Defining Cloud Computing in Business Perspective: A Review of Research

Cloud computing is an emerging innovative IT-based business model which is attracting the attention of practitioners, for its potentiality of industry adoption, as well as of academicians, for research undertaking in different dimensions. Despite having a number of business benefits and research scope, there is no universally accepted comprehensive, conceptual definition for cloud computing. Though different experts and academicians have given different definitions to cloud computing, none of them have identified all the key characteristics of cloud computing. The purpose of the present article is to analyze the various definitions of cloud computing proposed by different researchers and practitioners, using content analysis methodology, and establish areas of ‘agreement’ and to construct such a ‘general’ definition of cloud computing in business perspective. This article is divided into three sections. In the first section, content analysis methodology used on cloud computing definitions is presented. The second section highlights the key words in 36 definitions of cloud computing and tabulates the definitions through a categorization of ‘substantive terms’. The last section discusses the results of research methodology followed by conclusion and limitations.