Indicate whether the following statement is true or false: Cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive, and the cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet

True

The statement is true. Cloud computing refers to the practice of storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet rather than on a local computer's hard drive. The term "cloud" is often used metaphorically to represent the Internet, as it symbolizes the abstraction of the underlying infrastructure necessary for the provision of services.

To determine whether the statement is true or false, we can break it down into its components and examine their accuracy:

1. "Cloud computing means storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet instead of your computer’s hard drive."
This part of the statement is true. Cloud computing involves storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet, typically using remote servers, rather than relying solely on local storage on your computer's hard drive.

2. "The cloud is just a metaphor for the Internet."
This part of the statement is also true. The term "the cloud" is often used as a metaphor to describe the Internet. It represents the idea of data and services being accessed and operated remotely, rather than being tied to specific local storage or computing devices.

Therefore, the statement as a whole is true. Cloud computing does involve storing and accessing data and programs over the Internet, and the term "the cloud" is indeed a metaphor for the Internet.