---
description:
  Whether you're a hobbyist, startup or Fortune 500 enterprise, our flexible Cloud service lets you get up and running
  with Directus quickly.
readTime: 3 min read
---

# Overview

> Whether you're a hobbyist, startup or Fortune 500 enterprise, our flexible Cloud service lets you get up and running
> with Directus quickly. We do all the heavy lifting of managing your infrastructure and software updates - and you also
> benefit from fair and predictable usage-based pricing.

![Hero Image](https://cdn.directus.io/docs/v9/cloud/overview/overview-20220322A/hero-image-20220402A.webp)

[Directus Cloud](https://directus.cloud) is a hosting platform for
[Directus Projects](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#projects) which handles data storage, hosting, updates and scalability so
you can focus on building your digital apps and experiences. There are two
[tiers of Cloud Projects](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#projects): Professional and Enterprise. Both tiers come with all
the great features of Directus Core.

The Cloud Dashboard is constructed to manage three key components: [Accounts](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#accounts),
[Teams](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#teams) and [Projects](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#projects). First, create an Account.
Once logged in, create or join a Team, and your Account will become a Member of that Team. Once that's complete, you can
create Projects within a Team.

Accounts can be Members on multiple Teams. All Team Members have SuperAdmin privileges to manage the Team's Projects,
Project [billing](/user-guide/cloud/teams#manage-billing), other Team Members and the Team itself. Teams can have
multiple Team Members and multiple Projects. Projects can only be managed by one Team and cannot be transferred to new
Teams.

## Getting Started

To make life easy, you have the option to
[create and login to your free Cloud Account](/user-guide/cloud/accounts#create-account-and-login) automatically with
GitHub. If you don't have a GitHub account or prefer not to use this login method, email-and-password login is
available, as well. Once logged in, create a new Team or select an existing Team. Then you can access and manage the
Team's associated Projects, billing details, Team Members, Activity and Settings.

<video alt="Cloud Dashboard Overview" loop muted controls autoplay playsinline>
  <source src="https://cdn.directus.io/docs/v9/cloud/overview/overview-20220322A/cloud-dashboard-overview-20220329A.mp4" type="video/mp4">
</video>

Remember: The Dashboard layout itself is designed to manage [Accounts](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#accounts),
[Teams](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#teams) and [Projects](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#projects). Here's how the Dashboard
layout relates to each of these components:

## Accounts

### Cloud Dashboard Header

- <span mi icon>check</span> — View Directus Cloud [system status](/user-guide/cloud/glossary#system-status).
- <span mi icon>notifications</span> — Notifications such as version upgrades, platform upgrades, etc.
- <span mi icon>help_outline</span> — Documentation, Community Support and Request for Premium Support.
- <span mi icon>expand_more</span> — [Create new Teams](/user-guide/cloud/teams#create-a-team) and navigate between
  Teams you are on.
- <span mi icon>account_circle</span> — [Access, edit or destroy Account](/user-guide/cloud/accounts).

## Teams

- [Team Members](/user-guide/cloud/teams) — View, invite and remove other Team Members or leave a Team.
- [Team Activity](/user-guide/cloud/teams#view-team-activity) — View Team activity such as Project creation and
  deletion, billing information changes, Member invitations and removals, etc.
- [Team Settings](/user-guide/cloud/teams#update-team-settings) — Edit the Team Name and Team Slug, as well as
  [destroy a Team](/user-guide/cloud/teams#destroy-a-team).

## Projects

- [Team Projects](/user-guide/cloud/projects) — View and access all Projects managed within a Team. Click a Project to
  enter the Product Details Page and access, monitor, edit or delete a Project.
- [Team Billing](/user-guide/cloud/teams#manage-billing) — View and manage billing details such as credit card
  information, usage, subscriptions and receipts.