Digital transformation in higher education.

DISSERTATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1
Title..............................................................................................................................................1
Background..................................................................................................................................1
Aim..............................................................................................................................................1
Objectives....................................................................................................................................1
Research Questions......................................................................................................................2
Work done and Results................................................................................................................2
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................3
Structure of the Report.................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW..........................................................................................3
Overview......................................................................................................................................3
Theme 1 Importance of Cloud Computing and different kinds of cloud computing services....4
Theme 2 Overview of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering................................................5
Theme 3 Importance of DaaS in High education........................................................................6
Theme 4 Challenges and vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering and
their impact on organizations.......................................................................................................7
Theme 5 Ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be reduced...............................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..............................................................................9
Overview......................................................................................................................................9
Research type...............................................................................................................................9
Research design.........................................................................................................................10
Research approach.....................................................................................................................11
Research philosophy..................................................................................................................11
Data collection...........................................................................................................................12
Literature search strategy...........................................................................................................12
Inclusion and exclusion criteria.................................................................................................12
Ethical considerations................................................................................................................13
Research limitations...................................................................................................................13

Reliability and validity..............................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 4 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS................................................................................14
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................17
PROPOSAL...................................................................................................................................17
INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................................17
Background................................................................................................................................17
Aim............................................................................................................................................18
Objectives..................................................................................................................................18
Research questions.....................................................................................................................18
LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................................19
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................22
PROJECT PLAN (GANTT CHART)...........................................................................................24

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
Title
Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering
Background
Emerging technologies have brought various kinds of changes within education system.
This technology advancement has helped in bringing transformation within education system
digitally. This digital transformation has brought various kinds of changes of universities/
colleges and for students as well in many different ways (Bond and et. al., 2018). Digital
transformation has introduced various kinds of new technologies and services that can be used by
colleges and students and changed ways in which students and exams were conducted. Cloud
computing is a part of digital transformation that has occurred in higher education. It has worked
as a revolution for higher education. There are various kinds of cloud- based services that are
being frequently used by students because of which today education and learning not limited to
textbooks and notebooks only. One of the most important cloud- based service which is used in
higher education is DaaS Data as a Service (Rof, Bikfalvi and Marquès, 2020). This Data as a
Service is not only used in education industry but it is used by various organizations operating in
different sector. This service has made it much easier for universities and students to store and
share information/ data and knowledge with others easily. But there are various kinds of
vulnerabilities that are associated Data as a Service Cloud offering. This dissertation will be
focusing upon identifying main vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service.
Aim
This dissertation has majorly focused upon a specific cloud offering which is Data as a
service (DaaS). Main aim that has been focused upon in this dissertation is “To analyse
vulnerabilities associated with Cloud offering of Data as a Service (DaaS)”.
Objectives
Major research objectives that have been focused upon in this dissertation are:
 To analyse importance of cloud computing
 To analyse different kinds of cloud computing services
 To evaluate ways in which Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering is used.
 To analyse importance of DaaS in High education
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 To evaluate vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering and their impact
on organizations.
 To identify ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be reduced.
 To recommend appropriate ways though which usage of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be increased and vulnerabilities associated with it can be reduced.
 To identify gaps in this research and suggest future results.
Research Questions
Major research questions that this dissertation has answered are as follows:
 Why cloud computing is important?
 What are different kinds of cloud computing services?
 How Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering is used?
 Why DaaS is important in High education?
 What are different kinds of vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering
and their impact on organizations?
 What are different ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS)
Cloud offering can be reduced?
 Recommend appropriate ways though which usage of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be increased and vulnerabilities associated with it can be reduced.
 What are main gaps in this research and suggest future results.
Work done and Results
In this research secondary data analysis has been done for successfully achieving main
aim and objectives. In this dissertation importance of digital transformation in higher education
has been discussed. Ways in which new and advance digital technology in higher education is
being used and transforming higher education has also been discussed briefly. Then, in this
dissertation a brief overview of importance of cloud computing and different kinds of services
offered by cloud services providers has been discussed. All the secondary data has been collected
from different sources though articles, journals, books, online portals and many more and using
appropriate literature search strategy data was collected. In order to identify vulnerabilities
associated with Cloud offering of Data as a Service using exploratory research design method
required data has been collected and analysed using thematic data analysis method. Results of
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this dissertation has further been used to identify and recommend ways in which vulnerabilities
associated with Cloud offering of Data as a Service can be reduced and can be effectively used in
higher education.
