---
title: Cloud Technology Glossary
description: "## Cloud Computing Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet, including storage, processing, and software, allowing users to access applications and data without maintaining infrastructure. ## Public Cloud A public cloud is a shared cloud…"
url: "https://nilebi.com/learn/cloud-technology/cloud-technology-glossary/"
updated: "2026-05-06"
category: Cloud Technology
---

# Cloud Technology Glossary

## Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services over the internet, including storage, processing, and software, allowing users to access applications and data without maintaining infrastructure.

## Public Cloud

A public cloud is a shared cloud infrastructure owned by third-party providers, offering services to multiple organizations over the internet.

## Private Cloud

Private cloud infrastructure is dedicated to a single organization, providing enhanced control and security while retaining cloud benefits.

## Hybrid Cloud

Hybrid cloud combines public and private clouds, enabling data and application sharing between them for flexibility and efficiency.

## Multi-Cloud

Multi-cloud involves using multiple cloud services from different providers, avoiding vendor lock-in and enhancing operational flexibility.

## SaaS (Software as a Service)

SaaS delivers software applications over the internet, eliminating the need for local installation and providing accessibility via web browsers.

## IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

IaaS provides virtualized computing resources such as servers and storage over the internet, offering scalability and flexibility.

## PaaS (Platform as a Service)

PaaS is a cloud platform for developers to build, test, and deploy applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

## Data Warehouse

A data warehouse is a centralized repository designed to store structured data, optimized for query and analytical purposes.

## ETL (Extract, Transform, Load)

ETL is a process that extracts data from source systems, transforms it into a usable format, and loads it into a data warehouse.

## Real-Time Analytics

Real-time analytics involves analyzing data as it is generated or updated, enabling immediate insights for timely decision-making.

## Cloud Storage

Cloud storage provides a scalable solution for storing data on remote servers, accessible over the internet.

## Big Data

Big data refers to extremely large datasets requiring specialized tools for efficient storage, processing, and analysis.

## Virtualization

Virtualization creates virtual versions of computing resources like servers and storage, improving utilization and efficiency.

## API (Application Programming Interface)

An API is a set of protocols for building and interacting with software applications, enabling integration between systems.

## Latency

Latency is the delay in data transmission over a network, critical for performance in real-time cloud applications.

## Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum data transfer rate of a network, determining how much data can be sent or received in a given time.

## Elasticity

Elasticity is the cloud's ability to automatically scale resources up or down based on user demand.

## Disaster Recovery (DR)

Disaster recovery involves strategies to restore applications and data quickly after a failure or outage.

## Serverless Computing

Serverless computing is a model where the cloud provider manages the server infrastructure, letting developers focus on coding.

## Cloud Security

Cloud security encompasses measures to protect cloud-hosted data and applications from unauthorized access and breaches.

## Multi-Tenancy

Multi-tenancy is a cloud architecture where multiple customers share the same resources securely.

## Edge Computing

Edge computing processes data near its source, reducing latency and bandwidth use in cloud applications.

## Cloud-Native

Cloud-native applications are specifically designed to leverage the benefits of cloud infrastructure.

## Containerization

Containerization uses containers to package applications and dependencies, ensuring portability across cloud environments.

## Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source platform for managing containerized applications in cloud environments.

## Data Lake

A data lake stores raw, unprocessed data in its native format, supporting a variety of data types and use cases.

## BI Dashboard

A BI dashboard is an interactive interface displaying key performance indicators and analytics for better decision-making.

## Pay-as-You-Go Pricing

This pricing model bills cloud users based on resource usage, providing cost efficiency and scalability.

## Compliance

Compliance ensures adherence to legal and regulatory requirements for storing and processing data in the cloud.

 

*This glossary serves as a foundation for understanding key terms in cloud technology for Business Intelligence.*