Information Technology: Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example

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Introduction The term cloud computing originates from the symbolic use of a cloud to represent the internet in computer network drawings. Cloud computing refers to the delivery of hosted services via the internet. It enables the availability of all the data that the users need at all times. Shared resources are provided to devices like computers over the internet as a metered service. The cloud users have access to data, software, and storage resources without the need to know any details about the computing infrastructure like its location. Cloud computing is based on the convergence of infrastructure. This enables users to manage faster applications which require less maintenance. Cloud computing ensures a new means of collaboration through mobile devices. This paper explores the development of cloud computing and its legal, ethical, social and security implications. Future developments of the technology are also discussed. Background Cloud computing is a popular alternative to traditional software licensing. Cloud users access cloud computing through computers, smartphones, and tablets. Clouds can be public, private, community or hybrid. A public cloud supplies services to any internet user. It is available to the general public. Examples include IBM Smart Cloud and Google App engine. A private cloud provides services to limited number of users, like sole organizations. Examples include Eucalyptus and Amazon Virtual Private Cloud. A community cloud is shared among several organizations with common concerns, for instance, Microsoft Government Community Cloud. A hybrid cloud consists of two or more private, public or community clouds. An example is Windows Azure (Buyya et al., 2009). In a cloud computing system, running applications is shifted from the local computers to the cloud’s network. Cloud computing delivers three categories of services which include, Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service and Software as a Service models. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) enables the users to access, start and stop and configure virtual servers and storage. The users only pay for the capacity that they need. The cloud service users install and maintain operating systems and application software. Platform as a Service (PaaS) refers to applications hosted over the internet on the infrastructure of the provider. The cloud service providers provide a platform with a web server, operating system, database and programming language execution environment. Software solutions can be run on the platform without incurring costs of purchasing and managing hardware and software. In the Software as a Service (SaaS) model the service provider supplies the software and hardware. Both the application and data are hosted by the service provider and therefore, the user can access the service from everywhere. The cloud users also do not have to install and run the application on their computers and therefore, support and maintenance are made easier (Gillam, 2010). Potential Benefits of Cloud Computing Cloud computing has various benefits. Firstly, it leads to reduced costs in the organization. The expenditure on information technology is reduced. The costs incurred in installing, managing, maintaining and upgrading software and hardware are reduced since business applications are provided and managed by the cloud computing service providers. Staffing costs are also reduced as minimal technical expertise is required since the cloud service providers manage information technology operations. Another benefit is scalability. With cloud computing, Information Technology requirements can be up-scaled and down-scaled when necessary. Cloud users can upgrade their packages to suit new business and market needs. This benefits businesses in that they do not have to incur expenses to change their IT systems (Arno, 2011). Cloud users also have access to new technologies. Cloud service providers ensure that the users have access to the latest technology and therefore, do not need to look for software updates or invest in new technologies. Cloud users have the advantage of accessing even the software and technologies that would be too expensive for them to purchase. Cloud computing also helps in environmental sustainability as less energy is used to run operations. Environmental waste is also reduced as the problem of disposing obsolete hardware is minimized since hardware requirements are reduced. Cloud computing also offers flexibility to the workers as they can access files from anywhere using smartphones, netbooks, and laptops. They are also able to share information over the internet simultaneously. Cloud computing offers information back-up to businesses in case the data in the primary data center is lost. Companies’ information is stored by cloud service operators in secure data centers (Arno, 2011). Legal and Ethical Issues Cloud computing raises several legal issues. Data can be stored in many different locations across the globe. Therefore, data in the cloud is transferred across different borders. This trans-border transfer of data creates legal issues. Many countries prohibit the transfer of personal information to other countries that may not offer equal protection to the information, for instance, the European Union Data Protection Drive. Therefore, the transfer of information in the computing cloud to different countries in the world prohibited by the European Union violates the EU law. In addition, cloud users can lose control over data and applications in case the cloud computing contract is terminated prematurely, expires or if insolvency of the business occurs. Therefore, the users should ensure that the contract between them and the cloud service providers allows them access to data in case any of the above problems arise. Another legal issue is data privacy and security. There should be provisions in the contract between the user and the service providers ensuring that data is not disclosed to other parties. It is risky to disclose some personal information of the cloud users. In case of a security