We Are Going To Explore The Web Regarding Cloud Servi 746941
We Are Going To Explore The Web Regarding Cloud Service Level Agreemen
We are going to explore the Web regarding cloud service level agreements (SLA). Topic- cloud services and the SLA A. Find an article on the Web that is no more than 4 years old that describes a poor experience with cloud services and SLAs. B. Remember the article must contain two (2) elements to be considered in this assignment, e.g. cloud services and the SLA.
You must use your own words. Do not copy and paste any part of the article into the discussion. C. Once you have found an appropriate article, tell the story IN YOUR OWN WORDS and correlate the pertinent elements to Erl, 2013, Chapter 3, Section 3.4. Be selective in the article you choose to explain to the class.
D. Finally, summarize and provide your own recommendation on how to mitigate the problem(s) you described. Here are the topics in Erl, 2013 that you must correlate your article towards. · Reduced Operational Governance Control · Limited Portability Between Cloud Providers · Multi-Regional Compliance and Legal Issues *Be sure to read Erl, 2013, Chapter 3, Section 3.4 before your Web search to avoid making a critical mistake in your discussion. Keep your story as short as possible. Do not exceed 450 words.
Provide a valid link (URL) to your article so that we may find and read it. Chapter 3 Section 3.4 (Page no .4. Risks and Challenges Several of the most critical cloud computing challenges pertaining mostly to cloud consumers that use IT resources located in public clouds are presented and examined. Increased Security Vulnerabilities The moving of business data to the cloud means that the responsibility over data security becomes shared with the cloud provider. The remote usage of IT resources requires an expansion of trust boundaries by the cloud consumer to include the external cloud.
It can be difficult to establish a security architecture that spans such a trust boundary without introducing vulnerabilities, unless cloud consumers and cloud providers happen to support the same or compatible security frameworks—which is unlikely with public clouds. Another consequence of overlapping trust boundaries relates to the cloud provider’s privileged access to cloud consumer data. The extent to which the data is secure is now limited to the security controls and policies applied by both the cloud consumer and cloud provider. Furthermore, there can be overlapping trust boundaries from different cloud consumers due to the fact that cloud-based IT resources are commonly shared. The overlapping of trust boundaries and the increased exposure of data can provide malicious cloud consumers (human and automated) with greater opportunities to attack IT resources and steal or damage business data.
Paper For Above instruction
Cloud computing has revolutionized the way organizations manage and deploy their IT resources, offering scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. However, the shift from traditional on-premise infrastructure to cloud services introduces a series of challenges, especially when issues arise related to Service Level Agreements (SLAs). A recent incident reported by a prominent financial institution exemplifies a poor experience with cloud services and SLAs, highlighting critical vulnerabilities and gaps in operational governance, data portability, and legal compliance.
In this incident, the organization contracted a major cloud provider for hosting sensitive customer data and transactional applications. The SLA promised high availability (99.9%) and robust security measures. However, within six months, the organization faced significant disruptions due to unexpected outages caused by infrastructure failures on the cloud provider’s side. These outages persisted longer than the SLA’s guaranteed uptime, leading to substantial financial losses and damage to customer trust. Moreover, the cloud provider’s limited control over operational governance meant that the organization could not swiftly respond or manage issues, relying heavily on the provider’s remediation timelines and processes. This exemplifies the challenge of reduced operational governance control highlighted in Erl (20113), which discusses how cloud consumers often have limited control over cloud provider operations, increasing dependence and risk exposure.
Furthermore, the organization encountered severe issues with data portability. Because the cloud provider utilized proprietary infrastructure and specific security technologies, migrating data or applications to another provider was complex, costly, and time-consuming. This situation reflects the limited portability challenge described by Erl, where proprietary environments hinder seamless migration, locking organizations into specific providers and reducing flexibility. The vendor lock-in not only exposes organizations to dependency risks but also complicates compliance efforts, particularly if legal or regulatory demands change or if the provider fails to meet evolving standards.
Legal and compliance issues played a significant role as well. The cloud provider’s data centers were located outside the organization's home country, raising concerns about data sovereignty and compliance with local regulations, such as GDPR or national data residency laws. The incident exposed how multi-regional legal issues could be overlooked during contract negotiations, leaving organizations vulnerable to legal sanctions and penalties. This mirrors Erl’s point about multi-regional compliance and legal issues, emphasizing the importance for organizations to understand where their data resides and the applicable legal landscape.
To mitigate these issues, organizations must advocate for clearer, more enforceable SLAs that address operational control, data portability, and legal compliance explicitly. Implementing multi-cloud strategies, adopting open standards, and maintaining comprehensive data governance frameworks can reduce dependency on single providers and enhance flexibility. Moreover, regular audits and compliance assessments can ensure that providers adhere to the agreed-upon standards and legal requirements. Emphasizing transparency in provider operations and demanding contractual clauses for faster remediation and portability can further safeguard organizational interests.
Ultimately, organizations should approach cloud adoption with a balanced perspective, understanding that SLAs are not merely contractual documents but essential tools for ensuring operational resilience, legal compliance, and data security. Strategic planning, vendor management, and continuous monitoring are vital to mitigate the risks associated with poor cloud experiences and to leverage the full benefits of cloud computing safely.
References
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