Time to read: 4 minutes 21 seconds | Published: February 19, 2025
Cloud elasticity What is cloud elasticity?
Cloud elasticity allows a cloud computing system to scale computing resources based on real-time demand. It optimizes cost and performance by dynamically provisioning or deprovisioning resources to accommodate workload swings. Cloud services offer elasticity, especially in web applications, massive data processing, and online services.
- Why is cloud elasticity important?
- How does cloud elasticity work?
- What are the challenges in cloud elasticity?
- How can HPE help you with cloud elasticity?
Why is cloud elasticity important?
- Business continuity and reliability: It keeps operations running smoothly without disruptions or downtime in all markets and provides a consistent customer experience.
- Performance optimization: Dynamically scales resources to handle high traffic loads for fast response times and smooth service.
- Cost management and efficiency: Automatically adjusts resource usage to avoid overprovisioning, lower cloud costs, and maximize efficiency.
- Global flexibility & scalability: It allows businesses to swiftly expand operations by handling workloads across regions and reacting to market needs.
- Automation & operational agility: Reduces manual resource allocation, helping organizations adjust fast, enhance efficiency, and stay competitive.
What is the difference between cloud elasticity and cloud scalability?
| Feature | Cloud elasticity | Cloud scalability |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The ability to automatically adjust resources (scale up or down) based on real-time demand. | The ability to handle long-term growth by increasing infrastructure capacity (scaling up or out). |
| Purpose | Ensures efficiency by dynamically managing resources as demand fluctuates. | Supports business growth by adding more resources to meet increasing workloads. |
| Timeframe | Short-term, real-time adjustments. | Long-term capacity planning. |
| Scaling method | Automatic scaling (horizontal or vertical). | Manual or pre-planned scaling (horizontal or vertical). |
| Use case | Handling sudden traffic spikes in e-commerce websites, streaming platforms, or SaaS applications. | Expanding a company’s IT infrastructure to support more users, data, or services over time. |
| Example | A cloud-based streaming service automatically increases server capacity during peak hours and reduces it when demand decreases. | A growing business upgrades its cloud storage and computing power to accommodate a larger customer base. |