breach, the contract should specify the party that will be responsible for covering the expenses (Navetta, 2009). Ethical cloud computing issues revolve around security breaches that may occur from hackers, malware, state surveillance, and sharing data with unauthorized parties. The software, operating system and upgrades may have defects and instability and remain inoperable for certain lengths of time. In case of such problems, the cloud users will be unable to access their information. Therefore, they will be unable to deliver the availability of services promised to the cloud users (Kaufman, 2009). Social issues Cloud computing has greatly impacted on social lives. It has changed the way people conduct themselves. It has also affected the way people communicate and conduct business. The rapid growth of the social media can be attributed to cloud computing. Businesses are marketing their products and services through social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. People can now communicate instantly and conveniently and share a lot of information like ideas, videos, and photographs over the internet (Gillam, 2010). Security Concerns There are several security concerns involving cloud computing. One of the concerns is the security and privacy of data. Cloud service providers should ensure that the cloud users’ information is not accessed by any other unauthorized parties. Access of data on the cloud should be through secure channels and should be authenticated and encrypted to prevent leaks. The users also lose physical control of their data. They place the responsibility of the safety of their data on the cloud service providers. Cloud users are not sure that the service providers will ensure availability of their data at all times due to system defects and crashes. The users are also concerned about resolving of cases such as loss of data and insolvency of the service providers (Krutz and Vines, 2010). Further required research Cloud computing has had tremendous impacts and benefits to businesses. However, further improvements can be made to increase the technology’s capabilities and overcome the challenges that it presents. The bandwidth of the mobile devices such as smartphones and netbooks can be widened to increase the speed of data access in the cloud. In addition, the software infrastructure can be improved to increase the capabilities of cloud computing services. To prevent the interruption of services due to power outage, cloud service providers can insulate the Programmable Logic Controllers by adding more isolation and redundancy (Geelan, 2009). The challenge of security will be overcome by adopting efficient security policies and processes that take into account the requirements of the users in order to provide maximum security to their data. Data protection methods can be improved to increase the security of data on the cloud. This will prevent access of data by unauthorized persons (Halpert, 2011). Conclusion Cloud computing is a new development in information technology that has had numerous benefits to organizations. Companies that are adopting cloud computing enjoy greater scalability, functionality, and flexibility. Companies have been able to cut on information technology infrastructure costs as the applications are run by the cloud service provider. However, cloud computing has several legal, ethical, and social implications. Further research will be made in future to overcome the challenges of cloud computing and improve its capabilities. Reference List Arno, C. (2011). The Advantages of Using Cloud Computing. Retrieved from http://cloudcomputing.sys-con.com/node/1792026. This article covers the potential benefits of adopting cloud computing. Benefits such as flexibility, reduced costs, environmental sustainability and access to new technologies, among others, are highlighted. Buyya, R. et al. (2009). Cloud computing and emerging IT platforms: Vision, hype and reality for delivering computing as the 5th utility. Future generation computer systems. Vol. 25, no. 6. Pp. 599-616. This article looks at the future of cloud computing. The concept of cloud computing is discussed and methods of creating clouds are also highlighted. Cloud computing platforms are also explored. Geelan, J. (2009). The future of cloud computing. Retrieved from http://cloudcomputing.sys-con.com/node/771947. This article samples views from various technology experts, executives and commentators on the future developments of cloud computing. They give various views on their predictions in cloud computing development. Gillam, L. (2010). Cloud Computing: Principles, Systems and Applications. London: Springer. This book explores the concept of cloud computing. The services, interfaces and applications that can be used in cloud computing are explored. The methods of designing effective cloud systems are also discussed. Halpert, B. (2011). Auditing Cloud Computing: A Security and Privacy Guide. USA: John Wiley & Sons. The author addresses the guidelines that can be followed to conduct a proper audit of cloud computing in order to ensure the security and privacy of the cloud users’ data. Kaufman, L. M. (2009). Data security in the world of cloud computing. Security and Privacy, IEEE. Vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 61-64. This article discusses the potential security risks that cloud users face. The risk of data privacy is very real and personal and sensitive information can land in the wrong hands and cause serious repercussions. Krutz, R. L. and Vines, R. D. (2010). Cloud Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Secure Cloud Computing. USA: John Wiley & Sons. This book offers insight on the challenges of cloud computing from the perspective of the experts. The authors focus on challenges in data protection, support, costs of bandwidth, data mobility, among others. Cloud users are guided on how to use the cloud services safely. Navetta, D. (2009). Legal Implications of Cloud Computing. Retrieved from http://www.llrx.com/features/cloudcomputing.htm. The author explores the legal implications of cloud computing. Issues such as data protection and privacy and trans-border data transfer, among others, are explored. Read More