Cloud Computing Adoption by the CU-IT Services

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Interpreting the Topic
Framework for Evaluation and Recommendations
Thesis
Recommendations on Cloud Computing
How Cloud Computing Aligns with Company’s Future Strategy
References

Introduction

This paper is a report designed to explain if a commercial company named, CU-IT services should adopt cloud computing or not. This paper will therefore be designed to inform the company’s CIO of the evidence-based clarification of cloud computing (a cut-through of the hype that surrounds cloud computing); the evidence-based evaluation of the general benefits and pitfalls of cloud computing; the formulation of a framework that guides the recommendations about cloud computing; how cloud computing complements the company’s corporate strategy and a comprehensive recommendation assessing all the above factors.

Interpreting the Topic

Instruction Words

Explicit content words: ‘general benefits and pitfalls of cloud computing include the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing. Here, an explanation should be given why CU-IT Company should adopt cloud computing, or why it should not adopt cloud computing.

Implicit instruction phrase: ‘evidence-based’ includes the use of scientific and research-based findings to come up with a conclusive recommendation about the research topic. The main objective of evidence-based research is to improve transparency and provide the guarantee that the recommendations given in this paper can be highly relied on.

Implicit Instruction phrase: ‘complements the company’s corporate strategy includes the determination of how cloud computing will support the overall aim, objective or vision of the company. Implicitly, this means a definition of how the paper’s recommendations support the company’s scope and direction. Moreover, the recommendations should explain how they support various organizational departments to work together towards achieving the overall goal of the company.

Content Words

Explicit content words: ‘Cut through’ – the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs define ‘cut through’ as “to penetrate something by cutting; to slice through something” (Schofield, 2008, p. 223). However, in the context of this study, ‘cut through’, means to elaborate an issue that has been continually misunderstood. Here, this analysis is used in the clarification of evidence-based reports about cloud computing (Schofield, 2008, p. 223).

Value Words

‘Recommend’ is a value word for this paper because it explains the ultimate aim of undertaking the entire study. In some quarters, ‘recommend’ means to push for something, like an idea (Schofield, 2008, p. 223). However, in other quarters, ‘recommend’ means to express a good opinion of something or to make a given idea attractive or acceptable in a given context (Schofield, 2008, p. 223). In the context of this study, ‘recommend’ is a strong value word because it shows the ultimate aim of undertaking the entire study.

Scooping words

’Cloud Computing’ includes the “ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction” (Buyya, 2010, p. 5). This is the centre of analysis for this paper.

Framework for Evaluation and Recommendations

This paper uses the ‘synthesis grid’ as the framework for evaluating cloud computing as a specialist area of information technology. This framework analyzes four documents written by Armbrust, Velte, Miller and Gillam. These authors have written, A view of cloud computing, Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online, and Cloud Computing: Principles, Systems and Applications respectively. The ‘synthesis grid’ offers a clarification of cloud computing (according to the four authors), explains the benefits of cloud computing, describes the pitfalls of cloud computing and supports the recommendations (through useful quotes from the four documents analyzed). The following framework analyzes cloud computing in this context.