Conclusion
From chapter 4- discussion and findings it has bene identified that there are various kinds of
security issues or vulnerabilities that are associated with Cloud offering of Data as a Service in
higher education. Discussion clearly explains that it is important for organizations to focus upon
identifying and implementing ways though which these restrictions can be reduced so that it can
be used in an appropriate manner.
Structure of the Report
This Dissertation consist of five main chapters.
Chapter 1: Introduction- In this chapter main aim and objectives required to be achieved will be
discussed and a brief background and overview of research topic will also be provided.
Chapter 2: Literature Review- In this chapter various sources of secondary data have been
reviewed in order to develop a base for the research and collect required information to be
analysed in order to answer main research questions.
Chapter 3: Research Methodology- This chapter helps in identifying main research methods that
are used in this dissertation with reason because of which those methods have been used.
Chapter 4: Discussion of Findings- In this chapter analysis of secondary data collected is done
though thematic data analysis method.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendations- This chapter concludes final results of dissertation
that have been identified and then on the basis of those results final recommendations to
overcome those vulnerabilities have been identified.
CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Overview
This literature review will focus upon reviewing all the secondary data collected from
different sources in an appropriate manner. This literature review will help in understanding
main research topic in a proper and accurate manner and will further help in gaining
understanding of cloud computing, its services in a proper manner. It will help in understanding
what is Data as a Service, ways in which it is used and different challenges and vulnerabilities
associated with this service in a proper and effective manner.
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Theme 1 Importance of Cloud Computing and different kinds of cloud computing services
According to the view of Abdel-Basset, Mohamed and Chang, (2018) Cloud computing
is one of the most commonly used advance digital technology which is being used by
organizations today. It helps in facilitating easy access to data and application any time for users
regardless of their location through internet connectivity. It provides different kinds of scalable
computing resources to organizations at an appropriate cost which makes it much easier for users
to store or access unlimited data or work on applications any time as per their need and
requirement. Today cloud computing has become extremely important for different kinds of
business organizations due to its increasing usage and benefits that it provides to its issuers.
Cloud computing technology has made it much easier for organizations to achieve their main
business objectives in an appropriate manner.
As per the view of He and et. al., (2016) Cloud computing is important in education
industry as well especially for higher education. It has made it much easier for institutes that
provide higher education to students to provide or offer educational services by using different
kinds of cloud services to students easily. They can easily make education resources or study
materials easily available to students regardless of student’s location. These resources and
materials can be accessed by students any time of the day. Now educational institutes can easily
manage large amount of data with high security in lower or reduced cost. In current pandemic
situation of Coronavirus cloud computing services for high education institutes have plays a vital
role. Due to these cloud computing services, institutes were easily able to provide required study
material to students, they were able to conduct exams online and save required data on cloud
with high security. Students were not only able to access required study materials but were able
to give their assignments and exams online regardless of their location and time.
In addition to this, Jiang, Ma and Wei, (2016) explains that, there are various kinds of
cloud computing services that are provided by cloud service provers that can be used by higher
education universities or institutes. Some of the main type of services offered by cloud providers
are: infrastructure as a service of IaaS is one of the main clouds offering that offers fundamental
infrastructure of virtual network, servers, data storage drivers and operating systems. This
service helps in fulfilling need of hardware’s in a cost- effective manner. This service focuses
upon pay for services that be used only. Another cloud offering service is platform as a service or
PaaS. This service offers a platform to organizations that can be used by them to deploy, develop
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and run their own applications. It helps in providing an environment where more than one
developer can work simultaneously on a same project. Third type of service offered by cloud
providers is Software as a service or SaaS. This service helps in providing deployment of
software over internet to different kinds of businesses as per their usage in a cost- effective
manner. This service runs on pay as per usage model in which business or users pay for
subscription as per their usage. Gohari Moghadam and Åhlgren, (2020) further elaborates that,
Other than this there are many new and advance services that have been developed ad are offered
to business organizations as per their usage to users. One of those advance cloud offering service
is Data as a Service or DaaS. DaaS is enabled by Software as a service. It is majorly used for
data integration, storage and management. Most of the organizations uses this service for
bringing improvement within agility of data workload, reduce time to insight, enhance integrity
of data as well as enhance reliability of data.
