Cloud Computing: Disadvantage and Concerns Essay

Abstract

Cloud computing can have a lower cost delivery model of IT services since IT resources are shared and rented among each other. This paper has discussed the disadvantage and concerns related to cloud computing. Cloud users are also seen to choose on values of SLAs and negotiate with cloud providers so that they can maximize their utility subject to cost constraints. Outsourcing and services from third parties can be immensely helpful.

Cloud Computing

Introduction

According to Coronel, Carlos, Morris, Steven, & Rob, Peter (2011), Cloud Computing means using software, business applications and or add-ins from a server accessed through the Internet. The Internet becomes the “cloud” that harbors applications as well as services that subscribers’ access by use of modems on their computers.

Challenges over Cloud Computing and Key Recommendations

The barriers to the success of cloud computing as an alternative for the provision of computing services lie primarily in issues facing consumers of the cloud. For example, Benjamin Linder, Scalent System’s says that when moving applications or data in the cloud, many challenges exist to influence the full possibility that would come with cloud computing. The following are key challenges that must be addressed:

Expensive Transitioning of Existing Software and Data

Transitioning existing software and data to the cloud may be too expensive and technically challenging to undertake. Transition to the cloud may require replacing the software with a modern cloud‐ready design and extracting the data into a cloud-based data store. This can be overcome by developing proper systems to ensure a smooth transition without data loss.

Lack of Cloud Interoperability

Cloud interoperability issues arise when a software application and related data, that cloud hosts, need to be moved to a different cloud provider. This is currently virtually impossible to do without incurring a significant cost as well as the effort that may be needed to port the software and its data.

Data Security and Trust

Data security and trust is major concern. Companies and consumers often do not want to store their data in the cloud due to a lack of trust and the risk of exposing their data in an untrusted environment. Consequently, this demands hybrid cloud environments which can jointly work in unison, where parts of the application can be hosted in a public cloud and others on-premises. A key challenge is the provisioning of secure and trusted data storage that can be operated in such a hybrid cloud environment.

Difficulty in Monitoring Quality of Service

Existing software systems typically consist of different parts and subsystems (such as Web frontend, rich client application, business services, workflows, database layer or message queuing). Such systems often have rigid requirements in terms of performance, dependability, security and trust. Monitoring and enforcing those requirements is a key challenge to fulfill Service Level Agreements (SLA) between the cloud application owner and the customer.

Need for Frequent Reassessment

Different cloud providers offer similar services at different prices; also, often these prices are subject to frequent change. While one provider might be cheap for offering terabytes of storage, renting powerful VMs might be expensive. For cloud computing, customers it will be increasingly difficult to decide which cloud provider can fulfill their QoS requirements. There will be a tradeoff between costs vs. QoS of hosting an application that needs to be balanced, especially in hybrid cloud environments. Therefore, a key challenge will be to optimize this tradeoff by maximizing the SLA fulfillment while minimizing the cost.

There is no doubt that Cloud computing is a rapidly growing segment of the global ICT industry and that it will continue to experience fast take‐up in businesses. An academic report from UC Berkeley says “Cloud Computing could have the same effect on the hardware industry.” In its report on Cloud computing, the Embargoed Cloud Computing Task Force (2011) observes that the combination of Cloud services and high-speed broadband will invariably increase the scale, speed and complexity of both the opportunities and challenges which must be confronted in moving towards fully‐fledged digital economies. This can only be achieved if developers act in support of the Recommendations provided in this advice.

References

Coronel, Carlos, Morris, Steven, & Rob, Peter. (2011). Database Systems: Design, Implementation, and Management (With Bind-in Printed Access Card). Course Technology Ptr.

Embargoed Cloud Computing Task Force Report v 2011. (n.d.). Web.