Utility Computing

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What Does Utility Computing Mean?

Utility computing is the process of providing computing service through an on-demand, pay-per-use billing method. Utility computing is a computing business model in which the provider owns, operates and manages the computing infrastructure and resources, and the subscribers accesses it as and when required on a rental or metered basis.

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Techopedia Explains Utility Computing

Utility computing is one of the most popular IT service models, primarily because of the flexibility and economy it provides. This model is based on that used by conventional utilities such as telephone services, electricity and gas. The principle behind utility computing is simple. The consumer has access to a virtually unlimited supply of computing solutions over the Internet or a virtual private network, which can be sourced and used whenever it’s required. The back-end infrastructure and computing resources management and delivery is governed by the provider.

Utility computing solutions can include virtual servers, virtual storage, virtual software, backup and most IT solutions.

Cloud computing, grid computing and managed IT services are based on the concept of utility computing.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.