Cloud Computing - Australias Queensland University of Technology - Essay Example

The technology adopts the use of a network of remote servers rather than the popular personal computer technology that is now expected to face immense competition (Gillam).
The flip side of the application lies in its precarious state of security. Being accessible to several users and within any locality, cloud computing is highly insecure and the fear of interception, loss, or unauthorized access to data exists.

A SWOT analysis reveals the advantages that cloud computing offers to institutions and business organizations keen on embracing convenient and fast methods of data storage and accessibility while at the same time showing the mundane flaws involved. Chief among the strengths of cloud computing is the ability to integrate several applications into one system and offer the user a single product able to offer various services. This could be equated to an omnibus that carries various passengers and conveniently drops each one at his destination.

The technology substantially reduces the costs incurred in investment. While the technology demands that the university pay close to seven thousand dollars, the other option of self-investment would cost universities about three hundred thousand dollars. Other strengths are the mobility which essentially allows access to the data from any locality and the expanded memory capacity as its RAM is larger. This boils down to the availability of more space for institutions to store their ever-increasing data (Beard).

Cloud computing comes with inherent weaknesses. Ideally, any organization that decides to adopt cloud computing technology must inevitably adjust its models. A business organization for instance must adjust the business model in tandem with the cloud computing technology. This is synonymous with an overhaul and could be expensive, especially for large organizations which already have established cultures. The biggest weakness in cloud computing, however, lies in the security of the technology. The technology being an amalgamation of various institutional applications in a remote server is vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access by hackers. It is also hard to fix issues since the solution applied may not favor every institution given that each has its unique problems (Blokdijik and Menken).

Cloud computing provides an array of opportunities. Industry players posit that the future is bright for cloud computing as services would be based on online software applications which are an integral component of cloud computing.

With the onset of globalization, services need to be international. Cloud computing offers the world a medium of data storage, retrieval, and interchange that would boost the world's objective towards globalization. What the technologists must address is security which is the biggest threat and weakness. The University of Queensland needs to not only spread the use of cloud computing in learning institutions but should as well diversify its application to suit the needs of businesses that would be the best consumers of the product. Ultimately, the world would incorporate cloud computing in its attempt to cut costs and build moribund economies (Blokdijik and Menken). Read More