. Cloud hosting is rapidly becoming the choice for many large organistations in preference to dedicated hardware to host their e-commerce or business applications.