Virtualization and the Cloud Computing World - Essay Sample

Introduction

Cloud computing occurs as a broad term referring to different technological services facilitated by technology. Businesses use cloud computing for online data storage, processing, hosting, and management. Notably, organizations through information technology (IT) departments utilize cloud computing systems that include a wide range of services. Moreover, cloud computing incorporates services such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS). However, the IT department within the organization is required to consider multiple items such as plication access, service outage, and backing up of the data. On the same note, firms employ SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS in different ways aimed at reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and increasing Return on Investment (ROI). Nevertheless, various security issues could arise when using cloud computing. Therefore, cloud computing offers enormous benefits to organizations despite having different security issues before introduction and implementation.

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The organization's IT Department Consideration before the Use of SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS

For the successful introduction and implementation of the SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS by a firm, the IT department should consider various items. As per Erl et al. (2017), such factors include access, backing up of data, and service outages. For instance, application accessibility occurs as a significant factor in understanding the convenient way customers access the application and have an excellent experience (Khan & Varma, 2020). Notably, in using browser-based systems, the IT department would incorporate different versions of the website that can cater for other situations such as laptop, desktop, and mobile (Khan & Varma, 2020). Equally, service outage exists as a critical item of focus for the IT department before strategizing on the cloud computing systems. According to Floerecke and Lehner (2018) the firm would require installing an application that can provide offline accessibility by synchronizing the data. Equally, before putting cloud computing strategies into action, the company, through its IT department, should consider means of backing up the consumers’ data.

SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS in Reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Increase Return on Investment (ROI)

Total cost ownership in the technology perspective occurs as the calculations that assist organizations in determining the costs incurred in maintaining, buying, owning, and assessing the technology. SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS significantly contribute to the reduction of TCO in different ways. For example, cloud computing reduces different costs incurred by enterprises (Longo & Sakata, 2018). Longo and Sakata (2018) posit that the cost reduction by cloud computing services originates from eliminating the expenses related to infrastructures such as operating systems, power, physical space servers, and upgrades. On the same note, SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS reduced TCO by offering greater flexibility in handling the processing and analysis of big data (Longo & Sakata, 2018). Cloud computing services provide room for adjustment to accommodate the growing amount of data without purchasing the hardware devices. As per Longo and Sakata (2018), SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS play a critical role in increasing ROI through various mechanisms. For example, cloud computing facilitates increased speed, hence acquiring the needed resources faster and more conveniently (Longo & Sakata, 2018). Similarly, cloud computing results in high productivity by doing more businesses with fewer IT systems. SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS assist in resource allocation, usage-based pricing, and specialization, which increase ROI.

Impacts of Cloud Computing Services to IT Support Personnel

The introduction of SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS in an organization possesses diverse consequences for the IT support personnel. Notably, the IT department workforce would require additional training on how to effectively operate the infrastructure, which would improve their skills and experience in the field (Khan & Varma, 2020). On the same note, some cloud computing services like SaaS offer convenience and efficiency to the IT staff due elimination of the requirement to download and install different applications.

Considerations by the Organization’s Management

The management of the company should consider different factors before the introduction and implementation of cloud computing. Notably, security issues occur as a critical factor of consideration for firm managers, which comprise protecting intellectual property, data, and privacy (Floerecke & Lehner, 2018). Furthermore, platform performance exists as an aspect to consider by the management due to the customers (Khan & Varma, 2020). Equally, managers should critically consider cloud computing quality, which offers a competitive advantage to the organization.

Security Issues Arising From Cloud Computing

Cloud computing services have different risks to organizations despite offering diverse benefits such as high productivity, flexibility, and reduced cost in technology infrastructure. For instance, SaaS providers could get compromised through hacking, resulting in malware and phishing threats to the organization's data (Patil et al., 2017). Khan and Varma (2020) explain that PaaS offers systems for sharing data, leading to accessing critical information in case of a data breach. Furthermore, in a data breach situation, hackers have access to unauthorized access in which they can change the configurations (Patil et al., 2017). Nevertheless, in IaaS services, protecting sensitive information occurs as of high priority due to the risk of unauthorized individuals' access.

Conclusion

To conclude, cloud computing services offer critical benefits to organizations despite having different issues for consideration before introduction and implementation. Notably, SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS services play a significant role in reducing (TCO) and increasing (ROI) in organizations. Moreover, company management and IT departments should consider different items and factors such as security, backing up of data, service outage, and platform accessibility. On the same note, cloud computing has various security issues for both the company and the service providers.

References

Erl, T., Cope, R., & Naserpour, A. (2017). Cloud computing design patterns (paperback). Prentice Hall.

Floerecke, S., & Lehner, F. (2018). Success-driving business model characteristics of IaaS and PaaS providers. International journal on cloud computing: Services and architecture, 08(06), 01-22. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijccsa.2018.8601

Khan, Y., & Varma, S. (2020). An efficient cloud forensic approach for IaaS, SaaS, and PaaS models. 2nd International Conference on Data, Engineering, and Applications (IDEA). https://doi.org/10.1109/idea49133.2020.9170707

Longo, L., & Sakata, N. (2018). Total Cost Ownership for Information Technology Investment Decisions (IT). Revista Capital Científico - Eletrônica, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.5935/2177-4153.20180002

Patil, S., Dharaskar, R., & Thakare, V. (2017). Digital forensic in cloud: Critical analysis of threats and security in IaaS, SaaS and PaaS and role of cloud service providers. 2017 International Conference on Computing, Communication, Control and Automation (ICCUBEA), 2(9), 76-186. https://doi.org/10.1109/iccubea.2017.8463984