What does scalability refer to in cloud computing?

Scalability in cloud computing refers to the capacity of a system to handle an increasing amount of work or to be able to accommodate growth by adding resources. This means that as the number of users increases or as the demand for data storage and processing capacity grows, the cloud infrastructure can automatically or easily adjust to meet these requirements. This characteristic is especially valuable in cloud environments, where businesses may experience fluctuating workloads.

Being able to increase resources on demand without significant downtime or resource waste is a primary benefit of cloud computing. This flexibility enables organizations to scale up during peak usage times and scale down during lower demand periods, optimizing both performance and cost. The ability to manage new users and increase data effectively is what enables organizations to operate efficiently in dynamic environments without being limited by their infrastructure.