Cloud Computing: A Review of Evolution, Challenges, and Emerging Trends

Abstract

With the continuous evolution of information technology, cloud computing has emerged as one of the core driving forces supporting the development of the global digital economy. As a service-oriented model for resource sharing and delivery, cloud computing has significantly transformed the construction and application of traditional IT infrastructures by providing scalable, elastic, and on-demand computing, storage, and networking resources. This paper systematically reviews the development history and fundamental theories of cloud computing, and provides a detailed analysis of the key technologies underpinning its evolution, including virtualization, containerization, microservices, serverless computing, edge computing, and software-defined networking. Moreover, it outlines the typical applications of cloud computing across various fields such as big data processing, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, financial services, healthcare, and education and research. The paper also examines the challenges cloud computing faces in areas such as data security, privacy protection, standardization, resource optimization, and service reliability. In addition, based on current technological trends, it explores future directions for cloud computing, including cloud-native architectures, AI-driven resource scheduling, green and sustainable cloud computing, multi-cloud and hybrid cloud management, and the potential integration of quantum computing with cloud services. By systematically reviewing existing literature and practical cases, this paper aims to provide researchers and industry practitioners with a comprehensive and in-depth reference to better understand the evolution of cloud computing technologies and identify future development opportunities.