A cloud platform is an online service that gives you computing resources over the internet, such as:
- Servers
- Storage
- Databases
- Networking
- Security tools
- AI/ML services
- App hosting
Instead of buying and managing your own physical servers, you rent resources from a cloud provider.
Simple example
Think of a cloud platform like an electricity provider.
You do not build your own power plant. You use electricity when you need it and pay for what you use.
Similarly, with a cloud platform, you use computing power when needed and pay based on usage.
Popular cloud platforms
- AWS
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform
- IBM Cloud
- Oracle Cloud
What you can do on a cloud platform
- Host websites and apps
- Store files and backups
- Run virtual servers
- Manage databases
- Deploy AI models
- Build scalable software systems
In one sentence
A cloud platform lets you access and manage computing resources online without owning the physical infrastructure.