Theme 2 Overview of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering
Søilen, (2016) explains that, DaaS is a data management strategy that can be used by
users of cloud computing for delivering data storage, integration, processing as well as analytical
services. it is enabled by Software as a Service or it can also be said that it is similar to software
as a service. This service has been introduced recently. This service helps in outsourcing
maximum data storage, processing and integration operations to cloud. While SaaS, PaaS, IaaS
services had been introduced a decade ago but DaaS service has recently come into use. This
service has been introduced recently because initially cloud services were not designed to handle
massive workload. Processing of wide or large number of datasets though network was
extremely difficult previously. Due to this limitation, and limited offered bandwidth, this new
DaaS or Data as a service cloud offering was introduced.
As per the view of Abe and Ustundaug, (2018) It has helped in making large scale data
management and processing possible that includes all the benefits of Software as a service. There
are various kinds of benefits which is provided in regards to speed, performance and reliability.
Some of the main benefits of DaaS service are: it requires minimum setup time i.e. organizations
can easily begin storage and processing of data immediately as required. It has helped in bringing
improvement within various functionalities of cloud like downtime or disruption chances has
reduced drastically. it has provided greater amount of flexibility i.e. as per the requirement of
users, cloud resources can be allotted to premises instantaneously as per the workload. DaaS
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offering of cloud computing services is extremely cost saving and can be optimized easily.
Organizations can change increase or decrease allocated resources as the need of organization so
that only right number of resources are used and excess cost associated with resource usage can
be reduced. It can also help its users in automatically maintain and keep their data up to date.
Not only this, usage of DaaS require very a smaller number of staff members for management of
this service and data stored in it in a proper and appropriate manner.
According to the view of Fulker, (2019) DaaS is an important service whose importance
is increasing. Today almost every organization require space and platform for data storage and
processing. It helps in resolving storage issue. Most of the organizations use it as a solution to
manage their data, expand and sorter data in different format in a secure manner so that it can be
accessed in an appropriate manner, without degrading overall quality of information stored and
without risking theft or security of information. It is also important for organizations because it
has volume based pricing method and also have data type subscription method because of which
it becomes easier for business organizations to manage their costing as per the size and
complexity of business.
Theme 3 Importance of DaaS in High education
According to the view of Olorunfemi Abe and Berk Ustundaug, (2018) data and analytics
is extremely important in higher education. Today due to advancement in technology it has
become important for organizations that provide higher education to integrate their education
system with information technology. Today higher education institutes focus upon introducing
various kinds of courses and study material to students online in order to enhance their overall
knowledge so that they can implement that knowledge practically. Nowadays many institutes
also providing study material to students online, provide them facility to attempt online exams
online regardless of their location. This facility has helped high education institutes to enhance
facility of making their students remain updated with education. Not only this, if there is any
kind of changes within educational system or within studies then students can be made aware
with the changes and appropriate material or data can be made available to them easily. Due to
this, data as a service has become important in higher education.
As per the view of Bastrakova, Kemp and Car, (2016) Data as a Service has replaced
traditional ways of providing education for high education institutes. Today most of the top
universities are using this cloud offering service for management of their data so that it becomes
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much easier for students to access required data, process it in a proper manner. It does not
require a storage space i.e. all the data is stored and processed on cloud which makes it much
easier for institutes to manage data of their students, subjects, additional courses, examination
data and store it security on cloud so that it can be processes and accessed whenever it is
required. Initially in order to maintain data and store it additional staff members were required
but now limited number of staff members are required for maintenance of data with higher
security level. Not only this it has also become much easier for organizations to maintain and
easily access data over internet in a much faster speed. Today in current pandemic situation it has
become important for most of the institutes to provide education to students online and make all
the data available online, conduct all the examination online, make students work on projects as
well online. In this, data as a service cloud offering has plays a vital role which has made it
much easier for universities to provide education online though data as a service cloud offering
to students and students to access required data online in a much easier and faster manner.
