Cloud Computing: A Transformational Technology

Title: Factors that Determine the Adoption of Cloud Computing: a Global Perspective.(Report).
Author: Bay Arinze and Murugan Anandarajan
Publisher: International Journal of Enterprise Information Systems 6.4
URL: http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A244025842&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=phdiliman&version=1.0

Abstract
Cloud computing, as defined by the authors of the article, is a paradigm shift in computing, in which large scale services are accessed over the internet, instead of an onsite location. It has managed to spread within the spectrum more rapidly compared to other developments in information technology. The trend has been for companies and organizations to hire cloud computing services to get rid of the effort and use of resources to maintain servers and hard drives.

In this article, the authors give its readers a perspective on how to determine the implementation of such service. In addition, cloud computing is explained by introducing its three types, which are categorized by means of purpose: SaaS - software as a service; PaaS - platform as a service; and IaaS - Infrastructure as a service. It is further discussed as cloud computing is compared with other computing architectures and other traditional computing models. The authors conclude their article by focusing on the issues of privacy, security, and reliability of cloud computing, and its effects and impact on both developing and developed countries.

Three-point Learning
1. Cloud Computing has been a great breakthrough for companies and organizations, for it saves them money and effort to maintain and disseminate information to their patrons.

2. Cloud Computing has long been with us. Individual citizens have been unconsciously exposed to such technology in the advent of personal e-mail services.

3. Cloud Computing may have been a relief for companies in terms of alternative storage of information, but the issue of privacy, security and reliability of cloud services now arises.

Application
Given that email services and social networking sites have been using cloud computing, one has to realize its limitations so as to avoid its unexpected and unwanted repercussions. Sharing of such knowledge is necessary to bridge the gap in terms of understanding cloud computing.