What is cloud computing?

What is “cloud computing”?  After writing my last post, I feel that it is necessary to define my opinion of what cloud computing is. 

The simplest way of describing cloud computing is any web page you use to perform a function or store data. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are part of cloud computing, as are online storage sites such as Mozy.com. 

The most interesting aspect of this migration to cloud computing is that it will radically change the face of information technology, especially within small businesses.   One of the early pioneers is Salesforce.com, who were one of the first to provide online Customer Relationship Management software, making what was previously available only to multi-million dollar corporations, accessible to the sole proprietor for a small monthly fee.

There is very little that can’t be hosted through the cloud today. Virtually any application you can think of is available through an online offering.  I’ll be highlighting some of the the ones that we use on a day-to-day basis in future posts on this site.