Cloud Computing †Risk or Opportunity Essay Example for Free

misdirect reckoning Risk or Opportunity Essay elevate confuse cipher is a term that refers to sources and computer systems ready(prenominal) on accept finished the network, which tail provide a number of computer dish outs integrated without macrocosm restricted local imagings in graze to make it easier for the user and include those resources space for entropy backup and synchronization self in like manner includes processing capabilities softw atomic number 18 and scheduling of tasks and push e-mail and remote printing, and the user tolerate control when it is committed to the network in these resources through a simple software interface simplifies and ignores a lot of incident and internal processes. subvert reason has become increasingly popular because it offers users the illusion of having infinite figuring resources, of which they tail end use as much as they need, without having to worry about how those resources are provided. It also provides greate r scalability, availability, and dependableness than users could achieve with their own resource The core property in confuse reason that held computing in the subvert for clarity, the interference process (and relate data) is not confined to the place (places) private and unknown. Thus, this molding is the antithesis of the treatment process is located in one or more of the servers are well known. Exposure manakin foul of criticism and attack because of privacy advocates, for the ease of large g in all all overning the hosting companies for dish ups mottle, and then, jakes cut back censorship and domination, whether legal or illegal, the communication process as well as the data stored in between the user and the host comp some(prenominal)Introduction mist over computing has become a omnipresent term and largely discussed topic in the global information technology (IT) world. Cloud computing has changed dramatically the ways in which validations and individuals co mmunicate, collaborate and compute. The concept of infect computing ensures a costeffective teddy of utility computing principle that allows users and providers a convenient access to resources in a self- assist and relent as you go fashion. Consequently, hide computing has reduced the cost associated with system administration as well as aided in improving resource utilization and accounting. Since last few years, befoul computing has goed in a number of positive adjoins on the IT ecosystem, in that locationby giving rise to new markets and widely scattered new user communities (European Commission, 2012).Contextually, the concept of sully computing is the outcome of the direct industrial needs to enhance resource utilization without intervening consumer requirements. In early(a) words, the concept ensures the use of the available resources in more efficient manner (European Commission, 2012). The paper in plys to critically examine the opportunities and the lay on the lines associated with bedim computing and draws a valid conclusion on its engageion by giving medications. Cloud computing Definition, Models and ServicesCloud computing was initially employ in an academic perspective by Prof. Kenneth K Chellapa who illustrated it in 1997 at the Informs congregation in Dallas as a computing epitome where the boundaries of computing will be determined by economic rationale rather than technical limits (Petri, 2010). There are sundry(a) definitions of mist over computing even the closely appropriate and broadly accepted definition is being provided by North America case Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). According to NIST, Cloud Computing is a model for enabling convenient, on demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that stern be rapidly provisioned and released with token(prenominal) management effort to service provider interaction (Petri, 2010). There are many demoralise computing models for task purposes including Public Cloud Public blot out model is provided by vendors and can be accessed over the internet or private network. One or more data centers are used by this model which is shared by multiple customers (Weitz, 2010).Private Cloud Private obliterate model is managed and used internally by the organizations which utilizes shared function model and makes variable usage of virtualized computing resources. The data stored in the model are managed within the organization (Weitz, 2010). Hybrid Cloud As the name suggests, the hybrid model is the mixture of public debauch services and private smear architecture. The model is designed to meet definite specific needs of customers (Weitz, 2010). Community Cloud Community defame model is used across the organizations having same requirements and objectives. Community obliterate model is established using public cloud services in edict to ensure collaboration among the companies (Weitz, 2010). Cloud Computin g ServicesCloud computing services are provided largely in the following ways Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) has been operational in the market since many years. Currently, personal credit linees are more interested in shifting licensing software to subscribe services particularly on the al-Qaeda of per user and per calendar month among others (Weitz, 2010). Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) includes development of such environment that allows developers to build software applications that can be offered as services to customers or to general users (Weitz, 2010). Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provides customers or users with fund, network and other confused fundamental resource requirements in order to go by arbitrary applications (Weitz, 2010).Literature ReviewAccording to Etro (2009), cloud computing is a recently evolved internet base technology that stores large information in ser vers and provides that information as services on demand to clients. Accordingly, its impact is spectacular on both consumers and companies.Furthermore, he tell that consumers can access all their documents and data from any devices such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets while the companies can rent hardware and software from the service providers and invent as they use the services like other services availed by the companies such as electricity (Etro, 2009). Petri (2010) postulates that, cloud computing is one of the most discussed IT innovations in the last few years. Hence, fortune management is the most critical area which draws a serious attention. He emphasized that future is relatively un sealed when associating cloud computing with security factor. He critically points out that cloud vendors should quickly address the security and other related concerns for ensuring better customer satisfaction (Petri, 2010). According to Bein, Bein Madiraju (2010), cloud computin g is a new paradigm of computing that has evolved in the recent times as an expensive way for providing storage and software.They further tonic that many companies are moving ahead with an intention to make cloud computing easy to use. They advocated that there are huge electric potential for consumers to exploit the cloud computing technology (Bein, Bein Madiraju, 2010). According to Gartner Inc (2012), continuous supervise of cloud computing technologies and usual updates to the enterprises cloud strategies are necessary to balk any cost related errors for the subsequent few years. It also stated that cloud computing technology will score epochal impact on the level of its adoption over a period of time (Gartner Inc, 2012) According to Pokhriyal (2012), cloud computing would contri providede towards increasing complexities relating to data storage and users access to applications as well as other frequently conducted processes. She also stated that risk of exposure of criti cal data is more with the use of cloud computing technology.She advocated that business firms whitethorn also witness security breaches and hacking that shall make the cloud storage relatively ineffective and inefficient (Pokhriyal, 2012). According to Willcocks, Venters, Whitey (2011), cloud computing technology is changing the ways of IT business services in terms of data delivering and managing. Accordingly, cloud computing has escalated the importance of delivering effective services and for this intellectual the IT and business services urgently need to raise the level of service competency and should focus on the availability of quality services to meet the customer expectations (Willocks, Venters, Whitley, 2011). In the words of Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili (2012), cloud computing has the potential to stupefy true drastic changes in the organizations as witnessed in case of the internet during the last decennium of the 20th century.They emphasized that by applying cloud c omputing technology without proper care and due-diligence may result in unforeseen problems. Consequently, executives must be aware of risks and other issues of cloud computing in order to derive significant benefits out of the provided services (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). According to Santos, Gummadi, Rodrigues (2012), cloud computing enables organizations to cut costs associated with resource storage, network bandwidth and other relevant data. However, they argued that concerns about the privacy, confidentiality and integrity of the data and computation can be considered to be the major deterrents for those organizations which are looking forward to embrace cloud computing (Santos, Gummadi, Rodrigues, 2012). According to Hinchcliffe (2009), cloud computing will transform IT business scenario by a large extent and it will have to proportionality between therisks and the benefits associated with cloud computing models.Therefore, he points out certain major risks associa ted with such transformations including security of organisational data that is stored in the cloud, loss of control over cloud resources and reliability factor. He also stated that the efficient use of cloud computing will enable market validation and prototyping of new approaches at much faster and relatively less expensive rate than ever before (Hinchcliffe, 2009). According to Weitz (2010), cloud computing will be playing a major role in the future of IT and shall bring in enormous opportunities for the organizations. Consequently, he stated that larger organizations will also have an opportunity for faux pas the existing costs of IT infrastructure with the use of cloud computing models.However, he also highlighted the risks related with cloud computing and expressed his deep concerns relating to the security and confidentiality of certain relevant data (Weitz, 2010). Hyek (2011) in his report, Cloud Computing Issues and Impacts, postulated that, cloud computing models should c omply with laws and regulations in each of its operations. The processing of data by the cloud service providers must be in conformity with establishments requirements (Hyek, 2011). According to Curtis, Heckman, Thorp (2010), the most important factor related with the cloud computing model is the concern about the security and privacy of data while adopting cloud computing models (Curtis, Heckman, Thorp, 2010).According to the Australian Academy of expert Sciences and Engineering (2010), in its report, Cloud Computing Opportunities and Challenges for Australia considers the importance of government and its roles in encouraging researchers and business sectors to adopt cloud computing models. The report emphasized that government