This white paper critiques some understanding of cloud computing while examining the benefits and draw backs of cloud computing to business.
1. Cloud computing combines a number of technology none of which are new therefore cloud computing is not revolutionary but evolutionary. It is an evolution that drives IT delivery to achieve business needs.
2. Not all software applications delivered through the internet are cloud computing because not all Application Service Providers (ASP) are cloud service providers
Differences between Application Service Providers (ASP) And Software as a Service (SAAS) Cloud Providers
- SAAS is instantaneously provided and available whereas ASP requires dialogue with representatives before software can be made available
- SAAS is scalable, resources can automatically adjust to respond to demand while ASP has a fixed capacity.
- Even though some SAAS like Google apps are free to use, most operate on a pay-per-use model while ASP runs on an annual license.
3. IT department cannot be completely eliminated but can be reduced depending on the level of services being used from the cloud
4. As long as a cloud vendor provides server images that can host an application, an organisation with an aim of reducing application hosting cost and using the elastic scalability of the cloud could move their in-house application without modification to the cloud. Whereas leveraging scalable storage solution through a vendor’s specific API’s and exploiting Platform as a Service (PAAS) would require modification or re-development of the application
5. In terms of cost, small and medium enterprises benefit more from cloud computing than large organisations. However the agility and flexibility of the cloud could cover for the lapses in cost.
6. Despite that the scalability and elasticity of the cloud provides an ability to improve application performance, performance problem could arise by some cloud providers overselling their capacity in addition to the way other tenants use the cloud resources.
7. Software should be moved to the cloud if it benefits the organisation by enabling; pay-per-use, ease of access, off-the-shelf, self provisioning and scalability while software that is custom built and accessed only on premise could be left out of the cloud.
8. IAAS and SAAS can be successfully switched from one vendor to another but difficulty arises in switching PAAS between vendors. Applications developed in most platforms resist another vendors platform because of lack of interoperability.
9. Cloud has security concern such as data protection and unauthorized access, however if these issues are resolved on a case by case basis, the cloud offers a computing environment at least as safe as non-cloud computing systems.
10. Cloud computing has been considered a utility like electricity. Yet in electricity, there are standards used in comparing two vendors before selecting one but in cloud computing lack of standards and platforms make it difficult to directly compare two vendors services
Reference:
Czarnecki, C. (2010). Cloud Computing Promises: Fact or Fiction. Available: https://resources.learningtree.com/details.aspx?dl=Cloudcomp.pdf. Last accessed 8th July 2013