Cloud Computing in Relation to Information Centers - Essay Example

CLOUD COMPUTING IN RELATION TO INFORMATION CENTERS Name Class Instructor Institution City State Date CLOUD COMPUTING IN RELATION TO INFORMATION CENTERS Executive Summary In these modern days, information and communication technologies are emerging in a dynamic and fast manner and this provides a lot of opportunities due to the benefits that come with availability of information, reduced expenses as well as flexibility and elasticity. In the same way Cloud computing has emerged as a new and emerging technology model that facilitates for the remoting of servers in a centralized place maintaining data and software applications and the services are accessed through the internet. The cloud computing technology is mainly used in information centers, libraries, in-house applications as well as digital library services. In this report, the focus will be on the application of cloud computing models and the technologies that suit the information centers. The application of the cloud computing technologies will be discussed with examples as well as the risks that are encountered in developing the cloud technology. Similarly, the impact of cloud computing technology on the information centers. The information centers store the data and information in a central place, and all the services are accessed via the internet. Therefore, the discussion will focus on the servers are installed in remote areas and the technologies that support the transfer of information from the centers to the distributed clients and networks. Table of Contents CLOUD COMPUTING IN RELATION TO INFORMATION CENTERS 2 Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Introduction 5 Characteristics And Recent Developments In Cloud Computing 6 On-Demand Self-Service: 6 Resource Pooling 7 Broad Network Access (BNA) 7 Rapid Elasticity 7 Measured Service 7 Current Examples Of The Usage Of Cloud Computing Technology 9  Implications Of The Usage Of Cloud Computing 11 Advantages of the Cloud Services to an Organization 11 Cheap Cloud Systems 11 Easy Access 11 Low Expenditure of Software Applications 11 Easy Setup and Installation 12 Low Cost of Data Servers 12 Central Data 13 Data Recovery 13 Data Sharing 13 Security of Data 13 Free Cloud Space for Storage 13 Testing Tools 14 Disadvantages of Cloud Services to An Organization 14 Low Bandwidth 14 Internet Connection 14 Quality of Services 14 Data Security 14 Service Legal Agreements 15 Costs 15 Lack of In-house Support and Maintenance 15 Incompatibility Issues 15 Minimal Flexibility 15 References 16 Introduction Cloud computing technology was innovated by system developers in 2006. It can be viewed as an evolutionary offspring of distributed systems, parallel systems, grid and utility computing. It has also originated from load balance, network storage, and virtualization technologies. The main focus of cloud computing is designed from a virtual computing resource pool by storing a lot of information and computer resources in a central place and then connect it with a network infrastructure. This provided the platform for information and software sharing. In this case, the cloud is the network that facilitates the shared computing resources. (Askew, 2011). The cloud computing technology allows the computer or mobile phone users to share dynamically a lot of software and hardware resources, and the service provider charges the usage according to the data resources that have been accessed. This brings about the billing of any computer resource such as applications at a low price, and the services are purchased like electricity, gas, water. Similar to electric power, cloud computing in an innovation that does its billing from a central place as a single generator. According to Jonathan Weber, the concept of cloud computing resonates with the storage of abundant amounts of data somewhere in the ether other than the computer room traditional fashion and the connected through a network and the services are available to the users who are authenticated to utilize the resources. (Fägerskiöld, 2006). Characteristics And Recent Developments In Cloud Computing In essence, the networking environment of client-server technologies of the new era formally known as the fourth stage of the evolution of library and information centers. This defines the cloud computing technology as the access of resources via the internet. In a more specific sense, the national Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) elaborates the cloud computing technology as a model that allows for convenient, ubiquitous and an on-demand network access to shared resources that are in a pool of computing resources that are configurable. In the definition given by NIST, the cloud system is composed of management or service modes. They are three in number. The models include; Platform as a Service (PaaS) Software as a Service (SaaS) and, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) In the same system, Community Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Cloud and Public Cloud are the deployment models that are common in cloud computing. There are various characteristics that are visible and shared across the models and are utilized by the computer end users. The main characteristics are discussed below; On-Demand Self-Service: In this case, end-users can remotely increase or decrease the rate of the service. This is similar to the utilization of mobile airtime or data bundles or storage space. There is no human intervention that is needed in the system since space or billing is done automatically as per the usage of the cloud services. Resource Pooling This describes the nature in which cloud computing technology is clustered across the software and hardware. (Fägerskiöld, 2006). Broad Network Access (BNA) In this model, the user can access a resource through standard devices such as computers and mobile phones. Tablets are also used to access the service of the cloud. (Askew, 2011). Rapid Elasticity This characteristic allows for cloud-based services to be commenced at a minimum or adjustable quantity as per the requirement of the computer or mobile phone user at any place or any time Measured Service The characteristic allows for resources and the performance of the technology to be metered in a billing systems. Similar to the use of traditional utilities used by the public such as electric power, gas or water billing. Figure: Overview of Cloud Computing Concepts The concept of technological cloud computing has been in utilization for many years, however, in the modern days, it has become a necessitate that is highlighted and is in use in virtually all the homes and offices. (Fägerskiöld, 2006).In the decade of the 1990s, cloud computing was designed by popular IT service providers such as Google, Microsoft, Sun, and Amazon. This provided different systems for various computer users at different levels. However, the most popular technology or service for web-based email systems is the Software as a Service (SaaS) For instance, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, AOL, and Hotmail. In recent times, the web-based systems have revolutionized office apps such as Microsoft Office Online, Google, and Cloud-canvas.com. Similarly, software developers can run their programs on Platform as a Service (PaaS) The platforms for developers include Windows Azure, Google AppEngine, and Force.com. (Askew, 2011). This provides the developers with abundant storage in a remote area and can be used as a backup on the servers in the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). These technologies include Microsoft Azure, Jungle Disk, Amazon EC2 and S3 servers as well as