1. On-Demand Self-Service

Users can provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, automatically without requiring human interaction with the service provider. You click a button; you get a server.

2. Broad Network Access

Cloud capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations). It is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection.

3. Resource Pooling & Multi-tenancy

The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model. Physical and virtual resources are dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand. Consumers generally don't know exactly where their data is stored geographically.

4. Rapid Elasticity

Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. To the consumer, the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited.

5. Measured Service (Pay-as-you-go)

Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability. Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.

6. Resiliency and Availability

Cloud services offer high availability and disaster recovery. Data is mirrored across multiple physical locations. If one server or data center goes down, the service remains uninterrupted.

7. Security and Automation

Automation allows for rapid deployment of security patches and infrastructure updates. Cloud providers invest heavily in security protocols that are often more advanced than what a single company can afford on-premise.

Summary Table