For modern businesses, cloud platforms and the services they provide are often the most effective way to establish a competitive advantage. However, the jargon and numerous acronyms associated with cloud platform services tend to be confusing. This quick glossary of 25 common cloud platform terms will help you get a handle on the vocabulary.

From the glossary:

The days of purchasing expensive onsite hardware, developing systems to power it and hiring departments of personnel to keep the machines and systems up and running are long gone.

Contracting with cloud platform service providers is the only way enterprises can achieve the infrastructural scale and scope they are looking for to stay competitive. Beyond infrastructure, the largest cloud platform service providers, namely Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform, also offer a plethora of specialized services like AI and machine learning that individual enterprises could never afford to create on their own.

As is the case with most technological advances, the jargon and numerous acronyms associated with cloud platform services can be confusing and a bit esoteric. This quick glossary of common cloud platform terms will help you get a handle on the vocabulary, so you can understand how these services may affect your business success.

Access control
An integrated system that limits access to various cloud services using common credential and authentication tools, like passwords, biometrics and physical security. For cloud platforms, the access control system is often integrated with existing authentication protocols, such as Active Directory.

Backend as a service
A platform-provided service that gives developers tools, in the form of SDKs and APIs, that allow access to storage, user management systems, push notification protocols, social network platforms and any other feature typically defined as a backend system.