Business Case: Sky Airport Second Improvement Project

Business Casebule Sky Airport Second Improvement Of The Project Mig

Business case: Bule Sky Airport (second improvement of the project) Migrating to the Cloud: You were tasked to improve the performance of the Bule Sky Airport IT system. There are three databases: The passenger database will record and authenticate each passenger in the airport. The employee database will record and authenticate each employee in the airport. The flight database will record each flight in the airport. After having meetings with the airport owners and managers, the following IT-related system comments will be moved to the cloud. Database and Database management systems are on premises for all three (Passenger, Employee, and Flights). Therefore, current data related to Passengers and data related to Flights will be on premises.

Cloud storage will be used for long-term data storage. Week-old Passenger data will be stored on the cloud and Week-old Flight data will also be stored on the cloud as well. The airport IT system will not keep old Passenger and Flight data on the premises. Data related to Employees will be kept on the premises always. The Airport company’s specific privacy requirements, security certifications ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and FedRAMP, should be met by the cloud service provider(s). The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) should also be met by the cloud service provider(s).

Paper For Above instruction

The migration of Bule Sky Airport's IT system to cloud services aims to enhance operational efficiency, data management, and security compliance while managing costs effectively. This paper discusses the system requirements necessary for selecting a suitable cloud service provider (CSP), strategies to safeguard data prior to migration considering privacy constraints, and an analysis of the current budget factors juxtaposed with the long-term financial implications of cloud adoption.

System Requirements for Cloud Service Providers

Selecting an appropriate CSP necessitates a comprehensive understanding of technical, security, and compliance requirements aligned with the airport’s operational needs. Firstly, the CSP must offer robust data security standards compatible with ISO 27001, NIST CSF, FedRAMP, and PCI DSS certifications to ensure all sensitive passenger, employee, and flight data are adequately protected. This includes encryption at rest and in transit, secure access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments (Kisa et al., 2018).

Scalability and flexibility are key system requirements for accommodating future growth in passenger and flight data volumes. The CSP should provide elastic storage and computing resources that can scale seamlessly according to demand, ensuring cost efficiency and consistent system performance (Armbrust et al., 2010).

High availability and disaster recovery capabilities are essential to minimize downtime and data loss, aligning with the airport's operational necessity for continuous service. The provider should guarantee Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with specified uptime percentages and support geographic redundancy to ensure resilience (Leavitt, 2010).

Data management tools facilitating seamless migration, regular backups, and auditability are also critical. The CSP should support hybrid cloud architectures that integrate with on-premises systems, facilitating phased data transfer and compliance with privacy regulations (Rittinghouse & Ransome, 2017).

Lastly, technical support and compliance verification processes should be robust, providing 24/7 assistance and audit reports for compliance verification effectively. Compatibility with existing database management systems and integration capabilities with authentication protocols are critical for a smooth transition (Marinescu, 2017).

Data Protection Strategies Before Cloud Migration

Prior to migration, it is imperative to implement comprehensive data protection strategies tailored to the airport’s specific privacy and security requirements. Data classification and risk assessment should be conducted to identify sensitive datasets, particularly passenger identification details, flight schedules, and employee records (Kumar et al., 2016).

Encryption plays a pivotal role; data should be encrypted both at rest and in transit using industry-standard protocols such as AES-256 and TLS 1.2/1.3. Prior to migration, sensitive data should be de-identified or pseudonymized where possible, reducing the risk profile should data be compromised during transfer (Subashini & Kavitha, 2011).

Implementing strong access controls is critical; multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access management, and strict identity management policies must be enforced to restrict unauthorized data access. Establishing secure connectivity pathways—such as Virtual Private Networks (VPN) or dedicated links—helps safeguard data during transfer (Zhou et al., 2018).

Furthermore, performing data integrity checks and audit logs before migration ensures data consistency and accountability. Regular vulnerability scans and penetration testing should be scheduled to identify potential security weaknesses. It’s also advisable to backup all relevant data locally and to a trusted, secure environment, ensuring available restoration points in case of migration failure or data loss (Raghavan & Chandramouli, 2019).

Budget Factors and Long-term Cost Impacts of Cloud Migration

The current data center expenses at Bule Sky Airport primarily include hardware acquisition and maintenance, software licensing, power consumption, cooling costs, personnel wages for on-site IT staff, and physical security. These costs constitute a significant part of the airport’s operational budget and are often fixed or predictable over medium periods (Garrison & Noreen, 2018).

Transitioning to cloud computing alters these budget factors. Initially, migration involves capital expenditure on planning, data transfer, new infrastructure configuration, and possible training for staff. However, cloud adoption shifts expenses towards operational costs—pay-as-you-go models, subscription fees, and variable costs based on actual usage (Marston et al., 2011).

In the long term, cloud migration can lead to cost savings by reducing physical hardware investments, lowering energy costs, and minimizing the need for on-premises maintenance and staffing. It enables more efficient resource utilization, with scalable storage and computing resources reflecting actual demand, leading to better budget predictability and agility (Barham et al., 2012).

However, there are potential risks; excessive or unmonitored cloud resource consumption can result in unexpectedly high costs. Therefore, implementing effective cloud cost management practices is vital. Additionally, ongoing licensing and compliance monitoring services incur recurring expenses that should be factored into the long-term budget (Liu, 2014).

Conclusion

Migrating Bule Sky Airport’s IT infrastructure to cloud services presents substantial benefits aligned with operational efficiency, scalability, and enhanced security. The CSP selected must meet stringent security certifications and support hybrid architectures, essential for compliance with privacy standards and industry regulations. Proper data protection measures prior to migration—such as encryption, access controls, and rigorous risk assessments—are crucial to safeguarding sensitive information. While initial migration costs may be significant, long-term savings emerge through reduced infrastructure expenses and improved resource management. Careful planning, selecting a competent CSP, and adhering to best practices in data security and financial management are key to a successful transition that optimally supports the airport’s strategic objectives and regulatory commitments.

References

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