Chapter 15 According To Crocker And Smallwood Cloud Computin ✓ Solved

Chapter 15 According To Crocker And Smallwood Cloud Computing Repres

Chapter 15 – According to Crocker and Smallwood, cloud computing represents one of the most significant paradigms shifts in information technology (IT) history, due to an extension of sharing an application-hosting provider that has been around for many years, and was common in highly regulated vertical industries like banks and health care institutions. The authors’ knowledge from their research continues to assert that the impetus behind cloud computing lies in the idea that it provides economies of scale by spreading costs across many client organizations and pooling computing resources while matching client computing needs to consumption in a flexible, real-time version.

Q1: Even with this great news about the benefits of cloud computing applications, the authors have warned the business user community regarding the dangers associated with cloud computing applications. Please identify and name these grave dangers/risks that pose as concerns, and briefly support your discussion.

The primary dangers and risks associated with cloud computing that Crocker and Smallwood highlight include data security and privacy concerns, loss of control over data, potential vendor lock-in, and service availability issues. Data security and privacy are paramount because sensitive organizational information stored in the cloud may be exposed to unauthorized access or breaches, especially if cloud service providers do not implement robust security measures. Loss of control over data arises when organizations depend on third-party providers for data management and security, reducing their ability to monitor or audit their information handling processes directly. Vendor lock-in presents a challenge as organizations may find it difficult, costly, or technically complex to switch providers once their data and operations are deeply integrated into a specific cloud environment. Furthermore, service outages or downtime from the cloud provider can disrupt business operations, leading to data unavailability and potential financial losses. These risks necessitate diligent risk assessment, clear contractual safeguards, and comprehensive understanding of cloud provider capabilities before moving critical operations to the cloud (Crocker & Smallwood, 2017).

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Cloud computing has revolutionized the way organizations deploy and manage information technology resources, offering a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective alternative to traditional IT infrastructures. As described by Crocker and Smallwood (2017), this paradigm shift has significant implications for various industries, especially those operating under stringent regulatory environments, such as banking and healthcare sectors. Despite its numerous benefits, including economies of scale and resource pooling, cloud computing introduces several critical risks that organizations must carefully evaluate before migration. This paper explores the primary dangers associated with cloud computing, emphasizing data security, loss of control, vendor lock-in, and service availability issues.

Data Security and Privacy Risks

One of the most pressing concerns with cloud computing is data security and privacy. Given that cloud providers store and manage organizational data on behalf of their clients, there is an inherent risk of data breaches, unauthorized access, and data loss. High-profile incidents such as the 2019 Capital One data breach highlight how vulnerabilities in cloud infrastructure can compromise sensitive information (Zhou & Pereira, 2020). Organizations handling personally identifiable information (PII), financial data, or health records must ensure robust encryption, access controls, and compliance with regulatory standards like HIPAA or GDPR. Failure to implement adequate security measures can lead to data exposure, significant legal penalties, and damage to reputation (Kuo et al., 2019).

Loss of Control over Data

Another critical risk is the loss of direct control over data management and security. When organizations outsource IT resources to cloud providers, they depend on external parties for data protection, which can create challenges in monitoring and auditing security practices. This dependence may reduce the organization's ability to enforce policies or respond swiftly to potential breaches. Furthermore, organizations may face difficulties in ensuring its data remains encrypted at rest and during transmission, and compliant with internal security standards (Ristenpart et al., 2018).

Vendor Lock-in and Data Portability Challenges

Vendor lock-in occurs when organizations become heavily dependent on a specific cloud provider's infrastructure, tools, and services, making migration to another provider costly and complex. Proprietary technologies and incompatible data formats can hinder seamless data transfer, leading to increased switching costs. Such dependency can compromise flexibility and bargaining power, potentially trapping organizations into unfavorable contractual terms (Carlin et al., 2017).

Service Outages and Downtime

Service availability is another concern. Cloud providers may experience outages due to technical failures, cyberattacks, or maintenance activities, causing interruption of critical business operations. The 2017 Amazon Web Services outage, for example, disrupted various online services globally, highlighting the risk of operational dependency on cloud infrastructure (Scully, 2018). Organizations must assess the provider's redundancy measures, SLAs, and disaster recovery plans to mitigate the impact of such disruptions.

Conclusion

While cloud computing offers considerable advantages, including cost savings, scalability, and flexibility, organizations must recognize and address associated risks. Data security, control, vendor lock-in, and service availability are crucial aspects requiring careful planning, contractual safeguards, and ongoing risk management. Understanding these dangers enables organizations to develop comprehensive strategies for secure and resilient cloud adoption, ensuring that the benefits outweigh potential adverse outcomes.

References

• Carlin, B., et al. (2017). Cloud Computing Risks and Remedies. Journal of Cloud Computing, 6(1), 14.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-017-0097-0
• Crocker, S., & Smallwood, R. (2017). Cloud Computing and Information Security. In The Future of Cloud Computing (pp. 85-104). Springer, Cham.
• Kuo, B., et al. (2019). Cloud Security Challenges and Solutions. IEEE Cloud Computing, 6(3), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.1109/MCC.2019.2911927
• Ristenpart, T., et al. (2018). Hey, You, Get Off of My Cloud: Exploring Data Privacy Risks on Cloud Storage. In Proceedings of the 16th ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (pp. 193-204). ACM.
• Scully, E. (2018). Cloud Outages and Their Impact on Business Continuity. Journal of Digital Infrastructure, 12(4), 233-245.
• Zhou, Y., & Pereira, L. (2020). Analyzing Data Breaches in Cloud Computing. Cybersecurity Journal, 4(2), 114-127.