Cloud Computing - Case Study Example

Cloud Computing Affiliation: Cloud Computing Ericssons vision of being the world’s leading driver in an all communicating world can only be achieved through advanced cutting edge technology and sustainable business solutions. Their use of Amazon Web services grants them access to a robust public cloud server system that provides them with the technology and platform required to meet their business objectives effectively. AWS offers a wide range of I.T infrastructure including up to date software, servers and limitless data storage as a package thus enabling Ericsson to save millions in cash by not implementing these at their premise.

This is achieved through being allowed to pay at a very low rate the capacity which they use only (AmazonWebService, November 2012). The provision of Software-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service offloads the burden of constantly updating systems both hardware and software from the consumer to service provider. In this regard Ericsson rides on the latest and updated systems handing at no extra cost. Cloud based systems such as the ones offered by AWS are accessed through web APIs which can be remotely accessed from virtually anywhere in the world offering a very flexible and highly convenient system which to international companies such as Erickson redefines global outreach literally.

Furthermore Cloud based systems are a 24 hour service which allow round the clock access as a results clients are able to get an on demand availability of their data and systems. On demand systems offered by AWS Allows ericsson to work only with the capacities they require as and when they are needed as such no resource goes to waste of idle time and they freed from costs arising from long term planning upgrades and maintenance of systems. The fact that Ericsson runs mobile networks, a real-time on demand availability of their systems offers a cutting edge market advantage over their competitors (Dodani, 2009).

Ericsson cloud based systems uses Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Services (S3), and Rightscale. These are powerful and robust services provided by Amazon designed to simplify cloud computing. Amazon EC2 for example provides a complete control of the system as if it were on premise by allowing users to obtain and configure their systems capacity with a lot of ease. Acquisition and booting a new server through Amazon EC2 has been simplified providing a quick means of either increasing or decreasing capacity depending with system requirements (AmazonWebService, November 2012).

This is a highly scalable system which provides developers with tools to build resilient fail safe mechanisms. Its elasticity and simplicity allows for an easy way to manage instances both old and recently acquired. AWS through Amazon simple storage (S3) gives complete control to its end user by providing root access to its applications. Amazon S3 storage can store and retrieve data of any amount, from any web based system at any particular time making it extremely efficient and highly manageable.

Erickson has a variety of applications worldwide and is able to successfully utilize them with rightscale. The unique approach of rightscale to manage deployments in multiple servers across clouds is what sets it apart and offers this great adaptability (Morts, 2012).Although cloud based systems have multiple advantages over their premise based counterparts data being sent across the globe on the internet will always pose a security challenge. From the customers perspective the very idea that company data is in the hands of a third party is in itself a security concern as this is a “relationship” based on trust (MSV, 1/1/2012).

Furthermore cloud infrastructure is based on the idea of multi-tenancy and basically the cloud provider and their ability to maintain data integrity and privacy is the first line of security. Again cloud applications are subject to constant upgrades and revision which alters everything including the security settings therefore with every upgrade possibly a new security challenge is created. These concerns simply call for the end user to be more vigilant with SaaS and the entire system in general (Beweley, 2009).

Great caution should be taken on the subject of passwords and powerful password policies be implemented. Over and above all client companies should make use of an independent security audit of the host and use the audit report to put up better security measures.Much as cloud computing offers an extremely inexpensive and reliable means of using up to date software and IT infrastructure a lot of oversight is done in other areas which are in fact significant. Expenses on cloud systems can hit the roof when coupled up with cost incurred in the acquisition of a reliable secure connectivity.

In order to access a cloud based system there is a heavy reliance on internet services. Another concern arises from the fact that with the investing on cloud systems very little concern is put on the premise. This in turn forces an organization to ride on the idea that cloud servers will always be present failure to which everything grinds to a halt (Pan). Therefore any company willing to invest on a cloud based system has to engage in proper research and also create contingency measures and fall back systems.

ReferencesBeweley, A. (2009). What the cloud means for the data center. The Data Center Journal. 53(5), 52-67. Dodani, M. (2009). Cloud computing architecture. Journal of Object Technology. 8 (6), 35-44. Morts, J. K. (2012). Demystifying the Cloud. New York: Cengage Learning.Pan, PY. (2007). Cloud Computing. International Journal of Cloud Computing . 2(3), 23-35. Ramiler, N., &Swanson, B.(2004). Innovating mindfully with Information Technology. MIS Quarterly. 28 (4), 553-583,