Lesson Notes — Cloud Storage, Synchronization, & Software as a Service (SaaS)

Course 1: Computer Literacy / Unit 8: Cloud Computing & Collaboration / Lesson 1: Cloud Storage, Synchronization, & Software as a Service (SaaS)

Lesson overview

Cloud computing means using computers somewhere else, reached over the internet, instead of only the one in front of you. A common way to say it is that the cloud is someone else’s computer. When you save a file to Google Drive or open a document in your browser, you are using it.

How the cloud works

• A data center is a large building filled with remote servers that store data and run programs.
• A service provider, such as Google, Microsoft, or Apple, owns and runs them.
• On-demand means you get what you need when you need it, without buying equipment.
• Scalability means the service can grow or shrink as needs change. A school can add thousands of users without buying thousands of computers.
• Multi-tenant means many customers share the same system while their data stays separate.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS is software you use through a browser or app instead of installing and maintaining it. Google Docs, Microsoft 365, and Spotify are examples. The provider handles updates and your work follows you from device to device.

Synchronization

Synchronization, or sync, keeps copies of a file matching across devices and the cloud. A local cache is a temporary copy on your device, which lets you keep working briefly without a connection and then sync once you are back online.

Strengths and trade-offs

Check your understanding

1. Explain “the cloud is someone else’s computer” in your own words.
2. Name two SaaS tools you use and what each one does for you.
3. What can go wrong if you edit a synced file on two devices at once?

Use this lesson’s Key Terms page to build your glossary.