The impact of cloud computing security on business operations

Abstract: Cloud computing is a novel platform which affords users the opportunity to exploit the best that Information Technology (IT) infrastructure, platforms and software offer at a fraction of the cost to acquire such resources. Cloud computing has three delivery models, firstly, Infrastructure as a Service, secondly, Platform as a Service, and lastly, Software as a Service. Furthermore, cloud computing has four basic deployment models, namely, public, private, community and hybrid clouds. With all the opportunities presented by cloud computing as a business process, there are nonetheless potential risks associated with the process, especially in the area of security. The aim of this paper is to determine whether or not it is secure for businesses to utilise the services of cloud computing as part of their daily operations to meet the needs of their customers and to ultimately achieve their business objectives. Evidence was gathered through a detailed content analysis of existing research on the subject of cloud computing and cloud security. The paper concludes that with adequate security controls in place, cloud computing is a secure and efficient platform for businesses to utilise for their daily operations.M.Com. (Computer Auditing