Synthesis Grid

Source	Clarification of cloud computing	Benefits of cloud computing	Pitfalls of cloud computing	Useful quotes and page numbers
Armbrust,	Cloud computing is a platform for sharing computation services and storage for many users operating in a high performance computing community.	Software developers with innovative ideas in internet service provision do not have to contend with the large capital outlays needed in internet service provision or the manpower requirements needed for the same process.	Cloud computing lacks privacy because companies that run the system can monitor activities within the system, either lawfully or unlawfully (Armbrust, 2010, p. 58). For instance, cloud computing has been known to give immense powers to telecommunication companies to monitor phone call conversations in America (Armbrust, 2010). People who intend to use cloud computing may have to adopt community (or hybrid development) modes to meet the licensing standards required of respective licensing bodies (Armbrust, 2010, p. 58). This may prove to be expensive in the long run. Moreover, a community of hybrid development modes may offer limited benefits to users.	“We predict cloud computing will grow, so developers should take it into account” (Armbrust, 2010, p. 58). “Cloud computing, thelong-held dream of computing as a utility, has the potential to transform a large part of the IT industry, making software even more attractive as a service and shaping the way IT hardware is designed and purchased” (Armbrust, 2010, p. 50).
Velte	Cloud computing includes the subscription of pay-per-user services without necessarily increasing the investments which make this service provision a reality.	Cloud computing increases the capability for internet service provision without investing any money in infrastructure expansion. One does not need to make any investments in training human personnel to expand internet service provision services. In cloud computing, one does not need to invest any money in acquiring new software licenses for expanding internet service provision	Companies that intend to use cloud computing out of their national or regional borders may have to be subjected to rigorous bureaucratic procedures (Velte, 2009). For instance, companies in the European Union (EU) that intend to contract with cloud computing service providers out of the EU may have to be subjected to EU compliance requirements to allow for the export of personal information (Velte, 2009). Cloud computing transitions normally encompass the transition from a technologically managed internet infrastructure to a contractually managed infrastructure. This form of transition requires vigorous terms and conditions negotiations that are often difficult to arrive at. For optimum results in this context, companies must subject their employees to a negotiation workshop that equips them with the skills to negotiate service level agreements. This recommendation makes cloud computing very expensive.	“Some well-known companies have joined the cloud computing party with their offerings. While there are hundreds of vendors offering cloud computing solutions, there are some big names like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Yahoo, and Salesforce.com that have been able to leverage their names, expertise, and client base to build out their cloud computing services” (Velte, 2009, p. 16).
Miller	Cloud computing is a medium for internet service provision which relies on internet protocols for the supply consumption and delivery of internet services to end-users. Comprehensively, cloud computing is a product of access to remote internet computing in a virtual environment.	Cloud computing does not require the end-user to be familiar with the infrastructure that makes the service provision possible Cloud computing offers end-users the capability of using web-based applications from a remote location as if they were installed in their computers. In this regard, users can connect from anywhere, because the infrastructure of cloud computing is offline and provided by a third party. It is easy to maintain a cloud computing infrastructure because maintenance services do not need to be done on individual computers. Instead, they are done on common internet infrastructure.	Sometimes, the goals and standards for cloud computing certification varies widely and lack open disclosure as is seen with the requirement for SAS type-twocertification which has been disapproved by many observers because its auditors require a set of compliance standards that are not standardized or predetermined (Miller, 2008). Cloud computing has been known to rely on a high-speed internet infrastructure that is non-existent. This makes it difficult to implement cloud computing in various environments because it is equally difficult to serve multiple cloud instances for many companies. Some experts note that the concept of cloud computing is misleading if it is to be analyzed in the context of a new paradigm because the same experts note that, cloud computing is nothing more than a ‘terminology’ because the things cloud computing claims to do are done by several companies. The concept of cloud computing would therefore be nothing more than changing the terminology of company internet activities. Cloud computing has therefore been termed nothing more than a ‘marketing gimmick’ as opposed to ‘real innovation’.	“Cloud computing might sound far-fetched, but chances are, you are already using some cloud applications. If you are using a web-based email program, such as Gmail or Hotmail, you’re computing in the cloud. If you are using a web-based application such as Google Calendar or Apple MobileMe, you are computing in the cloud. If you are using a file- or photo-sharing site, such as Flickr or Picasa Web Albums, you are computing in the cloud. It is the technology of the future, available to use today” (Miller, 2008, p. 2).
Gillam	Cloud computing is a platform that integrates different users on one infrastructure, within an offline environment.	Cloud computing allows for the exchange of information across a large pool of users because it allows for the centralization of resources in remote locations and offers peak-load capacity. Cloud computing is highly reliable, especially in situations where multiple sites are used. Here, business continuity is supported, especially in situations of extreme disasters. Cloud computing offers the scalability and flexibility needed when internet services are demanded in real-time because peak-load engineering is unnecessary in this framework. Cloud computing offers increased security because most of the service provision infrastructure is centralized and hence it can be easily monitored.	In cloud computing, security can be an issue regarding the loss of data because there can be instances of lack of control of the information or the lack of security for stored kernels. Moreover, security concerns are further worsened by the fact that cloud computing allows for many users to gain access to one network infrastructure from various locations, using various kinds of devices. Cloud computing service providers often use well-documented APIs which are very specific to their implementation standards and therefore, they are sometimes very difficult to operate. Cloud computing is known to be subject to high forms of abuse because crackers can purchase the cloud computing software (as legitimate users), but they intend to launch Trojans or malicious attacks on legitimate users. For instance, in 2009, a malicious entity hacked into the Amazon service internet command centre and sent malicious instructions to computers that relied on the company’s command centre (Gillam, 2010).	“With cloud computing growing in popularity, tools and technologies are starting to build, access, maintain and manage the clouds. These tools need to manage the huge number of operations within a cloud, transparently and without service interruptions” (Gillam, 2010, p. 3). “Cloud computing offers lower costs, faster implementation, and more flexibility using mixtures of technology and the associated tools are critical for achieving this” (Gillam, 2010, p.3).