Theme 4 Challenges and vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering and
their impact on organizations.
According to the view of Badidi, Routaib and El Koutbi, (2016) there are various kinds
of vulnerabilities and challenges that are associated with this data as a service (DaaS) cloud
offering. Due to this many unique security considerations arise. This is mainly because all the
data of organization is stored in cloud and is transferred over network. Due to this various kind
of security risk or issues arises that would not even exist if data is stored locally within firewall
institutes. Another vulnerability associated with DaaS cloud offering is that it increases
unauthorised access risk for data. This is majorly because all the data of organization is stored on
cloud that can be access though a unique username and password. Due to this unauthorized
access to data increases. It is one of the main vulnerabilities associated with this cloud offering.
It is important for organizations to pay attentions to these security issues so that data can be
stored security overcloud and unauthorized access vulnerability security issue can be reduced.
As per the view of Hayat and et. al., (2019) there are many other kinds of vulnerabilities
associated with Data as a Service cloud offering. Compliance vulnerability is another kind of
challenge especially for organizations who risk moving sensitive or confidential data to cloud
environment. This does not mean that special data cannot be stored on cloud but it simply means
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that special compliance terms and conditions are required to be developed in order to ensure that
all the important data stored can be security stored through DaaS Service.
In addition to this, Psomakelis and et. al., (2020) explains that, DaaS platform reduces
number of tools available or required for working and users will only be able to work on tools
that are compatible with DaaS platform. Due to this flexibility of this platform reduces. It is one
of the major challenge which is associated with this data as a service cloud offering. It is
important to work on such security issues because due to these issues it can become difficult to
store sensitive, confidential or personal data on cloud in a secure manner.
Theme 5 Ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering
can be reduced
As per the view of Naous, Schwarz and Legner, (2017) there are various kinds of security
issues and vulnerabilities associated with data as a service cloud offering. It is important to
identify ways in which these vulnerabilities can be reduced. These vulnerabilities are important
to be reduced because it increases risk of data security. One of the main vulnerabilities associated
with this Data as a Service Cloud offering is unauthorized access vulnerability. In order to reduce
vulnerability of this issue is to save username and password of logging in in encrypted form and
only few of them should be allowed to access the account. Saving password in encrypted form
will reduce theft of username and password and will further help in reducing vulnerabilities of
unauthorised access. This way not only unauthorised access chances can be reduced but privacy
and security of data can also be maintained. This security way can be used by both organizations
and high education institutes as well. In fact, it is extremely important to be used in higher
education because such institutes store data of their students, their account, academic data,
institute related data and many more. Unauthorised access can put data of all the students as well
as of institute vulnerable.
Gill and et. al., (2018) further explains that, educating employees is another way though
which vulnerability associated with Data as a Service can be reduced. Employees who will be
using data stored in DaaS for storing, analysing or for any other purpose should be educated and
proper training should be provided to them. Employees should be provided training for different
kinds of defensive practises that can be adopted by them while using this Data as a Service cloud
offering. This can be done by setting up some protocols for employees so that even if they feel
that their data has been compromised. Educating employees about this can directly help
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employees in understanding ways in which they can securely use this service, and even if any
unauthorized person access data then some set of protocols can be developed that can be used by
employees for restricting unauthorised access. Employees can also be provided training for
running unannounced security test training. This unannounced training can directly help in
identifying ways in which whether users of DaaS service within organization are aware of the
security threats or not, whether they can identify unauthorised person accessing this service and
data or any kind of phishing emails have been sent to them or not.
