On-Demand Self-Service
A consumer can unilaterally provision the cloud, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring assistance form the Cloud Service Provider (CSP).
Broad Network Access
The cloud is available over the network and accessed through standard devices (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
Resource Pooling
The cloud is pooled or shared to serve multiple consumers, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.
Rapid Elasticity
The cloud can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward based on demand. To the consumer, the cloud infrastructure available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time.
Measured Service
The cloud usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both the provider and the consumer of the utilized service (i.e., pay for only what you use).
