Cloud Basics

Cloud computing is defined as “a model for enabling 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 effort or service provider interaction.”[3] Cloud computing is the long-held belief of utility computing. This paper describes elements of cloud computing including the five essential characteristics, core technologies, delivery models and deployment models. Several fundamental models offered in cloud computing consist of Software-as-a-Service, SaaS, Platform-as-a-Service, PaaS, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service, IaaS. The models can be used in public, private, hybrid or community clouds.

We describe in this paper, albeit not a complete list, advantages and disadvantages of organizations adopting or migrating to cloud computing. Cost savings tops the list for cloud advantages. As organizations need to invest little to no up-front capital to use cloud computing. Topping the list for disadvantages of cloud computing is security issues. Providers are unable to ensure the location of an organization’s data, making data transmission security, application security and data storage security obstacles in implementing cloud computing.

Finally, we discuss managerial considerations for organizations to examine when contemplating cloud computing. Large enterprise corporations seem to be at a greater disadvantage to migrating to cloud than do start-up, small or medium sized organizations. Large enterprise corporations may be better to adopt hybrid clouds. Whereas these corporations can keep data sensitive material in their private cloud, yet put non-critical data in a public cloud. For start-up, small or medium sized organizations, cloud computing could bring great advantages that these companies could not previously realize due to budget constraints. Cloud computing would allow small or medium sized companies to explore options that may not have been available otherwise with their IT budget.

In summary, we argue that there is no clear set of rules or guidelines for organizations to follow enabling them to make a clear decision of migrating or adopting cloud computing. The different configuration of cloud computing be it public, private or hybrid will be on a company-by-company consideration.