The Impact of Cloud Computing, Research Paper Example

Abstract

While the world embraces development, information becomes a vital part of progress. In line with this particular truth, it could be realized that keeping, releasing, distributing and simply managing information plays a great role in consideration with the desire to define progress. With the proper operation on information management, it could be realized that organizations are to progress better hence embracing the culture of development in a better position. In relation to the operation of private data centers, cloud computing is seen to have a great impact on how they are to operate in the future. In the discussion that follows, a relative indication of growth in relation to the utilization of cloud computing in private data center operations shall be given particular attention to.

Through the utilization of research and implicative parallel discussions, this presentation shall depend more on refining the understanding on how the elements of modern information system could be able to support the function of private data centers that are expected to make extensive chances of development for the organizations that they are aiming to support in relation to their relative function towards the community.

The Impact of Cloud Computing on Private Data Centers

Introduction

The age of computers has brought about a sense of urgency in the processing of information between networks of data operators that have been established to keep and release information at the right specific time required. In this age of information science, data stands to be a crucial element to make it better for organizations to thrive even in the middle of tough competition. Companies of all sorts from all sectors of different industries specifically utilize the information recording systems available at present to keep their integral desire of remaining within the course of development that they are supposed to grow along with (Miller, 2007, 65). Notably, as the years pass, the extensive need for safe and secure data centers become a specific requirement that companies need to contend with.

Developments have been created to make sure that such advanced demands get responded to, several computer-defined programs have been imposed so as to make sure that the clients of the industry get what they want and what they deserve in line with the demands they have on the system. With the higher demand on connectivity, one of the advancements that resulted from this exploration of possibilities is the introduction of cloud computing. In the field of data recording and processing, cloud computing is deemed to be the newest trend that businesses use today so as to make sure that their information system fits what they expect of the operations that they establish for the sake of business growth (Armbrust, et al, 2010, 50). While the internet becomes a primary depot of information sharing, cloud computing is said to me one of the most effective systems used today in line with information management that plays a great role in data controlling operations.

In the discussion that follows imposing a closer look on cloud computing and its practical implications on the process of operating a private data center shall be given attention to. In relation to this, exploring on what data centers are for shall be given a brief overview. Alongside with the said presentation is the indication of what cloud computing is and how both elements of the modern information age could operate in parallel with each other. Giving attention to such matter is expected to create some respective changes in the process of information sharing, recording, keeping and retrieval that is essential even for improving the function of private data centers.

Problem Statement

To be able to keep focus on the course by which this research is headed to, there are some primary questions that need to be given particular attention to. These questions include the following:

• What is a datacenter and how does it function for modern companies today?
• What is cloud computing and how much would it affect modern information processing operation?
• Will companies that have their own data centers transform to virtual operation through cloud computing?
• Is the cloud computing the data center of the future that becomes a utility to all of the business in the world with inherent IT needs?
• Is it safer and more cost effective for companies to adapt cloud computing as part of their IS operations?

Relatively, these questions are expected to set a good path for this research hence specifically defining the specific role that cloud computing is supposed to take in refining the process of data keeping and operations in relation to companies that are utilizing data center services for the specific management of the information they have.

Understanding Functions of Data Centers

Back in the beginning of the introduction of information technology in the modern society, data centers played a great role in supporting military operations as their main aim. These systems however involved huge computer facilities that are stored in huge rooms and long-thick cables that are specifically bulky and hard to maintain. With the development of microcomputers, changing the aspect of function and space utilization of old-time data centers have become a common focus of transformation for the said age of new innovative designs.

Notably, in relation to space, the reduction of huge computers into smaller devices made it easier for private data centers to be developed in line with the industry that serves the needs of emerging companies in the field of commerce. Not only did the data centers serve the needs of the military army anymore, but the information needs of other emerging organizations as well. Datacenters even became more influential and expansive especially in line with the introduction of the dot.com dot bomb era. In the early 1990’s the creation of businesses that specifically operated and transacted through the internet. In line with this course of business development, datacenters were boosted up in their relative function and role in assuring the companies that the information they place in the internet are well managed in line with the idea of operating in the middle of a wide range of market segments that they could serve in the internet.

