Essay on Cloud Computing

Running Head: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR IT
Essay on Cloud Computing
Name of the Student
Name of the University

1PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR IT
Introduction
Cloud computing is one of the latest advancements in the field of information technology
and has massively influenced the existing computerized operations performed for various
purposes. In the regular computing systems, the data is processed using the processor and stored
in the physical hard drives. As a result, the costs of the hardwares and computer peripherals
become extremely high and furthermore, they require significant physical space. However, with
cloud computing, neither the physical space nor the peripherals are required; almost infinite
amount of data can be stored in the online virtual interface.
In this essay, the security issues associated with cloud computing and its feasibility of use
in business organizations have been analyzed.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a software based technology that provides virtual interface for
storage of data and information. Unlike physical storage devices, they do not have any storage
limitations (Beloglazov, Abawajy and Buyya 2012). The entire storage interface is completely
hosted online and can be accessed using an internet connection only regardless of hardware
configuration. Some common examples of cloud computing servers are Google cloud, iCloud
and others. The advantages of cloud computing over other information system options are as
follows.
Less Physical Space – In regular information systems, the data is stored in the physical
storage devices like hard disc, CDs, DVDs, pen drives and others. They require physical storage
space especially in the central servers of large scale organizations where huge amount of

2PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR IT
information is stored within a single hard drive. On the other hand, in cloud computing, there is
no physical storage space required and the stored data and information are hosted entirely in the
virtual online interface.
No Storage Limit – In regular storage drives, the storage space is limited. In the current
most upgraded storage drive, the maximum storage space can be 8 terabytes. In the smaller
storage drives, the storage space generally ranges from 2 GB to 64 GB in pen drives to 2 TB in
portable hard discs (Zissis and Lekkas 2012). On the other hand, cloud drives have no such space
limitation and literally infinite amount of data can be stored in the online interface.
Cost – The physical storage drives have high costs and the cost increases with the
increasing storage space provided. However, this is not a problem in the cloud computing as
there is only subscription fee for receiving the storage service from the cloud service provider.
Efficiency – Again in this respect, data management process is much more efficient in
the cloud computing than regular storage systems (Manvi and Shyam 2014). This is because, in
the regular storage systems, the data is to be entered and managed manually whereas in cloud
computing, the entire data management and storage process is automated and much more
accurate and efficient than the manually handled processes.
In spite of all these advantages, there are several risks and issues associated with cloud
computing. These risks are listed as follows.
Legal Issues – Some organizations and entities use cloud computing as a method for
hiding illegal pieces of information. Since, the entire data is stored and encrypted in the online
interface; there are no physical evidences of the existence of such data (Erl, Puttini and