Ongoing operational cost in cloud computing refers to the continuous expenses required to run cloud services. Unlike traditional IT where most cost is upfront, cloud follows a pay-as-you-go model where organizations pay regularly for computing, storage, networking, and managed services.
These costs are operational expenses (OPEX) instead of capital expenses (CAPEX).
A small business hosts its website and customer database on a cloud platform.
| Service | Usage | Monthly Cost (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Machine | 1 instance (24/7) | ₹2,000 |
| Managed Database | 1 instance | ₹1,500 |
| Storage | 100 GB | ₹500 |
| Data Transfer | Website traffic | ₹500 |
| Monitoring & Backup | Managed services | ₹500 |
| Total | ₹5,000/month |
Ongoing operational cost in cloud computing is the continuous expense of running cloud services. Organizations benefit from flexible pricing, scalability, and managed infrastructure, but must monitor usage to control monthly spending.