Big Data And Cloud Computing Research Assignment - 1925 Words

Big Data And Cloud Computing Research Assignment (Research Paper Sample) Content: BIG DATA AND CLOUD COMPUTINGBy (Name)The Name of the Class (Course)Professor (Tutor)The Name of the School (University)The City and State where it is locatedThe DateAbstractRecent advances in the field of virtualization have seen cloud computing become a key platform for sharing IT resources across all fields of organizations. In todays world, IT infrastructure, applications and Softwares are rapidly been migrated to virtual systems due to the efficiencies these platforms provide. Furthermore, this migration is seen in all aspects of life, from public institutions to private organizations most of which are profit based businesses. However, while migrating services to the cloud may prove beneficial to operations, their size and complexities do hold several serious challenges most of which may affect the overall objectives of cloud based solutions. In light of this outcome, this paper analysis cloud computing as an environment of storing big data for organizations. Thro ugh the analysis, the paper highlights the opportunities, challenges and the risks involved.Keywords: Cloud computing, Cloud computing models, cloud migration process, Cloud service provider (CSP)Table of ContentContentPageIntroduction .. 4Opportunities, challenges and risks of cloud migration 5Opportunities 5Challenges 7Risks . 9Recommendations 10Conclusion 11References 13IntroductionAccording to IT experts, cloud computing presents a new paradigm of conducting technological operations. Furthermore, based on the existing cloud solutions, the concept itself is not a new technology but a different computing structure/model that delivers resources using online systems i.e. the internet (Bhopale 2013). In addition to this definition, cloud computing utilises the concept of outsourcing resources where an organizations needs are provided by another. Now, most organizations irrespective of their field or category seek cloud solutions b ecause of the data problem they face i.e. big data. Big data, on the other hand, is a consequence of the availability of information seen today as caused by the digital environment. Therefore, to handle the data produced by clients, employees and the world at large, organization lease resources such as storage, applications and Softwares (Sabiri Benabbou 2015).To understand the opportunities, challenges and risks associated with the technology, its important to understand its operational structure. Cloud computing can be categorised into three major groups based on the services it offers; infrastructure as a service (IaaS), software as a service (SaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). Now, IaaS offers computational resources such as storage and networking equipment as a service. SaaS, on the other hand, will offer software or application resources as services e.g. email facilities through browsers. Finally, PaaS will provide software developing platforms. The diagram below highlig hts these functions and their relation (Sahandi, Alkhalili Opara-Martins 2013). At the top, are the subscriber who leases the resources and below them the CSP who offer service based on the highlighted layers. The logical structure given represent the exact layout of the functionalities and how they relate to one another.Fig: Cloud computing modelOpportunities, challenges and risk of cloud migrationA migration to cloud based resources will involve the models highlighted above, moreover, it will involve either entirely on a service provider or a combination of a service provider and the organization itself. This outcome yields the public, private and hybrid cloud systems.OpportunitiesAccording to studies conducted on SMEs (Small to Medium sized businesses), organizations are will engage in cloud computing due to the conveniences they offer, such as cost efficiencies, flexibility and scalability of IT resource (Sahandi, Alkhalili Opara-Martins 2013). However, other benefits beyond t hese main conveniences exist as highlighted below:a. Technical opportunitiesBig data storage, management and transmission due to the velocity, volume and variety of data today, traditional storage facilities such as hard disks are inappropriate as they easily fail. However, cloud computing facilities offer unlimited storage that is based on the needs of the user (Yang, Huang, Li Hu 2016). Furthermore, since most big data systems are based on different paradigms it is easier to lease the facilitating technology e.g. Hadoop and NoSQL among others. Moreover, its easier to handle the challenges of metadata as they are a regular occurrence with large volumes of information. Finally, the transmission is readily available based on the IP (Internet Protocol) systems of the internet.b. Business opportunitiesCost saving is the first and most obvious benefits owing to monetary resources that are saved as a result of leasing IT resources when they are needed. In most cases, resources su ch as storage will go unused while being paid for, which increases expenses for no good reason. However, with cloud computing, an organization will lease a server and tools such as Hadoop and NoSQL when needed. Furthermore, the cost is based on a pay-as-per-use model which means an organization can release a resource when its not needed (Wlodarz 2013). Consider the figure below highlighting this difference over a span of 8 years.Fig: Cloud vs on-promise annual cost (Source Azure projections, Wlodarz 2013)Secondly, consider the flexibility and scalability introduced when leased resources are used. An organization can acquire storage and other IT resources when needed, moreover, it can either increase or decrease its requirement at minimal costs. Furthermore, the same resources can be accessed from any location or anytime so long as the users have an internet connection. This outcome enhances the mobile deployment of services which increase the delivery time. Finally, its easier to ba ckup resources as the service provider will have several host centres of an organization resources. Therefore, in the case of disasters, the data (including business analytics and projections) will be conserved with ease (Kelkar 2015).29717993428990024574500Efficiency020000Efficiency458978040957500center-247650001162049271780003476625290830457200058420Accessibility020000Accessibility342900220345Savings020000Savings314325508000229552523368000229552510160Cloud computing020000Cloud computing1104899571500285750181916003286125571500303530434340004705350159385Opportunities020000Opportunities2476500349885Scalability020000Scalability323850178435Flexibility020000Flexibility46659801079500center20129500Fig: Summary of the opportunitiesChallenges of cloud computingAlthough cloud computing is highlighted as a technological transformation and not a new technology, it does present new operating principles which introduces several challenges to the users, more so during its deployment. The challeng es are mostly technically inclined which may affect the overall goals of cloud based solutions.a. Hosting servicesTo start with, the service provider will offer subscribers the facilities they require from storage to software packages. However, very few subscribers will assess or even explore the back end resources used by the service providers (CSP). Some of these back-end resources will lack the necessary requirements needed to protect the data of the users. In this case, the challenge is not the consequences of the back-end resources but the inability of the subscriber to evaluate the resources he/she leases (Paul Ghose 2012). Furthermore, in most circumstances, the subscriber will have minimal access to the said resources and in fact, will lack an accurate record of where their information is stored. In addition to this, consider the cases where CSP outsources other services to subsequent CSP. For instance, the analytic servers of NoSQL server are outsourced while the primar y provider host the data. In such an event SLAs are useless and the client cannot guarantee his data i.e. big datab. Technical hitchesIn the event of a new technology or even a conventional technology, the supporting structures are always subject to failure. Therefore, the CSP may develop a glitch in his structures, be it the server or the network which disconnects the subscribing organization from accessing its leased resources. Moreover, the internet connection used by the su...