What are software representations of a cloud network known as?

Software representations of a cloud network are referred to as templates. Templates serve as blueprints that streamline the process of provisioning and configuring cloud resources. They encapsulate the necessary configurations, dependencies, and settings needed to deploy specific resources or services within a cloud environment.

Using templates enables cloud architects and administrators to maintain consistency across deployments, automate resource provisioning, and quickly replicate environments for development, testing, or production. This standardization reduces the likelihood of human error and enhances operational efficiency by allowing organizations to deploy complex applications and infrastructure with minimal manual intervention.

In contrast, automation refers to the use of tools and scripts to carry out repetitive tasks without human intervention, orchestration is the process of coordinating multiple automated tasks into a single workflow, and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) facilitate interaction and communication between different software systems. While all these concepts are interconnected and contribute to effective cloud management, templates specifically denote the predetermined configurations that define the structure of a cloud network.