Cloud technology has grown into one of the most transformative technologies of the digital age. Through enabling companies to leverage digital infrastructure as needed, cloud providers have opened up technology for businesses everywhere.

The leading cloud services — Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform — provide a wide-ranging array of services spanning basic storage to AI-powered tools.

A major strengths of cloud computing is the ability to scale. On-premises IT infrastructure required substantial upfront investment. Using cloud services, teams can start small and scale up as needed.

Security is often cited as a top concern for companies moving to the cloud. Even though historical concerns implied the cloud was less secure than local setups, today's cloud providers invest heavily in security controls.

What lies ahead of cloud computing appears full of opportunity. New developments such as hybrid cloud are bringing intelligence directly at the end user. As connectivity expands at scale, cloud computing will become even more essential to the global economy.