✓Cloud app is the evolved web app. It's equally used to access online services over the Internet like web apps but not always exclusively dependent on web browsers to work. It's possible for a customizable, multi-tenancy cloud app to be solely available over the web browser from service providers, but quite often the web-interface is used as alternative access methods to the custom built cloud app for online services.

Cloud apps are usually characterized by advanced features such as:

• Data is stored in a cloud / cloud-like infrastructure
• Data can be cached locally for full-offline mode
• Support for different user requirements, e.g., data backup cloud app with different features such as data compression, security, backup schedule
• Can be used from web browser and/or custom built apps installed on Internet connected devices such as desktops, mobile phones
• Can be used to access a wider range of services such as on-demand computing cycle, storage, application development platforms

✓Cloud application servers typically are located in a remote data center operated by a third-party cloud services infrastructure provider. Cloud-based application tasks may encompass email, file storage and sharing, order entry, inventory management, word processing, customer relationship management (CRM), data collection, or financial accounting features.

Benefits of cloud apps

✓Fast response to business needs. Cloud applications can be updated, tested and deployed quickly, providing enterprises with fast time to market and agility. This speed can lead to culture shifts in business operations.

✓Simplified operation. Infrastructure management can be outsourced to third-party cloud providers.

✓API use. Third-party data sources and storage services can be accessed with an application programming interface (API). Cloud applications can be kept smaller by using APIs to hand data to applications or API-based back-end services for processing or analytics computations, with the results handed back to the cloud application. Vetted APIs impose passive consistency that can speed development and yield predictable results.

✓Gradual adoption. Refactoring legacy, on-premises applications to a cloud architecture in steps, allows components to be implemented on a gradual basis.

✓Reduced costs. The size and scale of data centers run by major cloud infrastructure and service providers, along with competition among providers, has led to lower prices. Cloud-based applications can be less expensive to operate and maintain than equivalents on-premises installation.

✓Improved data sharing and security. Data stored on cloud services is instantly available to authorized users. Due to their massive scale, cloud providers can hire world-class security experts and implement infrastructure security measures that typically only large enterprises can obtain. Centralized data managed by IT operations personnel is more easily backed up on a regular schedule and restored should disaster recovery become necessary.