An organization can unilaterally provision computing capabilities. Capabilities such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.

Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms.

The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.

Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. The capabilities available for provisioning often appear unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.

Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and the user of the utilized service.