Omolade Ajibade

Jan 11, 2022

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Cloud Computing: Where Did It All Start?

Cloud computing is nothing new. The technology can be traced back to the late 1950s when John McCarthy, a computer scientist at MIT, first introduced the concept of time-sharing—the ability for multiple users to share one computer. But it wasn’t until right around the turn of the century that cloud computing started gaining some serious traction. So, what happened? How did this once-obscure technology go from experimental idea to commonplace phenomenon? Let’s take a look.

Cloud computing can be traced back to the late 1950s when John McCarthy, a computer scientist at MIT, first introduced the concept of time-sharing—the ability for multiple users to share one computer.

In the early days of cloud computing, there were a few key drivers that helped it take off. First and foremost was the growth of internet usage and broadband penetration. With more people getting online and with faster connections, businesses were able to move away from on-premises IT infrastructure and start storing their data in the cloud.

Another driver was the development of new technologies that made it easier for businesses to adopt cloud solutions. In particular, advances in virtualization technology allowed companies to run applications and store data in remote data centres, without having to worry about the underlying infrastructure.

And finally, there was a shift in business thinking away from capital expenditures (buying and maintaining your servers) towards operating expenses (paying for use of someone else’s servers). This change made cloud solutions more attractive to businesses, as it allowed them to pay for what they used, rather than investing in hardware that may or may not be used regularly.

These drivers helped pave the way for the cloud computing revolution we see today. With more businesses moving their data and applications to the cloud, technology has become an essential part of IT infrastructure. And there are no signs of it slowing down anytime soon. So, what does this mean for you? If you’re thinking of making the switch to cloud computing, now is a good time to do it. The cloud has reached a point where it’s both reliable and affordable, and there are plenty of options available to fit your needs.

So, what happened? How did this once-obscure technology go from experimental idea to commonplace phenomenon? Let’s take a look.