According to the view of Piraghaj and et. al., (2017) one of the most important
vulnerability of DaaS service which is created due to risk of unauthorised access is moving
sensitive and confidential data to cloud because due to this risk, it becomes difficult for
organizations to trust these services and directly store such kind of data on cloud. For this there
are two main ways though which security of confidential and sensitive data on cloud can be
ensured. First is to develop a secure data back up plan and second is to store data in encrypted
manner that can only be accessed by a person who has correct encryption key. This will help in
securely storing sensitive and confidential data so that even if an unauthorised person access the
data they will not be able to use or understand the data. This method can be used by high
education institutes as well and they can store of all of their confidential data accordingly.
Piraghaj and et. al., (2017) further elaborates that, all the three identified methods should be used
by organizations if they want to use data as a service cloud computing offering security and store
their data without any issue. Other that this, organizations should continuously test data on DaaS
and ways in which employees use it.
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Overview
Research methodology helps in providing a brief overview of methods that are used by
researcher for data collection and analysis in order to answer main research questions in an
appropriate manner (Adhabi and Anozie, 2017). It helps in enhancing overall knowledge of
different methods can be used within research for achieving main goals and objectives of the
research study.
Research type
It is also known as research method which is a kind of a procedure though which data
collection, analysis and interpretation can be done in a proper and appropriate manner for
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resolving main research problem in a systematic manner. Research method or type are mainly of
two types. First research type of qualitative research type or method. Second is quantitative
research type or method. Selection of appropriate research type is done according to the type of
study, need and requirement of study (Adhabi and Anozie, 2017). Qualitative research type is a
type of research study in which non-numerical data is collected and analysed in order to achieve
main research objective with the help of different kinds of theories and framework. Whereas
quantitative research type focuses upon collection and analysis of non-numerical data in which
different kinds of mathematical or statistical methods can be used for analysis of data collected
and for achieving main aim of the research and reaching to the conclusion. It is extremely
important to select appropriate research type on the basis of aim of the study so that desired and
accurate results can be obtained. In this dissertation, research had focused upon selecting
qualitative type of research method as it will help in identifying different kinds of vulnerabilities
associated with Data as a Service in a proper and accurate manner. Qualitative type of research
will further help in evaluating different sources so that main vulnerabilities can be identified and
ways in which it can impact organizations can also be identified and analysed.
Research design
Research design can be defined as a kind of strategy which is selected in order to analyse
different components or elements of a research in a logical and coherent manner, so that main
research questions can be answered in a proper and effective manner. it helps in integrating
different components of a study with each other in a proper and accurate manner. it further helps
in conducting a research in a coherent and accurate manner (Fletcher, 2017). Research design
helps in finding correct and accurate solution to every research problem. Research design is of
three different types, that are: exploratory, casual and descriptive research design. Exploratory
research design is used to explore important and specific aspects of research for generation of
proper and correct results. This design does not focus upon conclusive answers to questions
rather it helps in exploring and identifying new aspects and evidence gained during research
process that can be used to achieve main research objectives. Casual research design is
conducted for study main cause and effect relationship within a research, whereas descriptive
research design is used to describe specific elements and phenomenon within a research area. As
it is a qualitative type of research so in this researcher will be using exploratory research design
so that they can perform different task easily by exploring them in a proper manner.
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Research approach
Research approach can be defined as a set of actions that can be used by researcher for
solving scientific problem- based research in a proper manner. it is based upon various
assumptions towards or within research study. It helps in identifying and explaining data
collection, analysis and interpretation methods that can be used by research for achieving main
research objectives. It further helps the researcher in generating current and accurate results
useful for the study (Tiwari, Arya and Bansal, 2017). Research approach is majorly of three
different types, that are: abductive, deductive and inductive. Inductive approach majorly focuses
upon implementation of new theories proposed by the end of research process as the result of
main observations. This theory help research in formulating appropriate research objectives and
questions in a proper manner. Deductive research approach helps in testing existing approaches
in which research design is developed in order to test hypothesis. It is tested against observations
for finding a particular pattern in existing theories. Last type of research is abductive research
approach, this approach is majorly used to address weakness of deductive and inductive
approach when there is lack of clarity for testing and selecting appropriate hypothesis and
research questions. It is based on incomplete observations for best prediction that might be true.