should cast strategies that initiate business sectors to adopt cloud models for their resource and application requirements. The report precisely described the certificate of indebtedness of the cloud service providers in terms of proper management of data in order to prevent any situation that may result in loss of vital data (Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, 2010).According to Catteddu Hogben, (2009) cloud services provide expedient storage accessible by various devices on with other benefits including useful communication and instant multi-point collaboration. They also emphasized that level of risk may tend to vary significantly based on the type of cloud model. It is for this reason that customers should be aware of the probable risks associated with cloud computing models and they should strive to transfer the risks to the providers (Catteddu Hogben, 2009).Characteristics of Cloud ComputingA few of the relevant characteristics of cloud computing are elaborated below On-Demand Self Service Cloud computing providers offer various computer services such as applications, e-mail and network without involving human interaction with various service providers engaged in certain specific services sa ve. Currently, there are multiple organizations that provide cloud computing services based on on-demand self services such as Google, Amazon Web, Microsoft and IBM among others (Information frame analyse and view as Association, Inc, 2012). Broad Network Access Cloud services are available over the network, specifically over the internet and are accessed through certain standard mechanisms such as ain laptops, mobile phones, tablets and iPads among others (Information System canvas and Control Association, Inc, 2012). Resource Pooling The cloud computing models of the providers are shared with various resources in order to serve multiple clients. The resources united together may consist of processing, network bandwidth, storage of data, memory, virtual machines and email service (Information System Audit and Control Association, Inc, 2012).Rapid ElasticityThe capacities of cloud services can be swiftly and elastically provisioned, in a few instances robotically as well to qui ckly ratio out and release to scale in quickly. Furthermore, the capacities accessible for provisioning frequently emerge to be infinite and can be procured in any amount at any time (Information System Audit and Control Association, Inc, 2012). Measured Services The resource usage of cloud computing can be measured and describe to both providers and customers related to the amount of services utilized. Hence, cloud computing service providers charge the customers for the resources that they have really used i.e. pay as you use. Considering the fact, more the customers utilize the cloud computing services, more they have to pay and vice-versa (Information System Audit and Control Association, Inc, 2012). Multi-tenacity Multi-tenacity is one key characteristics related to cloud computing which is being advocated by Security Alliance. Multi-tenacity is related with the requirement for segmentation, policy-driven enforcement, control, service levels, billing models and isolation for the different consumer requirements (Information System Audit and Control Association, Inc, 2012).Cloud Computing Opportunities and Risk Assessment Cloud Computing Opportunities Opportunities derived from cloud computing are related with cost reduction to increase flexibility and decrease complexity which benefits the customers in terms of high returns on their investments. Certain vital opportunities and benefits provided by cloud computing comprise Cost Saving Cloud computing customers are liable to pay merely for computing services and resources that they use rather than make permanent investments on resources or leasing equipments that may or may not be utilized in full at all times. Cloud computing enables to share IT resources with multiple organizations and facilitates them to access as per their requirements which can be related as operating expenses (OPEX) and not as capital expenses (CAPEX) (Petri, 2010). Speed of Deployment Cloud service providers can meet the needs o f the organizations for computing resources quickly and efficiently than other internal information technology functions. The customers do not have to wait for months for crunching large data.They can simply rent resources for limited period and can avail huge benefits at considerably reduced time (Petri, 2010). Scalability and Better Alignment of Technology Resources An organization is able to scale up as well as down its capability from a virtuoso server to multiple numbers of servers with no capital expenses through the use of cloud service models. An organization is also able to deploy additional storage capacity over the web (Petri, 2010). Decreased Efforts in Managing Technology Owning and operating of IT functions are often costly and time consuming. However, cloud computing enables an organization to sharpen more time on its purposes and goals (Petri, 2010). Environmental Benefits Cloud computing also results in environmental benefits. If all the organizations replace thei r private data centers with cloud computing, it will significantly reduce the overall power use and carbon emissions (Petri, 2010). Higher determine Added Cloud computing does not only provide software functionality but it also provides the customers with relevant information and data which was traditionallysupposed to be created by the customers themselves (Petri, 2010).Cloud Computing RisksRisk is an event that prevents the organizations from achieving their determined purposes and objectives. Certain risks associated with cloud computing are stated below roiled Force Facilitating innovation and cost saving aspects can