Cloud computing explained

A: Cloud computing is using a Web browser and the Internet to access applications, store your data or use computer resources on someone else's computers instead of yours.

You have used cloud computing if you have used a webmail product just as Google's Gmail or Microsoft's Hotmail. What makes webmail an example of cloud computing is that the email application and your emails are on a remote computer, not yours. This contrasts with running an email application on your PC, like Microsoft Mail or Outlook, and downloading and storing all of your emails locally.

The Internet is cloud computing

Not everything you do over the Internet is cloud computing, nevertheless. Online shopping and banking, paying your taxes or utilities, listening to music or watching movies or videos are not examples of cloud computing. These are just companies using the Internet to provide services to you.

Like anything you do online, cloud computing is not without its risks and requires appropriate security measures to protect your sensitive data.