Cloud Based Organizations: A Discussion on Apple iCloud, Amazon Web Services, Google Docs, Windows Azure, and Salesforce.com

This report discusses the benefits of a secure cloud environment for organizations and evaluates different cloud-based organizations such as Apple iCloud, Amazon Web Services, Google Docs, Windows Azure, and Salesforce.com. The report recommends Amazon Web Services for the phase of transition due to its low cost and secure services.

Running head: CLOUD BASED ORGANIZATIONS
Cloud Based Organizations
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s note

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Discussion..............................................................................................................................2
2.1 Apple iCloud....................................................................................................................2
2.2 Amazon Web Services (AWS).........................................................................................3
2.3 Google Docs.....................................................................................................................4
2.4 Windows Azure................................................................................................................5
2.5 Salesforce.com.................................................................................................................6
3. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................7
4. References..............................................................................................................................9

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1. Introduction
The model of cloud computing environment provides a much flexible approach for
organizations. The cloud environment helps in providing security, savings of cost and flexible
methods of work within the organization. The report discusses on the transitioning of
Exchange to an application of cloud-based corporate work sector. In the recent times, there
are several cloud-based organizations, which are able to provide services to the organization
based on their needs of transitioning to the platform (Xiao, Song & Chen, 2013). The cloud
provides several form of secure services. Hence, the shift of important data to the cloud
platform would be helpful in supporting the services of the organization.
2. Discussion
Based on the decision of the organization for shifting to the cloud based platform,
there are some of the aspects, which should be taken into consideration. Some of the cloud
based organizations, which needs to be evaluated are:
2.1 Apple iCloud
The Primary Cloud Function of Apple iCloud
The primary function of iCloud is to store the important documents, files, photos,
videos, music and applications and thus keeping them updated across every devices. iCloud
would also allow the permissibility to locate a lost device.
The advantages of iCloud over other similar organizations is that the organization
provides unlimited capability of storage across all devices. The service is also extremely
handy and can be easily synced. They also provide high level of encryption for the safety of
users (Oestreicher, 2014).
The Cloud Computing Service Model

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The iCloud make use of the SaaS based cloud application.
The Deployment Model
The Apple iCloud employs the SaaS method of deployment. The iOS users are able to
activate their devices and configure their basic settings. iCloud represents a software based
product as these services are primarily delivered over the internet and empowers users for a
wide range of services.
Cloud Security
iCloud secures the information with the help of encryption during the transit of data.
The data stored within iCloud is encrypted with the use of secure form of tokens based on
authentication. iCloud also uses end-to-end encryption for sensitive information (Fernando,
Loke & Rahayu, 2013).
2.2 Amazon Web Services (AWS)
The Primary Cloud Function of AWS
The AWS offers a wide set of storage, global compute, analytics, database,
application and deployment services that would help the organization in providing lower
costs of IT, faster operations and scale operations.
The advantages of AWS is that it helps in enabling of companies for storage, shared
computing and other access to resources in a fast process and thus operating their personal IT
infrastructure (Tärneberg, Chandrasekaran & Humphrey, 2016).
The Cloud Computing Service Model
The AWS uses Elastic Compute Service or EC2, which is based on IaaS
(Infrastructure as a Service) (Varia & Mathew, 2014).

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The Deployment Model
Amazon AWS provides the public cloud deployment model. This cloud model depicts
the cloud infrastructure, which would be located and could be accessed within the public
network. The public cloud model provides an expedient way to scale the project depending
on the usage of services (Lakshminarayanan, Kumar & Raju, 2013).
Cloud Security
The AWS provides several form of security services and capabilities in order to
improvise control and privacy within network access. These services includes network
firewalls that are inbuilt within Amazon VPC and different web application firewall (Sultan,
2014).
2.3 Google Docs
The Primary Cloud Function of Google Docs
The cloud functions of Google Docs includes an environment based on server less
execution for the purpose of building and thus connecting with the services offered by cloud.
The functions of Google Docs includes importing, creation, editing and updating of
spreadsheets and documents.
The advantages of Google Docs is that they provide fast accessibility, control of
version, flexibility, ease of corporate communication, high ROI and lower costs.
The Cloud Computing Service Model
Google Docs uses the SaaS model as a suite of productivity, which offers free access
over the various applications (Tan & Kim, 2015).
The Deployment Model

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The Google Docs employs the public cloud deployment model. The model helps in
creating configuration files and flexible templates.
Cloud Security
The data stored within Google Docs are stored within secure data centres. The data
stored within Google is encrypted during the transfer of files on to the cloud platform. Google
also provides two-step verification within their accounts, which enables an additional layer of
protection.
2.4 Windows Azure
The Primary Cloud Function of Windows Azure
The functions of Azure is that they offer service based on server less computing that
would be hosted on to the public cloud of Microsoft Azure. These are designed for
accelerating and thus simplifying the development of applications.
The prime advantages of Azure is that they provide different forms of internal and
customer applications, flexible computing power and storage facilities within the cloud
(Katyal & Mishra, 2014).
The Cloud Computing Service Model
Windows Azure provides the IaaS, SaaS and PaaS models of cloud computing.
The Deployment Model
Windows Azure offers two forms of deployment models that includes the Azure
Resource Manager and “classic” deployment model. The Azure Resource Manager would
enable the users for creating groups based on relatable services such that coupled resources
could be deployed, monitored and managed together. On the other hand, within the classic