For this dissertation, researcher will be using inductive approach in which researcher will be
focusing upon developing new theories for developing general conclusion for answering main
research questions as it is a qualitative type of research.
Research philosophy
Research philosophy can be defined as a way though which data about a phenomenon can
be gathered and analysed. It helps in describing methods that can be used in qualitative and
quantitative research for collection and analysis of data though appropriate research methods.
There are various kinds of research philosophies but there are two most commonly used research
philosophies that are: positivism and interpretivism (van Hees and et. al., 2016). Interpretivism
research philosophy is a kind of philosophy or phenomenon that focuses upon a fact that research
performs a specific role within a society. This philosophy is mostly used in qualitative type of
research papers. It is majorly used with qualitative type of research studies. Whereas, positivism
research philosophy is a kind of phenomenon that helps in shaping a society as well as an
individual. It further helps in integrating human interest within a study. This philosophy says that
science is the only way though which truth can be learnt. It is mostly used with quantitative type
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of research studies. For this dissertation, interpretivism research philosophy has been used as it is
a qualitative type of research so usage of interpretivism research philosophy is used by
researcher.
Data collection
Data collection focuses upon gathering important and relevant information from different
sources for research so that main research objectives can be achieved. Data collected within
research is of two types: primary and secondary data (Al Kilani and Kobziev, 2016). Primary
data is a kind of data which is collected by the researcher for research study for the first time
though different sources such as survey, interview, questionnaire and many more. Whereas
secondary data is a kind of data that has already been published and is collected by the researcher
from different sources such as books, articles, newspapers, journals, online portal and from many
other sources. Type of data that will be collected for a research completely depends upon type of
research, need and requirement of research. For this dissertation, researcher will lay emphasis
upon collection of secondary data for this qualitative research paper from many sources like
books, online portals, articles, journals etc.
Literature search strategy
Literature search strategy can be defined as a kind of strategy that can be used by a
researcher for collection of accurate and valid secondary data for research. It is important to
develop an appropriate literature search strategy for collection of secondary data that can be used
by researcher for answering main research questions in an accurate manner (Hay and et. al.,
2019). It further helps in identifying sources from which secondary data can be collected
including online and offline libraries. In order to develop an appropriate literature search
strategy, it is important to identify main key terms using which relevant and valid data for
research will be collected. Main key terms used for searching secondary data for this dissertation
are as follows: Data as a Service, DaaS, Cloud computing, higher education, vulnerabilities,
security issues. For this research using main key terms secondary data was research from online
libraries and databases and with the help of inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion and exclusion criteria are one of the most important factors for secondary
research (Bairagi and Munot, eds., 2019). As inclusion criteria helps in identifying and selecting
appropriate secondary data from appropriate sources that can be used with a research study and
12

exclusion criteria helps in identifying secondary data that should not be included within research
studies. Inclusion and exclusion criteria for this research paper are as follows:
Inclusion criteria: All the articles or papers that consist of two or more than two key terms were
selected. Other than this all the articles or papers that were published in or were available in
English language were only selected. Lastly articles or papers published in past few years were
only selected.
Exclusion criteria: All the articles that did not have a proper and verified published were
excluded from the studies. Articles or papers that did not have t least two key terms were also
excluded. Articles or papers that were written or were published in language other than English
were excluded from this dissertation. Lastly articles or papers that were published more than 5
years ago were excluded from this study.
Ethical considerations
Ethical considerations one of the most important factor which is required to be focused
upon and considered in research studies. These ethical considerations are required to be adhered
within research studies. Some of the main ethical considerations that were consideration’s
adhered in this study are as follows: in order to collect secondary data it is important for
researcher to adhere data protection act, 2018. It further helps in collecting and using secondary
data in an ethical manner. None of the data of other researcher were used without citing or it can
also be said that data of any researcher used in this dissertation have been cited and referenced
properly. None of the secondary data from unauthorised sources have been used within this
research. Proper Harvard referencing style was adopted for referencing and citing sources of
data.
