Cloud computing : an overview

Cloud computing is receiving keen interest and is being widely adopted. It offers clients applications, data, computing resources, and information technology (IT) management functions as a service through the Internet or a dedicated network. Several converging and complementary factors have led to cloud computing’s emergence as a popular IT service‐delivery model that appeals to all stakeholders. Considered as paradigm change in IT, it is being adopted for a variety of applications – personal, academic, business, government, and more – not only for cost savings and expediency but also to meet strategic IT and business goals. It is transforming every sector of society and is having a profound impact, especially on the IT industry and on IT professionals – application developers, enterprise IT administrators, and IT executives. Driven by advances in cloud technology, the proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and use of a variety of applications supported by ubiquitous broadband Internet access, the computing landscape is continuing to change. There is an accompanying paradigm shift in the way we deliver and use IT. Cloud computing is a radical new IT delivery and business model. Users can use cloud services when and where they need them and in the quantity that they need, and pay for only the resources they use. It also offers huge computing power, on‐demand scalability, and utility‐like availability at low cost. Cloud computing is no longer hype. Individuals are using cloud‐based applications, such as Web mail and Web‐based calendar or photo‐sharing Web sites (e.g., Flickr, Picasa) and online data storage. Small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises are using cloud‐based applications for accounting, payroll processing, customer relationship management (CRM), business intelligence, and data mining. Large enterprises use cloud services for business functions, such as supply‐chain management, data storage, big data analytics, business process management, CRM, modeling and simulation, and application development. Research studies reveal that users give convenience, flexibility, the ability to share information, and data safety as major reasons for engaging in cloud computing activities. As cloud computing is moving towards mainstream adoption, there is considerable excitement and optimism, as well as concerns and criticism. Many people have incomplete information or are confused about cloud computing’s real benefits and key risks, which matter to them. Given its transformational potential and significance, it is important that students, IT professionals, business managers and government leaders have an informed, holistic understanding of cloud computing and how they can embrace it. In this chapter, we present an overview of cloud computing concepts, cloud services, cloud‐hosting models, and applications. We also outline the benefits and limitations of cloud computing, identify its potential risks, and discuss the prospects for the cloud and what businesses and individuals can do to embrace cloud computing successfully. Finally, we discuss the prospects and implications of cloud computing for businesses, the IT industry, and IT professionals