Enterprise Utilisation of Cloud Computing UAE Context - Literature review Example

ENTERPRISE UTILISATION OF CLOUD COMPUTING UAE CONTEXT By Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date Enterprise Utilisation of Cloud Computing UAE Context Introduction1 As cloud computing gains footing in the Middle East, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, the main setback for UAE enterprises is to fine-tune as well as optimise the infrastructure to profit well from the novel technology. 1 The international attention generated by public cloud, mainly because of the cloud services provided by companies like Salesforce.com, Rackspace, Amazon and Google, has coerced scores of enterprises in the UAE to begin investigating the feasibility of capitalising on cloud services. Undoubtedly, cloud computing allows for resources sharing within and outer of the enterprises setting, and operates similar to a server wherein the enterprise can amass the needed resources. At the moment, cloud computing in UAE is getting more and more recognition, but some enterprises are concerned about the security setbacks brought about subsequent to its espousal. 2 Notably, cloud computing implementation often includes a security technology that is progressive, largely easily reached as a result of data centralization together with its structure that is widespread. In its essence, cloud computing as mentioned by Pathro et al. (2013) can handle scores of failures endured by traditional architectures in consequence of its distinguishing quality.3 Additionally, cloud computing provides a new world of businesses opportunities to UAE, but this comes with numerous security issues that have to be considered and managed before implementation of cloud computing strategy. The research paper seeks to provide a critical insight with regard to enterprise utilisation of cloud computing UAE context. Tough Market2 Although Saudi Arabia is an enormous market, as per Cherrayil (2013), UAE is equally benefiting from cloud computing.1 Without doubt the tough market to penetrate in Gulf region is Saudi Arabia whereas Qatar market is showing some potential for cloud computing. By 2020 as predicted by Intergence, about 80% of workers in UAE could be working remotely as cloud computing do good to mobile employees as well as those running virtual offices, which conventionally had to depend on links of high speed broadband for connectivity from their company data centres. In a study conducted by International Data Corporation (IDC), it established that the total cloud delivery spending in the UAE had increased by 33.6% in 2013 while in the long term; the spending is projected to increase by a yearly growth rate of 43.7% by the end of 2016. Scores of UAE enterprises at the moment desire to capitalise on the key benefits like the swift IT resources deployment, the capability to supervise usage, and usage of shared resource, but inside their own enterprise security; thus, directing them to the private cloud concept.1 In UAE, as per IDC, there is drastic growth said in the private cloud, however, the public cloud is expected to become equal in the coming days as growingly international providers start pushing their services forcefully to UAE. Still, IDC indicate that the rising attention is in private cloud, but just a few of UAE enterprises managed to convert these extremely virtualised settings to complete deployments of private cloud. With only a small number of local providers in the UAE providing cloud services and most of these providers are determinedly in the formative years of developing portfolio, Cruz (2013) posits that of late there has been a steady softening of customers’ attitudes toward cloud computing.2 Basically, UAE market is dependent on progressive developments, of which continental leader India followed Jordan are the main suppliers. This is as well multifaceted by the actuality that the Gulf regional pace of innovation puts UAE in a risk of being a prey of other rival innovators like Singapore, and even though there is some improvement on domestic privacy laws, the country is still shifting towards international standards. Such setbacks are deterring the rate of Cloud services adoption, but these challenges can be solved through disparate regulations so as to encourage more foreign direct investment, and as a result more implementation of cloud computing. Value of Cloud Computing in UAE3 At the moment, to become competitive in the world driven by technology, enterprises must have an outstanding technology and make use of the presented resources resourcefully to improve the organisational performance. In UAE, cloud computing is developing an essential platform for accelerating business operations, but its distributed architecture presents a number of security issues to the enterprises. In essence, the surfacing of cloud computing has swiftly transformed UAE enterprises’ intuition of software delivery in addition to infrastructure structure. These days, cloud computing has attained more and more reputation, and has smoothened operation within organisations. Thanks to the increase in ever-present delivery of resources steered by cloud computing, UAE enterprises have succeeded in offering relevant innovation idiosyncratically. Advancement of computing history that started from devices for tabulating as well as mainframe architectures that principally offered resources for calculating by means of decentralized as well as transmitted customer server structures to PC, and now to ubiquitous mobile device such as Tablets and Smartphone. Without doubt, the progresses realised in techniques of computing in the last several decades, mostly in Grid computing facilitated the introduction of a number of computing paradigms. Such paradigms as per Pathro et al. (2013) include Cloud computing, ubiquitous computing, utility computing electronic infrastructure, in addition to cyber-infrastructure.3 While scores of scholars deem that Cloud-based technologies have the ability to impact the Internet radical revolution, Cloud computing services integration in UAE enterprises is still at formative stages. According to Müller et al. (2011), the change from conventional business information technology paradigms to Cloud computing has for many years’ present an enormous challenge for UAE business, in the face of all the developments that backed this change. In addition, complexities