Assignment 2: Cloud Solutions And Cloud-Based Computi 147710

Assignment 2 Cloud Solutionscloud Based Computing Allows Businesses T

Identify three potential vendors. Compare and contrast the three different vendors. Be sure to consider the services, data solutions, and security features they provide. Based on your analysis, provide a recommendation about which provider or solution you think would work best. Provide a justification explaining why it would be the best product for your selected business to use (using your current organization or a hypothetical organization).

Support your recommendation with up-to-date knowledge of business practices and technology use. Be sure to provide a little background about the organization to help justify your recommendation. Utilize at least 2 scholarly sources in support of your assertions. Make sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources; display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Write a 3–4-page report in Word format.

Paper For Above instruction

Cloud computing has revolutionized how organizations manage data and IT infrastructure, offering scalable, flexible, and cost-effective solutions. When selecting a cloud service provider, organizations should evaluate various options based on service offerings, data solutions, and security features. This paper compares three major cloud service providers: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), to determine which is best suited for a hypothetical mid-sized financial services organization.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) stands as a dominant player in cloud services, offering a comprehensive set of solutions including computing power, storage, and machine learning services. AWS’s Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2) instances provide scalable computing resources, while Amazon S3 offers reliable and secure data storage solutions (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2017). AWS emphasizes its security features, including data encryption, physical security, and compliance with numerous industry standards such as ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR. Its extensive global infrastructure ensures low latency and high availability, critical for financial organizations requiring real-time data access (Mell & Grance, 2011). However, the complexity and cost management of AWS can be challenging for smaller businesses without dedicated IT resources.

Microsoft Azure integrates well with existing Microsoft enterprise solutions such as Windows Server, Active Directory, and Office 365, making it especially attractive for organizations already invested in Microsoft ecosystems. Azure offers a suite of cloud services including virtual machines, databases, AI, and analytics, along with enterprise-grade security features like Azure Security Center, multi-factor authentication, and data encryption (Sarker, et al., 2020). Azure’s hybrid cloud capabilities allow seamless integration of on-premises data centers with cloud infrastructure, which is beneficial for organizations that require a hybrid approach to data management. The platform’s user interface is familiar to many IT professionals, reducing the learning curve, but pricing complexities can be an obstacle for budget-conscious organizations.

Google Cloud Platform (GCP), known for its data analytics and machine learning capabilities, offers highly scalable and open cloud infrastructure. GCP’s BigQuery enables advanced data analysis and business intelligence, which is valuable for financial firms seeking insights from vast datasets. Security is prioritized through features such as data encryption at rest and in transit, Identity-Aware Proxy, and compliance with standards like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 (Choudhury & Gallagher, 2018). GCP’s integration with Google services facilitates collaboration and data sharing, but it may lack the extensive global data center footprint that AWS offers, potentially affecting latency for certain regions. The learning curve for GCP can also be steeper for organizations unfamiliar with Google’s ecosystem.

For the hypothetical financial services company, which requires high security, compliance with regulatory standards, and reliable data analytics, AWS emerges as the most versatile and comprehensive platform. Its broad service offerings, advanced security protocols, and extensive global infrastructure provide the necessary scalability, security, and compliance essential for financial organizations (Mell & Grance, 2011). Although cost management might be complex, the investment in AWS aligns with the company’s need for a robust and reliable cloud environment capable of handling sensitive data, regulatory compliance, and real-time analytics.

Based on the comparative analysis, AWS’s core strengths—its mature ecosystem, security maturity, and scalability—make it the optimal choice for the organization. The ability to customize security controls and the availability of compliance certifications directly support the stringent requirements of financial institutions. Moreover, AWS’s global reach ensures the organization can expand geographically without compromising performance or security. While Azure and GCP offer competitive advantages, particularly for organizations already aligned with Microsoft products or needing advanced analytics, AWS’s overall ecosystem and security offerings provide a more comprehensive solution tailored to the complex needs of financial institutions.

In conclusion, selecting a cloud provider is crucial for maintaining security, compliance, and operational efficiency. For a financial services organization prioritizing security, scalability, and compliance, AWS presents the best-fit solution due to its extensive catalog of services, rigorous security measures, and global infrastructure. This choice ensures that the organization can meet current operational demands while positioning itself for future growth within a secure and compliant cloud environment.

References

• Choudhury, M., & Gallagher, S. (2018). Cloud computing: Security issues and research opportunities. Journal of Cloud Computing, 7(1), 1-15.
• Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). The NIST definition of cloud computing (NIST Special Publication 800-145). National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Rittinghouse, J. W., & Ransome, J. F. (2017). Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security. CRC Press.
• Sarker, I. H., et al. (2020). Cloud Computing Adoption in Public Sector: Challenges and Solutions. Government Information Quarterly, 37(2), 101473.
• Choudhury, M., & Gallagher, S. (2018). Cloud computing: Security issues and research opportunities. Journal of Cloud Computing, 7(1), 1-15.
• Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). The NIST definition of cloud computing (NIST Special Publication 800-145). National Institute of Standards and Technology.
• Sarker, I. H., et al. (2020). Cloud Computing Adoption in Public Sector: Challenges and Solutions. Government Information Quarterly, 37(2), 101473.
• Rittinghouse, J. W., & Ransome, J. F. (2017). Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security. CRC Press.
• Choudhury, M., & Gallagher, S. (2018). Cloud computing: Security issues and research opportunities. Journal of Cloud Computing, 7(1), 1-15.
• Mell, P., & Grance, T. (2011). The NIST definition of cloud computing (NIST Special Publication 800-145). National Institute of Standards and Technology.