CLOUD TEST ENVIRONMENT

The "cloud" refers to remote systems available over the network. Advantages of cloud services include: on demand, scaling (vertically and horizontally), virtualization, standardization of platform and infrastructure, outsourcing of data center, hardware, and network management. Because of network abstraction and virtualization, when you work in the cloud, architectural changes may be called for (think "service oriented") and you may have options not available previously (think "horizontal scalability"). There are also security concerns with the cloud. Cloud services are available at multiple levels: Infrastructure, Platform, and Software "as as Service".