1. Cloud Computing Evolution

Cloud computing has emerged as a cost effective alternative to having reliable computing resources without owning any of the infrastructure. The growth of this technology mirrors the growth of computing in general. The options offered by cloud services fit the needs of businesses of all types. As a truly global technology, cloud computing is growing rapidly, albeit without any global standards. The benefits of cloud computing are too numerous to hold back adoption. At present the goal is to meet the business needs and as the technology matures it will accommodate changes emanating from global standards. As the first step in this direction many of the major cloud service providers are joining multiple consortia to develop the standards. This chapter addresses the history of the growth of cloud computing and the three basic service types—SaaS, PaaS, IaaS—that help businesses of all types. We identify the major cloud service providers and the cloud service types that they offer. We discuss the ways in which cloud computing is supporting entrepreneurial activities. Our analysis shows further that the advancements in communications technology is benefiting cloud computing and makes it a truly global service. Moreover, cloud computing technology is making a major contribution to ecommerce.