What are the five essential characteristics of cloud computing according to NIST?

The five essential characteristics of cloud computing, as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), include on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured services.

On-demand self-service allows users to provision computing resources as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with service providers. This empowers users to quickly access and manage resources, enhancing agility and efficiency.

Broad network access ensures that services are available over the network and can be accessed through various devices, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, promoting convenience and flexibility in usage.

Resource pooling involves the provider’s ability to serve multiple customers using a multi-tenant model, where different physical and virtual resources are dynamically assigned and reassigned according to demand. This maximizes resource utilization and efficiency.

Rapid elasticity permits resources to be scaled up or down easily as user demand increases or decreases. This characteristic ensures that cloud services can meet changing workloads dynamically, providing users with the flexibility to handle varying levels of demand.

Measured services provide cloud users with transparency regarding resource usage, allowing for automatic control and optimization of resource use. This characteristic facilitates billing and accountability, as users are only charged for the resources they consume.

Understanding these characteristics is crucial for recognizing how cloud computing delivers its value