Cloudside

Cloudside is a term used in cloud computing to denote the portion of a system that resides in the cloud provider’s environment, typically contrasted with components hosted on premises or at the network edge. The term is common in discussions of hybrid cloud architectures, multi-cloud integration, and cloud-native design, and its exact definition can vary by vendor and context. Generally, cloudside refers to endpoints, services, and infrastructure that are operated and secured by the cloud provider, even when they serve applications or data that originate elsewhere.

Architecturally, cloudside can include compute resources, managed database services, storage, messaging, event streaming, and serverless functions that run in the cloud. It often encompasses identity and access management, API gateways, and monitoring services that are hosted or managed by the cloud platform. The corresponding "on-premise" or "edge" side contains legacy systems, private networks, and devices located outside the cloud, with integration achieved through gateways, direct connections, or secure VPNs.

Security and governance considerations differ between sides. The cloudside is typically governed by cloud provider security controls and shared responsibility models, while customers retain responsibility for application logic, data handling, and access controls. Data residency, compliance, and auditability must be addressed across both sides.

See also: hybrid cloud, cloud computing, edge computing, data integration, API management.