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deployment model, each of the resources would be manageable individually (Gandhi &
Kumbharana, 2014).
Cloud Security
The Microsoft Azure Security Center is responsible for granting permissions to
different cloud administrators. The security aspects also include major providers of security
such as Cisco, Check Point and F5 Networks. The main approach would be based on policy
management, detection of threats and security monitoring.
2.5 Salesforce.com
The Primary Cloud Function of Salesforce.com
The functions of Salesforce is to manage the various activities and processes of sales.
They also include administration within marketing services, automation, customer support
and service and enterprise social networking.
The advantages of the cloud operations within Salesforce.com is that they enhance the
improvement of information processing within organization, enhance methods of
communication, improvement of customer services, security of cloud servers and greater
efficiency within the cloud services.
The Cloud Computing Service Model
Salesforce.com makes use of SaaS cloud computing service model as well as the PaaS
model.
The Deployment Model
Salesforce.com employs the Amazon Web Services as their preferred mode of public
cloud infrastructure within their cloud environment. With the help of this deployment model,
the service provider companies would be able to offer several resources that would be needed

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to be managed and thus administer pool resources. The companies are able to offer resources
as a form of service at free of charges or as a pay per use basis with the help of internet
connection. They would be able to deliver their core services that would include App Cloud,
Analytics Cloud, Community Cloud and Sales Cloud (Salesforce Selects Amazon Web
Services as Preferred Public Cloud Infrastructure Provider, 2018).
Cloud Security
The Salesforce.com makes use of high level of security for the purpose of protecting
applications and data. They make use of the best authentication scenarios in order to prevent
unauthorized users for accessing to the data located within the cloud environment. They also
implement Shield Platform Encryption in order to add a new layer of security during the
preservation of functionality based on critical platforms. The cloud environment also makes
use of such algorithms that would be able to understand and thus guard the systems against
vulnerabilities within the code during the development of custom applications (Almorsy,
Grundy & Müller, 2016).
3. Conclusion
Based on the discussion, it could be concluded that the use of a secure cloud
environment is very much beneficial for different organizations. The report discusses on the
fact that an organization would be shifting their services on to the cloud platform for better
implementation of services. The report discusses on the various aspects of different
organizations who make use of cloud environment. Based on the several aspects of different
organizations, it could be recommended that the concerned company should choose the
Amazon Web Services for the phase of transition. The AWS platform supports low cost and
secure services. The AWS cloud would also be able to deliver better outcomes for the
organization by accessing various servers within a short time-span. The AWS has 15 years of

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experience within the delivering of global infrastructure at an extremely large scale. Hence,
the organization would be benefitted from the capabilities of infrastructure management and
the necessary skills, which would continue to improve based on the innovations within the
sector.

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4. References
Almorsy, M., Grundy, J., & Müller, I. (2016). An analysis of the cloud computing security
problem. arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.01107.
Fernando, N., Loke, S. W., & Rahayu, W. (2013). Mobile cloud computing: A
survey. Future generation computer systems, 29(1), 84-106.
Gandhi, V. A., & Kumbharana, C. (2014). Comparative study of Amazon EC2 and Microsoft
Azure cloud architecture. International Journal of Advanced Networking &
Applications, 117-123.
Katyal, M., & Mishra, A. (2014). A comparative study of load balancing algorithms in cloud
computing environment. arXiv preprint arXiv:1403.6918.
Lakshminarayanan, R., Kumar, B., & Raju, M. (2013). Cloud computing benefits for
educational institutions. arXiv preprint arXiv:1305.2616.
Oestreicher, K. (2014). A forensically robust method for acquisition of iCloud data. Digital
Investigation, 11, S106-S113.
Salesforce Selects Amazon Web Services as Preferred Public Cloud Infrastructure Provider.
(2018). Retrieved from https://www.salesforce.com/blog/2016/05/salesforce-aws-
public-cloud-infrastructure.html
Sultan, N. (2014). Making use of cloud computing for healthcare provision: Opportunities
and challenges. International Journal of Information Management, 34(2), 177-184.
Tan, X., & Kim, Y. (2015). User acceptance of SaaS-based collaboration tools: a case of
Google Docs. Journal of Enterprise Information Management, 28(3), 423-442.

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Tärneberg, W., Chandrasekaran, V., & Humphrey, M. (2016, December). Experiences
creating a framework for smart traffic control using AWS IOT. In Proceedings of the
9th International Conference on Utility and Cloud Computing (pp. 63-69). ACM.
Varia, J., & Mathew, S. (2014). Overview of amazon web services. Amazon Web Services.
Xiao, Z., Song, W., & Chen, Q. (2013). Dynamic resource allocation using virtual machines
for cloud computing environment. IEEE Trans. Parallel Distrib. Syst., 24(6), 1107-
1117.