Analytics, Interfaces, and Cloud Technology - Essay Example

? Full Paper Introduction In order to improve the organization’s performance the financial executives must need to focus on theinsights and foresights of the company. For this reason, proper data and information is required. This information will help the company to focus and predict future happening. The tool that is used in many organizations to improve access onto the insight and foresight is analytics. Conversely, the procedure through which the analytics is implemented into the organizations is totally instable. There is no fixed procedure in order to deploy the analytics into the organizations. However, the options and methods are critically examined helping the financial executives to deploy effectively. Once the procedures are scanned carefully the decision is made on the bases of available information (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Several organizations prefer to deploy analytics or a division of analytics capability through a method named as “Cloud”. The Cloud computing is not new in business organizations. For the past three decades, the remote access towards applications, platforms and infrastructure has been attached with the corporate of information technology operations and organizations (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Therefore, in recent years the difference is in the degree and effectiveness in which Cloud computing can be deployed. In addition, the Cloud computing operation means that the all applications, platforms and infrastructure of any organization must be managed by the third party. The advantages related to the Cloud include both cost saving as, well as logistical benefits. Thus, these benefits are utilized by the organizations that are suffering from three trouble making forces that are joining along with other organizations. Moreover, on the global level; huge information, improved mobility and business oriented social media can change the way business is conducted in organizations. It is possible that the business rules are revised and the operations are re calculated that will affect the customer’s interaction with the organization. In modern days, many companies and other organizations are now realizing the importance of the Cloud for future strategies in the field of Information Technology. (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012) A recent Deloitte survey, Mid-market Perspectives: 2012Report on America’s Economic Engine reports that 40 percent of mid-market companies think that leveraging the Cloud will be an integral part of their ongoing IT strategy in 2012 and beyond. This is up 38 percent from 2011. In order to deal with the sudden increase of information, the demand is increased for the mobility options and the response of social media influence must recognize the prospective of the Cloud. How the CLOUD Control Distractions The most effective sources that influence customer’s sentiments and reactions are considered huge information, mobility and evaluation of social media that helps to estimate the user’s potential and interest towards information technology. But on the other hand, if it is for in business then it can be troublesome as usual. However, the financial executives can control the past and future operations and can construct a firm foundation that helps an organization in achieving their goals (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). Cloud Computing Storage The storage of cloud computing requires a lot of space, in fact humongous data centers where data is collected and managed. These data centers pose several threats and security risk that may impact these data storage machines. The threat may be from a professional hacker and also in the form of the cloud provider itself, if data is not adequately dealt with. A minor security incident or mis configuration can lead to a system failure or unavailability. For instance, in 2008, only a tiny corrupted bit integrated with a message that was used by the servers of Amazon’s Simple Storage Service (S3) that provide services of online data storage imposed a system shutdown for many hours (Talbot, 2010). Moreover, another security breach occurred in 2009, password of an employee working on Twitter was hacked that resulted in breaching the email security questions page that was located in the Google apps account (Talbot, 2010). In relation to that, one more incident occurred when data was erased from one million T-mobile smart phones due to a server failure that was managing the data of these smart phones (Talbot, 2010).As Peter Mell, who is a team lead of cloud security team at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) says, public cloud computing models are more vulnerable to threats, as every customer has access to a broad range of services and levels. Therefore, if any one of the services is breached, they gain access to all the data. Analytics on Big Data Loves the Cloud In recent years, the size of data or information is overwhelmed in organizations and thus it is growing on daily basis. In addition, the diversity, speed and complexity of the information are escalating rapidly. Thus it is important for the organizations to process and investigate these complex information sets that include both structured and unstructured data in order to keep up the record. Fortunately, Analytics is one of the major procedures that help any organization to control effectively huge data or information. However, the relationship is mutually dependent. According to the old statistical axiom “the larger the data sample, the more precise the measurements can be” (GRIFFIN & DANSON, 2012). The larger information sets helps the customers to apply the analytical techniques and procedures effectively. For example, the predictive and prescriptive modeling to enhance or to make better decisions. On the contrary, the cost needed for the management of larger data can be massive. For this reason Cloud come in. In fact, Cloud helps the organization in controlling the huge information and other helpful tools for financial controls. Thus by using the Cloud, companies can reduce their cost easily. It is also easy for the organizations to deploy the analytics by implementing data and analytics capabilities in the Cloud. Whenever there is a need for analytics, companies can utilize through platforms and infrastructure. The organizations only pay for the services that are needed in order to run their business but on the other hand, the Cloud service providers suffer for their operational complications. For this reason, organizations only bear the reduced cost or can only predict