After an introduction to network-centric computing and network-centric content, the book reviews basic concepts of concurrency and parallel and distributed systems, presents critical components of the cloud ecosystem as cloud service providers, cloud access, cloud data storage, and cloud hardware and software, covers cloud applications and cloud security, and presents research topics in cloud computing.

Specific topics covered include resource virtualization, resource management and scheduling, and advanced topics like the impact of scale on efficiency, cloud scheduling subject to deadlines, alternative cloud architectures, and vehicular clouds.

An included glossary covers terms grouped in several categories, from general to services, virtualization, desirable attributes and security.