Fundamentals of Cloud Computing

Define cloud computing and explain its five essential characteristics (on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service).

Describe the core components of a cloud ecosystem (clients, datacenter, distributed servers) and the SPI model (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS).

Trace the evolution of cloud computing from grid computing and virtualization.

Compare and contrast cluster, grid, and cloud computing in a tabular format based on architecture, resource management, and primary use cases.

List and explain the key benefits of cloud computing, such as cost savings, scalability, and reliability, with real-world examples.

List and explain the primary challenges of cloud computing, including security, vendor lock-in, and internet dependency.

Compare traditional on-premise computing with cloud computing across cost, scalability, maintenance, and deployment speed in a tabular format.