Research limitations
It is important for a researcher to identify limitations of this research in a proper and
appropriate manner. Some of the main research limitations of this dissertation are as follows:
One of the main limitations that was faced by researcher was in formation of research aim and
objectives as cloud computing is a vast topic it was extremely important to narrow down it. So,
in order to overcome this limitation researcher focused upon Data as a Service cloud offering.
Another limitation faced by researcher was in selection of appropriate research methodology.as it
was a secondary qualitative research it become extremely difficult to select appropriate research
methods that can be used by researcher for achieving main aim and objectives of research.
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Secondary data analysis was another limitation of this dissertation as secondary data collection
and analysis limited overall scope of the study.
Reliability and validity
CHAPTER 4 DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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APPENDIX
PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION
Advancement in technology has brought various kinds of changes within education
system as well as in business. Digital transformation has leveraged data and technologies both in
education system. Due to this digital transformation needs and requirements of students or
learners have also changed and in order to fulfil these changes school, universities and colleges
have adopted advance technologies within their system so that learning environment can be
created as per needs and requirement of students (Santos, Batista and Marques, 2019). It has
further made it much easier for students to attend classes, access data or information required by
them on timely basis. It has further increased usage of various kinds of technologies for students
as well for management or staff members of schools, colleges and universities like digital
libraries, cloud computing services etc.
Background
Cloud computing can be defined as kind of on-demand availability of services of
computer resources, data storage service, computing power and many other kinds of service
provision to users (Stergiou and et.al., 2018). Usage of cloud computing services has increased
drastically in education, business as well as for personal use. It is one of the most effective and
most commonly used technology whose usage has increased in education industry, in business as
well as for personal use. There are various kinds of services that are provided by cloud
computing that can be used by organizations in education industry. Cloud computing provides
three different kinds of services: Software as a service, platform as a service and infrastructure as
a service. All the three type of services has their own use and is used in many different ways
within organization. But most commonly in education industry Software as a service Cloud
service is used. Using this service many different kinds of applications over internet can be
delivered to its users. Today in most of the industries including education industry, data has
become one of the most important things which is required to be considered. Data as a Service or
which is provided by cloud offers. This service has recently come into picture which uses all the
three services so it has been categorised as another type of cloud offering or service (Yang and
et.al., 2017). This DaaS service is most commonly used and offered by Cloud service providers
and is used by most of the organizations as well as by individuals. This service is mostly used by
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Universities and colleges that provide high education to students for storing and sharing their
data or information. But there are various kinds of vulnerabilities associated with this service to
which institutes or individuals using this service are unaware of.
Aim
This project will focus upon analysing different kinds of security issues associated with
Data as a Service Cloud offering. So, the main aim of this dissertation is ‘To analyse
vulnerabilities associated with Cloud offering of Data as a Service (DaaS)’.
Objectives
The main objectives that this project will be achieving are as follows:
 To analyse importance of cloud computing
 To analyse different kinds of cloud computing services
 To evaluate ways in which Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering is used.
 To analyse importance of DaaS in High education
 To evaluate vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering and their impact
on organizations.
 To identify ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be reduced.
 To recommend appropriate ways though which usage of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be increased and vulnerabilities associated with it can be reduced.
 To identify gaps in this research and suggest future results.
Research questions
The main research questions that this project will be answering are as follows:
 Why cloud computing is important?
 What are different kinds of cloud computing services?
 How Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering is used?
 Why DaaS is important in High education?
 What are different kinds of vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering
and their impact on organizations?
 What are different ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS)
Cloud offering can be reduced?
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 Recommend appropriate ways though which usage of Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud
offering can be increased and vulnerabilities associated with it can be reduced.
 What are main gaps in this research and suggest future results.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Different kinds of cloud computing services
According to the view of Abdel-Basset, Mohamed and Chang, (2018) There are many
different kinds of services that are provided by cloud offerors. Due to increasing availability of
services and resources over internet usage and importance of clod computing over internet has
increased drastically. as per its use and important services in cloud computing have bee
categorised into three different categories. Each of these categories and sub categories type of
services. Three main types of cloud computing services that are most commonly used by
individuals and organizations. Three typically used cloud computing service categories used are:
IaaS (Infrastructure as a service), PaaS (Platform as a service) and SaaS (Software as a service).
