A hyperscaler is a provider of cloud computing services that provides massive IT resources that can also be scaled almost indefinitely. This high scalability is achieved through thousands of networked servers and storage systems. Leading companies in this field include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and IBM.
Hyperscaling enables horizontal scaling, where resources are expanded by adding additional systems. This contrasts with vertical scaling, where existing systems are upgraded. Furthermore, in addition to classic cloud services such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), hyperscalers also offer numerous additional tools and services.
The leading hyperscalers dominate the market because they are able to manage large volumes of data efficiently while offering extensive computing power to a large number of customers. Furthermore, Alibaba Cloud has established itself as a significant and dominant provider in Asia.