Cloud infrastructure is a collective term used to refer to the various components that enable cloud computing and the delivery of cloud services to the customer. This includes hardware, software, network devices, data storage and an abstraction layer that allows users to access virtualized resources.

Since virtual resources need to be accessed through applications in the cloud, the internet, or wide-area networks, cloud services have become a necessary component for most organizations’ long-term strategic growth plans. Some of the benefits the cloud offers include the ability to store and access huge amounts of data, lower costs, improved efficiencies, and its scalability.