What best describes Cloud Computing?

The description that best captures the essence of cloud computing is the idea that it is a model that uses shared resources over the internet. This definition highlights the key characteristic of cloud computing: the ability to access and utilize computing resources—such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, and analytics—over the internet, rather than relying solely on local hardware or infrastructure.

Cloud computing allows users and organizations to leverage scalable and flexible resources on demand, meaning they can quickly adapt to changing needs without the burden of maintaining physical servers or other hardware. This model supports a variety of services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), enabling efficiencies in cost, time, and administrative overhead.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent cloud computing. For example, describing it as a self-contained computing model without internet connectivity overlooks the fundamental reliance on internet access for cloud services. Referring to it as a type of hardware-based system misrepresents the software and service-oriented nature of cloud solutions, while calling it a local software solution misses the critical component of remote resource sharing and service delivery over the internet. Thus, option B accurately encapsulates the primary characteristics