in the accessible value structures as well as method for realising effective practices are the main setback experienced by UAE enterprises with regard to cloud computing.4 Cloud computing, as per Cruz (2013) offer UAE enterprises the capability to prolifically make use of time distributed computing resources; 2 for example, UAE internet companies such as Bravo Limited Company and Etisalat UAE have normal computing workloads all through the year, but in January and December the desirable resources increases by fivefold the usual workload thanks to the tourists flocking Dubai for their charismas and new year holidays. For that reason, Cloud computing have enabled these UAE companies to prevail over surplus needs during January and December devoid of extra costs. Additionally, UAE telecommunication firms have easily espoused cloud computing given that they utilised their existing resources like infrastructure as well as human resources operating in various organisational departments. Besides, cloud computing may be integrated by firms’ existing infrastructure, which according to Grobauer et al. (2011) can reduce their capital outlay.4 As a result, cloud computing has helped UAE firms to define again their structures of performance present at the cloud computing implementation stage within their business. In addition, cloud computing offers outstanding promotion strategies that have a positive effect on the customers; for example, if enterprise espouses cloud computing with proper marketing as well as enterprise strategies, they may easily provide resourceful cloud service to the customers quickly. Cloud Computing Downsides5 These days, there subsists numerous downsides that need resolution before making out if cloud computing is a viable technology for business. UAE organizations as mentioned by Cherrayil (2013) must be watchful of the organisational regulation with regard to loss of the data outlined in the cloud computing policy.2Until now, most providers do not offer backing servers for their customers, and so in case of a data loss, the blame always lies squarely on the organisation. However, some cloud computing service providers are trying to integrate swift measures in an attempt to solve this setback.4 For instance, not long ago Amazon Web Services unveiled their latest cloud branded as Amazon Virtual Private, which enables its customers to slot in their accessible infrastructure to several separated computing resources of Amazon by way of a virtual private network connection. Also, compliant with international act anchored in data regulations, Amazon Web Services at this point in time enables business organizations to capitalise on the simple database storage made in line with the international outer. Furthermore, the Cloud product designed by Google for States, including UAE is a result to worries from entities with the governments with regard to data location. Prospect of Cloud Computing6 Cloud computing offer UAE company operators the ability to integrate the network functions as well as reserve on a one shared base counter to beforehand where they each was aligned independently. In addition, deploying all attributes of the enterprise on the shared base may help UAE companies to offer service founded on demand, consistency and can decrease the capital expenditure of the companies in addition to cost of operational expenditure. According to Müller et al. (2011), companies that have espoused with cloud computing can make new services on one shared base through the infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) 5. However, small enterprises in UAE can easily penetrate the international market, given that their services can be offered through cloud devoid of investing in making of the infrastructure itself. What is more, UAE companies are using Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) or Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) services to provide their business services, and this has enabled these companies to be in a position of competing with other competitors in the global market. As a consequence, the UAE companies will in the future be able to offer services directly from the cloud with support from Network Authentication and Authorization Service (NAAS) and Application Service Providers (ASPs). Moreover, as forecasted by IDC, UAE businesses will in the future merge with the providers of cloud service in attempt to lessen the load of managing resources. As a result, the idea of virtualization will help the businesses to be able to place user data in the data centres. Conclusion In conclusion, it has been argued that Cloud computing is still among the most recent technological developments in UAE IT domain and has changed scores of businesses given that benefits brought about by cloud computing outnumber its shortcomings. Importantly, cloud computing has offered UAE businesses a preparation structural design that has the ability to resourcefully overcome setbacks facing organisations and also provide business opportunities. Besides that, cloud computing facilitates preventability, optimises business tasks by decreasing manual operations, in addition to enhancing cross-discipline connection and partnership. Based on the mentioned benefits, cloud computing is without a doubt the future for UAE enterprises, and it will in the future as predicted by IDC change the way business is conducted in UAE making it not just a business hub, but also a technological hub in Asia and Gulf region. Bibliography Cherrayil, N.K., 'Cloud computing growing in the UAE', http://gulfnews.com/business/technology/cloud-computing-growing-in-the-uae-1.1130703, 2013, (Accessed 23 September 2014). Cruz, X., 'The State of Cloud Computing Around the World: United Arab Emirates', http://cloudtimes.org/2013/04/01/the-state-of-cloud-computing-around-the-world-united-arab-emirates/, 2013, (Accessed 23 September 2014). Grobauer, B., Walloschek, T. & Stocker, E., Understanding Cloud Computing Vulnerabilities. IEEE Security&Privacy Magazine, vol. 9, no. 2. 2011, pp.50 - 57. Müller, G., Sonehara, N., Echizen, I. & Wohlgemuth, S., Sustainable Cloud Computing. Business & Information Systems Engineering, vol. 3, no. 3. 2011, pp.129 - 131. Pathro, S., Venkatesh, D. & Sriharshs, K.J., Analysis on Cloud Computing. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science, vol. 4, no. 5. 2013, pp.93 - 94. Read More