Cloud computing has emerged as one of the most impactful forces of the modern era. Through enabling companies to tap into digital infrastructure on demand, cloud platforms have leveled the playing field for digital tools for businesses everywhere.

The dominant cloud platforms — Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud — provide a comprehensive array of services covering basic storage to advanced machine learning.

The primary benefits of cloud computing is flexible capacity. On-premises IT infrastructure required substantial hardware costs. With the cloud, businesses can scale from zero and expand as needed.

Cybersecurity is often cited as a primary consideration for businesses moving to the cloud. Even though historical perceptions assumed the cloud was less secure than on-premises solutions, today's cloud providers spend significantly in security infrastructure.

What lies ahead of cloud computing appears full of opportunity. Key directions such as multi-cloud strategies are pushing processing right to the point of use. As networks grows worldwide, cloud computing will be further central to the global economy.