itself be viewed as risk to the existing cloud computing organizations. By lowering the barriers to entry, new competitors may pose a serious threat to certain cloud computing business models (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). Residing In the Same Risk Ecosystem as the Cloud Service provider (CSP) and Other Tenants of the Cloud Organizational reliance on third party involved in managing cloud solutions will increase legal responsibility and incident escalation among other core areas. By following the actions of CSP may impact the organizations in certain direct and indirect ways (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). Lack of Transparency A cloud computing service provider does not facilitate complete information regarding its processes and operations.Consequently, cloud customers have only little knowledge about the storage locations and algorithms that are implemented or used by the cloud service providers in sexual intercourse to computing and controlling resources of customers data (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). Reliability and Performance Issues Even though efficiency of cloud computing may get disrupted due to risk events such as system failure that may occur without any early alerts to the end users. Hence, system failure may be viewed as a distinctive challenge posed to cloud computing (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). Secu rity And deference Concerns Cloud computing supports various processes that may tend to evolve security and retention concerns in relation to its compliance with certain specific laws such as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).The cloud service providers may have no obligation to reveal such information associated with privacy of certain laws such as US Patriot Act and EU Data Protection Directives among others (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). High Value Cyber Attack Targets The over-dependence of multiple organizations on single cloud service providers may tend to create photo of cyber attacks then those used by a single organization (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012). Risk of Data Leakage The risk of data leakage is also more where multiple organizations share their resources through cloud environment. Consequently, cloud service providers do not provide adequate data privacy and confidentiality of resources which the organizations intend to secure from intruders (Horwath, Chan, Leung, Pili, 2012).ConclusionCloud computing has changed dramatically the ways in which the organizations communicate, collaborate and compute. In general, cloud computing refers to delivery of scalable IT resources over the web particularly internet. An organization can purchase or rent software on need basis or according to usage which results in less investment and consumption on the part of the organization. Cloud computing facilitates the organizations to manage their IT requirements remotely, at much lowered costs. It further enables organizations to share resources in a single place or through a single cloud service provider. The organizations do not have to make heavy investments on establishment of their own IT infrastructure as cloud computing models provide organizations with established database for fulfillment of their IT demand. Moreover, organizations and users are charged or billed on the basis of their resource consumption.Desp ite having numerous benefits of adopting cloud computing models, there also exist certain risk factors which restrict the scope of cloud computing. Security and privacy are the prime issues restricting the adoption of cloud computing. Since multiple organizations will be consolidated on single cloud computing, there exists more photo of data hacking. Consequently, cloud computing service providers do not guarantee the adequate safety for data losses and leakages which at times deters organizations from adopting cloud computing solutions. Nonetheless, if organizations cautiously consider the risk factors associated with cloud computing related solutions then these risk events can be overcome efficiently. Considering this aspect, it can be stated that organizations should adopt cloud computing solutions. By adopting cloud computing solutions, they can avail numerous opportunities that shall help them to dumbfound and sustain their business profitably. ReferencesAustralian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. (2010). Theroles of government in cloud computing. Cloud computing opportunities and challenges for Australia, pp. 13-19.Bein, D., Bein, W. Madiraju, P. (2010). Web applications and cloud computing. The impact of cloud computing on web 2.0, pp. 1-6.Curtis, W. B., Heckman, C. Thorp, A. (2010). Security and Privacy Considerations. Cloud computing e-discovery issues and other risk, pp. 1-5.Catteddu, D. Hogben, G. (2009). Top security risks. Cloud Computing Benefits, Risks And Recommendations For Information Security Cloud Computing, pp. 2-125.Etro, F. (2009). Features and implications of cloud computing. The economic impact of cloud computing on business creation, employment and output in Europe, pp. 2-33.European Commission. (2012). Introduction background. Advances in clouds, pp. 1-7. Gartner Inc. (2012). Gartner outlines five cloud computing trends that will affect cloud strategy through 2015. Retrieved from http//www.gartner.com/it/page.j sp?id=1971515Horwath, C., Chan, W., Leung, E. Pili, H. (2012). COSO enterprise risk management for cloud computing. Enterprise Risk Management For Cloud Computing, pp. 1-20.Hyek, P. (2011). Security and privacy. Cloud computing issues and impacts, pp. 12-46.Hinchcliffe, D. (2009). Eight ways that cloud computing will change business. 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