cost based on the desired needs. A recent joint report from Deloitte and Financial Executives Research Foundation, Leveling the Playing Field, inspects how the user-friendliness of analytics in the Cloud can level the playing field for mid-sized organizations, helping them to participate with larger business in a cost-effective manner by enhanced understanding their clients, operations and overall business. Enhanced Mobility In modern days, the availability of mobile solutions has stimulated the trouble free tools in order to improve the customer services and business modernizations. The mobility can help the organization to hire better staff to take actions for the given information, so that they can understand the reason for any mishaps in the business and can react promptly. For instance, for game days, one sports specialist team has deployed a mobile analytics solution for the purpose of customer service enhancement. Moreover, management of the team has located the staff all the way through the gaming zone in order to observe customers behavior and mark the issues. Proquest Incorporated As per the requirements of the project, we have selected a small medium enterprise called as ‘Proquest Incorporated’. The Information technology architecture of the company incorporates three components i.e. business analytics expertise, a specialized tool designed precisely for small medium enterprise along with the provision of a quality cloud hosting provider. Likewise, the core competency of Proquest Inc. is business analytics. Moreover, the company is experienced in delivering business analytics bundled with powerful systems enabling their clients to make efficient decision making. (IBM unveils new business analytics software for midsized clients; IBM cognos express delivers low-cost analysis, reporting and planning capabilities to midsized organizations in a matter of hours.2009) moreover, one of the primary services of the company facilitates IBM Cognos Express that is considered to be a leading solution among all the current business analytics tools for small medium enterprises. Moreover, IBM Cognos Express is also a first integrated business intelligence tool that is precisely developed to meet the requirements of small medium enterprises. The tool is bundled with critical reporting, scorecard, analysis, budgeting, forecasting dashboard and customization features and capabilities for the small medium enterprises at an affordable cost without large associated investments. Moreover, the tool incorporates a pre-configured solution that is very easy for installation and use for the end users. Architecture The architecture of Proquest incorporated is designed on a private cloud that incorporates a virtual private network for communication between the database of the client and the hosting provider. The presence of virtual private network allows a secure data connection and transmission to the hosting provider, who is currently hosting Cognos application. Likewise, the dashboards and exclusive reports of Cognos for the customer are executed and data is converted into information associated with business insights. Similarly, the reports and dashboards of Cognos are then re-transmitted to the organization via a secure encrypted tunnel i.e. a Virtual Private Network connection. However, an alternate configuration is also possible that activates the data to be located at hosting provider end along with the actual execution of reports and dashboards. The preliminary discovery stage with the customer will analyze and decide options that will drive most value. If an organization does not have a database with capabilities of reporting, Proquest Inc. is capable of developing and designing a customized reporting tool, as per business requirements. Below are the three high level diagrams that will illustrate the schematic of the solution: Services The vastly experienced company in business analytics facilitates to provide state of the art systems that provides significant views of factors that contributes to positive or negative business performance and decision making within the enterprise. There are start-up services that may vary from customer to customer, as the baselines of services are defines as: Proquest Inc. gives a joint effort and works with the customer to recognize and identify business analytics solution, as per their requirements. This may also include a step associated with capacity planning. After the identification of the solution, the customer purchases the solution from the company Proquest Inc. makes a joint effort with the hosting provider for configuring a virtual machine on both sides i.e. at the client side as well as at the hosting side. The configuration of virtual private network is carried out by a VPN connection by ensuring its security and effectiveness on security The installation of Cognos Express that is purchased by the client is carried out by Proquest Inc. The last step is to configure the data sources for the client data After following all these steps, the product has been acquired, installed and all the necessary secure connections are configured and operational. Data Services The intelligent design of data sources along with the ease of use, data manipulation speed are critical factors for a successful business analytics deployment. Likewise, if native data source is not suitable for reporting, there will be a requirement of a data mart or data warehouse. This job will be considered as an initial discovery stage with the customer. “The tool will only be good from the data that resides on top of”. As the company is already an expert in data warehousing, data marts, data modeling, it can facilitate customer to establish a well-structured and optimized analytical data stores that will support their business requirements. After the creation of a data warehouse or a data mart along with the reports, a periodic maintenance process is required that may incorporate required upgrades. For continuous support of the customers, managed service agreements can be established. Moreover, relying on the time period decided with the customers, Proquest Inc. can provide an ongoing support for data services along with additional requirements for developing reports. References GRIFFIN, J., & DANSON, F. (2012). Analytics and the cloud - the future is here. Financial Executive, 28(9), 97-98. IBM unveils new business analytics software for midsized clients; IBM cognos express delivers low-cost analysis, reporting and planning capabilities to midsized organizations in a matter of hours. (2009). M2PressWIRE, Talbot, D. (2010). Security in the ether. Technology Review, 113(1), 36. Read More