Smaller companies on the other hand often decide to have their own private datacenters to make sure that the management of the information they own would be centralized, focused and well-watched, besides the fact that this option is a lot cost effective than hiring large datacenter companies that require higher expensive amount of fees. In a way though managing huge amounts of information efficiently is not an easy matter to take on. Getting rid of all the information clutter and still be able to know what important information ought to be kept, shared and discharged from the system are only among the most complex functions that private datacenters ought to give particular attention to. Not to mention that when the organizations extend their operations and become larger in scope [which imposes the increase of information that they have to store and manage], the scope of the datacenter’s function then escalates and the functionality of the system they use becomes pressured of meeting all the challenges of information add-up and operational expansions (Winkler, 2011, 187). To resolve the issue, computer analysts and programming developers explored the possibility of defining a new form information system management called cloud computing.

What is Cloud Computing?

The term “cloud” is actually a sense of metaphor that is used to define the function of the system in allowing clients and companies to connect with each other in reception of a particular network system that is designed to make comprehensive bridges of communication between the parties involved. In a way cloud computing allowed companies to establish their information datacenters in remote locations which would allow them to get hold of information that they need anywhere and anytime they might need it. Relatively, most remote locations involve the web (Armbrust, et al, 2010, 58). The internet provides a limitless storage for companies to use. All that they have to do is to get a domain that would serve as the remote directory for the files they hope to store. In times when the information stored within the said directory is needed, authorized personnel [most likely the administrators] would be able to manage the system through utilizing an identification code that would let them access the information (Zissis, et al, 2010, 34).

In this particular diagram, it is shown how cloud computing actually works in restricting and allowing information to flow out to authorized users of the system. Noting that the system involves the internet, there were instances when the capacity of the cloud computing system to protect and secure information safely has been gravely questioned. The possible entrant of unauthorized individuals [or worse even hackers] into the system is feared to have a great impact on the scrutiny breach of the information being protected. Considerably though, programmers an developers of the cloud computing system tried to respond to the issue through establishing unique encrypted codes that are supposed to be the key towards securing the information being protected by a particular client using a remote location of file storage in the internet (Ko, et al, 2011, 134). Solving the issue of security and privacy, cloud computing now becomes one of the trendiest systems and often noted to be the most efficient process of online information storage that companies opt to use not only to serve their administrators’ needs but also to reach out to clients through the use of essential information they might have then need of knowing.

How Cloud Computing Improves IT Operations

Function, productivity and efficiency are among the most important impacting effects of cloud computing in modern IT operations embraced by companies nowadays. Relatively, companies intend to free their data spaces to accommodate more current information that they need to run their operations and to be able to keep in control of the competition that they have with other companies in the industry. Understandably though, there are past information that have been stored in their data that are still worthy of keeping but cannot be accommodated by their own space of data storage anymore. This is where cloud computing comes in. Setting up a remote location in the worldwide web for these files seems to be the most convenient way of managing such information. Storing them and making them readily available for future use is something that is being aimed by the system. To note, here are some of the pros and cons of the system:

Observably, allowing a third party to handle the information might have been quite a sense of unconventional process of developing the IT management; nevertheless, it has been proven effective for many. It required less personnel to handle the task of storage management, it reduces virtual clutter in the database systems of the companies and it makes information easy to retrieve whenever and wherever the authorized personnel need them (Kasacavage, 2002, 227). The lessening of traffic on the local networks that the companies use for operation further improves the pace of information processing within the organization while still relatively creating an effective course of storing data for other information that may seem useless at present but would be relatively useful in the future.

In comparison, organizations who opted to utilize remote information storage such as a virtual datacenter specifically embraced the benefits that cloud computing could offer their organization and the manner by which such system could improve the way they operate internally and externally. Cloud computing however does more than just store and release information at the right time. The system makes use of the actual information stored for future use to have a remarkable impact on the organization’s function at present. To make sure of this, cloud computing allows the expansive utilization of information that establishes proper conditions of enabling organizations to make comprehensive advancements in the fields of handling human resources, establishing financial reports and retaining financial integrity of the company, managing real time communication between operators and clients and many others.

