Assessment Item 2: Concepts And Models – Value 15, Due Date: ✓ Solved

Assessment Item 2concepts And Modelsvalue15due Date: 26 Mar 2015retur

Describe the difference between a locally hosted service (i.e., in an enterprise data centre) and a service provided using an SaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in choosing to migrate from a locally hosted service to an SaaS service? Your description should take no more than two to three pages.

Describe the difference between locally hosted infrastructure (i.e., in an enterprise data centre) and infrastructure provided using an IaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in choosing to migrate from local hosted infrastructure to an IaaS service provider. Your description should take no more than two to three pages.

DTGOV, the department in our case study, wants to investigate moving to a service-based model where many of its services would be supplied to its clients as a service, in addition to its plans to move to an IaaS model (See the DTGOV Roadmap and Implementation Strategy (Erl, Mahmood, & Puttini, 2013, p. 19)). There are a number of infrastructure models that could be used to achieve this. Some of these models are: local hosted infrastructure and applications; local hosted infrastructure with some SaaS applications; hybrid infrastructure (some locally hosted infrastructure with some IaaS) and applications; hybrid infrastructure and applications with some SaaS applications; full IaaS model with some SaaS apps; full SaaS model.

You are required to choose an infrastructure model that you think will achieve the DTGOV Roadmap. Describe the benefits and drawbacks, excluding costs, of your chosen infrastructure model. Your description should take no more than two to three pages.

Online submission via Turnitin is required for this assignment.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The transition towards cloud-based infrastructure and services is a strategic decision for government departments like DTGOV aiming to optimize service delivery. The choice of infrastructure model significantly influences operational efficiency, security, scalability, and flexibility. This paper examines the differences between locally hosted services and SaaS solutions, infrastructure considerations for migrating to IaaS, and evaluates a suitable infrastructure model for DTGOV’s roadmap.

Differences Between Locally Hosted Services and SaaS

Locally hosted services are managed internally within an enterprise’s own data center. This approach grants the organization complete control over hardware, software, security policies, and data management (Marston et al., 2011). It requires significant capital investment in infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and dedicated IT personnel to manage hardware and software updates (Zhou & Gong, 2013). These services typically involve on-premises deployment tailored to the specific needs of the organization, providing a high degree of customization and control (Khajeh-Hosseini et al., 2010).

In contrast, SaaS (Software as a Service) involves subscribing to software hosted on cloud provider’s infrastructure accessible via the internet. SaaS solutions eliminate the need for hardware investments and reduce in-house maintenance, offering scalability, automatic updates, and easier deployment (Benlian et al., 2011). SaaS providers manage security, compliance, and infrastructure, allowing organizations to focus on core functionalities rather than underlying technology (Armbrust et al., 2010). General differences include deployment model, control level, customization options, and maintenance responsibility.

Critical Considerations Beyond Cost for Migration to SaaS

When considering migration from a local service to SaaS, enterprises must analyze data security and privacy policies, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations (Huang et al., 2013). Integration with existing systems presents challenges, especially if legacy applications are involved, requiring seamless interoperability (Garrison et al., 2015). Service availability and reliability are paramount, demanding SLAs (Service Level Agreements) that guarantee uptime (Mell & Grance, 2011). Data ownership and jurisdiction issues also influence the decision, particularly for sensitive or classified information (Subashini & Kavitha, 2011). Additionally, organizations need to assess vendor stability and support services to mitigate risks associated with outsourcing critical functions.

Differences Between Locally Hosted Infrastructure and IaaS

Locally hosted infrastructure involves deploying and managing physical servers, storage devices, and networking hardware within an enterprise’s data center. The organization bears the full responsibility for hardware procurement, maintenance, scaling, and security (Zhao et al., 2016). It offers high levels of customization and control but requires significant capital expenditure and technical expertise to maintain (Jaatun et al., 2013).

Conversely, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) providers offer virtualized computing resources on demand, accessible via the internet. They manage underlying hardware, maintenance, and provisioning, allowing organizations to rent resources and scale quickly (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2016). This model provides flexibility, rapid deployment, and reduced capital costs, shifting CAPEX to OPEX (Operational Expenditure). However, organizations must consider issues such as network dependency, data security within shared infrastructure, and vendor lock-in (Weinhardt et al., 2013).

Critical Points in Migrating from Local Infrastructure to IaaS

Beyond cost, critical factors include data security and privacy, as data stored on third-party infrastructure may be vulnerable to breaches or non-compliance with legal standards (Ren et al., 2017). Network reliability and latency are essential, as infrastructure access depends heavily on internet connectivity (Mell & Grance, 2011). Vendor lock-in concerns relate to portability of data and applications if switching providers becomes necessary (Menzel et al., 2013). Additionally, organizations should evaluate the provider’s compliance standards, SLAs, and support capabilities to ensure service continuity and accountability (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2016).

Selecting an Infrastructure Model for DTGOV Roadmap

Considering DTGOV’s strategic aim to provide services as a flexible, scalable, and resilient framework, a hybrid infrastructure model combining local infrastructure with IaaS and SaaS applications appears optimal. This hybrid approach offers a balanced blend of control, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, aligning with the roadmap’s objectives (Erl, Mahmood, & Puttini, 2013).

Benefits of this hybrid model include the ability to keep sensitive data on-premises for security and compliance, while leveraging cloud-based IaaS for scalable computing resources and SaaS for applications that benefit from rapid deployment and automatic updates (Subashini & Kavitha, 2011). It fosters phased migration, minimizes risk, and supports evolving organizational needs. Drawbacks include the complexity of managing multiple environments, integration challenges, and potential security vulnerabilities across different platforms (Jaatun et al., 2013).

Conclusion

In conclusion, selecting the appropriate cloud infrastructure model requires careful consideration of organizational requirements beyond costs, including security, control, flexibility, and compliance. A hybrid infrastructure model for DTGOV can provide a strategic advantage by balancing control with cloud benefits, supporting the department’s roadmap towards efficient, scalable, and secure service delivery.

References

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