In This Chapter ▶  Understanding the essentials of cloud computing ▶  Exploring the cloud continuum ▶  Examining foundational delivery services H ow quickly things change. Cloud computing has evolved  from a risky and confusing concept to a strategy that  organizations large and small are beginning to adopt as part  of their overall computing strategy. Companies are now starting to ask not whether they should think about cloud  computing but what types of cloud computing models are  best suited to solve their business problems. Not only are  organizations using the cloud for services such as e-mail  or customer relationship management, but also many are  utilizing a set of important cloud foundational services —  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service  (PaaS) — to develop and deploy applications to support the  business and open up new innovative opportunities and new  revenue streams. The kind of cloud deployment you should consider depends  on your own particular performance, security requirements,  and your specific business goals. In this chapter, you look at  the fundamentals of cloud computing and the insights into the range of cloud services and models that you need to  understand. It’s important to understand that there’s a These materials are the copyright of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and any  dissemination, distribution, or unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Chapter 1 Understanding Cloud  Fundamentals and the  Cloud Continuum