What is cloud speak?
Cloud speak is terminology that refers to cloud technology including acronyms and jargon. Cloud speak is found in articles, white papers, press releases, product-related content, and research about cloud technology.
Some prevalent cloud speak terms:
Public cloud
Public cloud infrastructure are services hosted by a cloud services provider and available to the public over the internet.
Private cloud
Services that are hosted in a private cloud are only available to select users, not the general public. They can be offered either over the internet or a private internal network.
Hybrid cloud
Cloud computing environments that contains a mix of private, public, and on-premises solutions are hybrid clouds. Public and private cloud infrastructures remain distinct from one another but they are connected by technology that allows data and services to be transported between the two infrastructures.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Cloud application services where applications are delivered over the internet to the consumer are software as a service. It can be better understood as services replacing traditional, tangible in-house software. SaaS means that applications do not need to be purchased, installed, and left to run on customers’ computers. Instead, access to applications and services are subscribed to through a service provider.
Backend as a Service (BaaS)
BaaS is a cloud computing model where the vendor provides application developers with services and tools to create a cloud backend for their applications. Usually, BaaS vendors use APIs and custom SDKs to allow developers to connect their applications to backend cloud storage.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
A model of cloud computing where a virtualized environment is delivered as a service by a cloud provider is IaaS. The infrastructure can include network equipment, software, servers, and a desktop environment.
Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS)
A cloud-based integrated system used for connecting software applications that are deployed in different environments.