Thesis

This report will argue that cloud computing enables CU-IT services to meet their future technological needs because the concept is a new frontier that accommodates future technological needs. Here, this report observes that cloud computing enables CU-IT services to be more flexible, dynamic, cost-effective, and free to exchange information (among other factors), thereby making the company more receptive to information technology changes, which is an ideal attitude for virtual development. In this regard, we can see that cloud computing enables CU-IT services to be more focused on the provision of its main services, as opposed to worrying about the company’s technological needs. The business can effectively grow as a result, and the level of service provision is likely to improve in quality. Here, CU-IT services can have better control over its core business functions, as opposed to grappling with the hassle of handling information technology issues. This is the main premise for the adoption of cloud computing in CU-IT services. This report, therefore, affirms that cloud computing is CU-IT’s platform for meeting future technological needs.

Recommendations on Cloud Computing

This paper recommends that cloud computing should be embraced by CU-IT services because most of its departmental functions are complemented by the concept. For instance, the company’s software developers with innovative ideas in internet service provision do not have to be content with the large capital outlays needed in internet service provision or the manpower requirements needed for the same process (Schofield, 2008). In addition, cloud computing allows for the exchange of information across many users because it allows for the centralization of resources in remote locations and offers peak-load capacity. Cloud computing is highly reliable especially in situations where multiple sites are used. Here, business continuity is supported, especially in situations of disaster mitigation. Moreover, cloud computing offers the scalability and flexibility needed when internet services are demanded in real-time because peak-load engineering is unnecessary in this framework.

Information technology gurus such as Armbrust (2010) and Miller (2008) also note that cloud computing offers increased security because most of the service provision infrastructure is centralized and hence it can be easily monitored. Cloud computing does not require the end-users to be familiar with the infrastructure that makes the service provision possible. It also offers the same users the capability of using web-based applications from a remote location (as if they were installed in their computers). In this regard, users can connect to the infrastructure from anywhere because the infrastructure of cloud computing is offline and provided by a third party. Finally, it is easy to maintain cloud computing infrastructure because maintenance services do not need to be done on individual computers. Instead, they are done on common internet infrastructure. From these observations, this study points out that cloud computing is fruitful for many organizations as will be explained in the context of how it aligns with CU-IT services’ future strategies.

How Cloud Computing Aligns with Company’s Future Strategy

Since CU-IT services majors in internet banking services, financial management services and bureau services, it needs a high-security internet service. According to Gillam (2010), cloud computing offers increased security because the network infrastructure is monitored from a central location. Also, since software development is a crucial part of the company’s operations, cloud computing stands to support the company’s goal of excelling in this field because the company’s software developers, with innovative ideas in internet service provision, do not have to contend with the large capital outlays needed in internet service provision, or the manpower requirements needed for the same process. Finally, since CU-IT services aim to provide a satisfactory customer experience, cloud computing offers a platform where businesses can effectively integrate with their customers. Here customers can access the company’s systems, provide feedback, access the company’s products; make payments and such like online transactions. CU-IT Company can therefore gain a lot from the benefits that cloud computing offers (Buyya, 2010, p. 9).

References

Armbrust, M. (2010). A view of cloud computing. Communication of the ACM (PDF), 53 (4), 50– 58.

Buyya, R. (2010). Market-Oriented Cloud Computing: Vision, Hype, and Reality for Delivering IT Services as Computing Utilities (Online book from Google). Melbourne: University of, Australia.

Gillam, L. (2010). Cloud Computing: Principles, Systems and Applications (Online book from Google). New York: Springer.

Miller, M. (2008). Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online (Online book from Google). New York: Que Publishing.

Schofield, J. (2008). Google Angles for Business Users with ‘Platform as a Service (Online book from Google). London: Guardian.

Velte, T. (2009). Cloud Computing: A Practical Approach (Online book from Google). London: McGraw Hill Professional.

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