Currently, there are three service models that cloud computing is strongly founded upon. These service models allow the organizations operating through the internet to make good use of the remote location that stores their information. Offering business operators with more function than expected, cloud computing allows organizations to branch out even faster and reach their target clients in a real time event that would of course affect the way they operate online. The said three service models include the following:

Infrastructure as Service or IaaS

This basic cloud service approach offers users of cloud computing system to handle information storage through virtual machines that are firewalled and security protected. This system allows the users to establish a network to which the information stored would be readily available to (Bernstein, et al, 2009, 328). The operating system offered to the users would be the only matter that shall be billed in this case hence the cost of the operation would solely depend on the capacity of the users to utilize as less software as needed so as to keep and manage the information stored in the system.

Platform as Service or PaaS

For this system, the package of service includes the OS, the programming execution environment the database and the web server that is to be utilized by the users of the operation (Bernstein, et al, 2009, 329). This way, the users will have to pay for the whole package and enjoy complete manipulation of the information that is being stored in the database. Allocation of needed resources is done automatically in this particular process hence reducing the time used to manage the information that are being considered for utilization by the company. Changes in the platform could be easily adapted to through this approach as it provides automatic application matches with that of the need of the users.

Software as a Service or SaaS

This system further contemplates with the involvement of third parties; the clients of the users. If a company utilizes this particular model of cloud computing, then they would have immediate access to communicate with their cloud clients (Bernstein, et la, 2009, 330). This way, several organizations could use the same platform and serve their clients in the same approach. What would matter here is how each organization makes good use of the system to their advantage. Most often than not, paying for this service is divided into monthly fees.

Personal Implications of Findings

Notably, the indicative points of discussion herein shows the author of this research a compatible presentation on how datacenters of the future and cloud computing are likely to work positively well especially in the course of redefining the specific usage of information at its most competent level. Cloud computing basically brings in a new sense of organizational operation and how information helps well in establishing the role of information management in the development of such progressive state.

The world changes constantly and the field of computer technology is one that transforms consistently for the sake of aiding developmental progress especially for those trying to accommodate new systems of organizational operations. Cloud computing and data center operation are two among the most common elemental factors used by organizations today to make sure that they are on the right track of progressing towards relative development. The implications of cloud computing in a private datacenter operation is then seen by the author of this research to have a great impact on how the extension of services could be imposed hence making the most efficient use of information that would bring in great results for the organization utilizing the service.

Conclusion

Relating to the need of progress and development, the internet and the world of modern computing has increased the capacity of humans to work with information. In the presentation that has been developed in this research, it could be analyzed how the form of modern data management as aided through the operative functions of cloud computing affects so much the function of data centers no matter how big or small they are. Notably, the future of datacenter industry relies on the reliability of the introduction and constant improvement made on the operations of cloud computing that are dedicated to enabling organizations to set up virtual networks that are able to connect them not only with their authorities and administrational personnel but also with their clients. While the industry of communication continues to advance, the functions of cloud computing completely becomes relatively useful especially in the course of establishing good organizational rapport within the internal and external relations they hope to establish both physically and virtually with their stakeholders.

References

Armbrust, M; Fox, A., Griffith, R., Joseph, A., Katz, R., Konwinski, A., Lee, G., Patterson, D., Rabkin, A., Zaharia, (2010). “A view of cloud computing.” Communication of the ACM 53 (4): 50–58.

Bernstein, David; Ludvigson, Erik; Sankar, Krishna; Diamond, Steve; Morrow, Monique (2009) Blueprint for the Intercloud – Protocols and Formats for Cloud Computing Interoperability. IEEE Computer Society. pp. 328–336.

Ko, Ryan K. L.; Jagadpramana, Peter; Mowbray, Miranda; Pearson, Siani; Kirchberg, Markus; Liang, Qianhui; Lee, Bu Sung (2011). “TrustCloud: A Framework for Accountability and Trust in Cloud Computing”. Proceedings of the 2nd IEEE Cloud Forum for Practitioners (IEEE ICFP 2011), Washington DC, USA.

Kasacavage, Victor (2002). Complete book of remote access: connectivity and security. The Auerbach Best Practices Series. CRC Press. p. 227.

Miller, Rich.  (2007). “Complexity: Growing Data Center Challenge.” Data Center Knowledge.

Winkler, Vic (2011). Securing the Cloud: Cloud Computer Security Techniques and Tactics. Waltham, MA USA: Syngress. pp. 187, 189.

Zissis, Dimitrios; Lekkas (2010). “Addressing cloud computing security issues”. Future Generation Computer Systems.