Animoto. Figure: Cloud Computing Architecture Current Examples Of The Usage Of Cloud Computing Technology Recently in 2011, Primary Research Group (PRG) did publish a report of the conducted survey on information centers in the use of cloud computing technology. (Primary Research Group, 2011) The participants that were included in the survey include over 50 information centers and libraries from the United States and the global library centers. In the findings, more than 61% of the information centers utilized Software as a Service (SaaS) for free. In this case 22% of the users paid for the Software as a Service (SaaS) while less than 3% of the information centers that were surveyed used Platform as a Service (PaaS). In the same study, 4% used Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) within the information center. (Fägerskiöld, 2006). An example of a company that utilizes cloud computing technology is the Amazon Web Services. Amazon Web Services is a world leader in the technology commanding many information centers across the globe. The locations include Virginia, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and Ashburn. The other data centers are located in European and Asian territories such as Dublin, London, Frankford, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Singapore. The data centers are huge almost the size of complete football pitches, and all the data is centrally stored there and can be easily accessed via the internet. The data stored in the information centers or libraries are set up in the location is also backed up, therefore, there is minimum risk of the loss of data and the customer is assured that his or her data is safe. The measure protects the customers or computer users from any losses in case of a data center break down or failure. Amazon Web Services can choose which information center to store data and information on. This move has been appreciated by some Canadian companies, and the Patriot Act of the United States of America has allowed the government to look into and intercept any electronic and network communications across the cloud. This is in a bid to ensure national security and ensure that the information centers based in the United States have private data.  Implications Of The Usage Of Cloud Computing Advantages of the Cloud Services to an Organization Cheap Cloud Systems Cloud computing enables the business that is running on the platform to experience minimal expenses in their information and communication centers. Local systems have less to do with the operations, and it saves a lot of resources on costly equipment. (Askew, 2011). Easy Access Anyone can access the cloud environment from amazing options. For instance, net books, I-Pads, tablets and cell phones. This increases the efficiency of the data and information provided to the users. The lodging in of requested documents and orders can be done by the business users at any time or any place with only a touch of a button. Low Expenditure of Software Applications For any organization such as Libraries and a specific company like the Amazon Web Services, cloud systems eliminate the cost of software applications in the running of the business. There are many software stored in the cloud. Thus, there is no need to purchase off the shelf or standalone software that is expensive. Making the condition worse, there are quite a lot of licensing and upgrading costs in the standalone software that is not present in cloud apps. Easy Setup and Installation There are no costs that are incurred in the setup, installation and maintenance of new devices for new users. The cloud service is right at the desk of the new user and is ready to use at any time or place. Low Cost of Data Servers The cloud computing technology eliminates the need for in-house servers that are associated with increasing memory and hard disk storage in the organization. Processing power costs are also abolished. (Askew, 2011). Central Data Cloud servers are centralized. This allows for information and data to be accessed from multiple sites and projects in remote areas. Data Recovery The cloud computing technology provides automated data recovery measures within the cloud. The backup of data is easily retrieved in the case of a hard drive malfunction without the cost and waste of valuable business time. Data Sharing The cloud computing systems offer accessibility to data and information within the network. The data can be shared by email or documents can be shared by the project team within the organization through sharing technologies such as GoogleDocs. Security of Data The cloud service is secure within the information center, and sensitive information is only visible to the parties that are authorized to see the data. This is facilitated by strict passwords, auditing, and encryption. Free Cloud Space for Storage The nature of cloud services offers limitless, secure and free storage, a mechanism that is not evident in standalone systems Testing Tools There are various software testing technologies that are situated in the cloud, and they permit the features to test a new application, load and upgrade instantly. The software and infrastructure are readily available with scalability and flexibility of distributed environments Disadvantages of Cloud Services to An Organization Low Bandwidth When the client user has a low bandwidth of the network connection, the benefits of the cloud computing platform cannot be enjoyed because of poor performance caused by high latency. Internet Connection Internet connection is a necessity in order to access cloud applications. Without a reliable internet service, the data and information cannot be accessed by the client. Quality of Services The internet can be affected by overloading the connection with videos and audio downloads. Therefore, the upload of heavy files and printing of files from the cloud can affect the high number of people using the cloud computing services. (Fägerskiöld, 2006). Data Security It is necessary to contact an IT consulting firm input in order to secure rigidly the data on the cloud. This is because internet based services are prone to attacks from hackers or threats of cyber crime especially if the data is related to financial records. Service Legal Agreements It is evident that the client user or organization needs to have agreements that are non-negotiable with the company that provides the cloud service. This impacts negatively to the organizational business and expenses. Costs Cloud applications may look cheap to the organization but there are features that may be missing from the cloud apps, and they are present in in-house applications or software. Cloud services may include some features that are not required and additional features that are already paid for. Lack of In-house Support and Maintenance Cloud systems may not receive proper maintenance and support for the users. This is because the cloud service providers may not be easily accessible on email or phone. (Fägerskiöld, 2006).There is no complete transparency in cloud services as compared to in-house apps. Incompatibility Issues The cloud software may not be compatible with tools, software and applications on a personal computer. This can cause problems in the accessibility of the features of the cloud service. Minimal Flexibility Software as a Service (SaaS) run on remote servers and thus the organization using the cloud services have little or no control over the function of the hardware and software resources. The applications cannot run without The internet and they cannot run on local machines due to a the remote nature of cloud computing technology. (Fägerskiöld, 2006). 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