But now a new type of service have been identified which is DaaS or Data as a service. IaaS
service provide users raw computing resources such as storage capacity, processing power,
networking and many more. Platform as a service or PaaS which provide computing
infrastructure and also a development platform to cloud users. SaaS or Software as a service
provides application- level services to cloud users. This service has been recently categorised and
is the latest service which is offered by cloud providers. This service has been developed to
overcome limitation of approaches in data technology. This service allows storage of data in
repositories whose location is knowledge and is relevant for sharing process.
Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering and ways in which it is used in High education
According to Shukur, Abd Ghani and Burhasnuddin (2019) Data as a service (Daas) is
based on the emerging service on the cloud technology. For large users communities in the term
of scientific and industrial context which become consider as serious difficulty for moving data
or information because of time transfer and network link limitations. There are large amount of
data sets which growing constantly and process analysis in large amount or datasets as fulfil all
essential needs of high computing capacities. DaaS is based on the alternative cloud computing
service model, different from other models where it has made available to users and take more
facilities as well as services. It is one of the largest fundamental that able to process or manage
the largest quantity of heterogeneous information. Higher education institutions are basically
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focused on the innovation so that they will consider DaaS which collect or gather large amount
of data within cloud. Afterwards, student can access information from cloud within different
innovative ways. At certain level, different areas that has long utilised data driven practices.
Higher education institution have faced with need to be innovation and try to remain competitive
in global marketplace. The use of DaaS is increasing within higher education which may
consider as important part. Many other institution have been realised that provide better type of
benefits, advantage. This will help for providing the better quality of service while implementing
software, programming environment databases, antiviruses.
Psomakelis and et.al. (2020) Many higher education have limited resources and unable to
provide the better quality of education service of their student. That’s why, it will be
implementing DaaS (Data as a service) that support for giving the better facilities. As a result, it
is also looking for other ways to acquire more information through software, applications. DaaS
can provide the brief idea about the overall processing of education system and use them various
application at an affordable price or cost. Afterwards, Higher education universities offering the
cloud service with the help of DaaS which making transition to reach their destination. With the
evolution of technology, there are large number of education service migrates from different
traditional forms to their online approach. Various education services that needs to be focused on
the adequate system by using a proper technologies. Afterwards, cloud based techniques has
been emerged as viable and promising a better solution to the challenges associated with overall
education system. it became consider as convenient, on demand network access to easily sharing
the configurable computing services.
Vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service cloud offering and their impact on
organizations.
According to Mishra, Sharma and Alowaidi (2020) organizations continue to develop or
adopt new applications which can easily migrate with existing applications to cloud based
services. Higher education institution is mainly focused on cloud service whereas they are
adopting DaaS in which providing the best quality of service. At certain level, there are different
kinds of risks, threat and vulnerabilities that organization face when they are moving application
or data towards cloud.
Consumer have reduced the control and visibility- this type of vulnerability occurs due to
the assets or operations to cloud. Through this, enterprise have been lost their some visibility or
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control towards operations. When using external cloud service, it would be increasing the
chances of privacy or security issues.
Schabacker and et.al. (2019) On demand shelf service that simplifies unauthorised use-
this type of service will enable within cloud without consent of IT. The use of DaaS that is
properly supported by organization and then increasing unauthorised access of cloud services. As
a result, it would be identifying the malware infections so that enterprise unable to protect of
secure resources. Through this, it continuously decreasing overall enterprise visibility and
control of their network.
Separation among different tenants fails- this type of vulnerabilities within software
which may generate failure to maintain large number of separation among tenants. Failure can be
used by unauthorised attacker to gain more information from resources of enterprises.
Ways in which vulnerabilities associated with Data as a Service (DaaS) Cloud offering can be
reduced.
According to Giri and Shakya (2019) there are different kind of vulnerabilities occurs
because of high profile breach within cloud platform. Various kind of breach is particularly
increasing so much trouble since all service stored of all users website. Especially when
belonging to other administrator with extensive permission for organization. The primarily scale
of breach is extensive and 90% organization have faced the vulnerabilities which are associated
with failure of system, authorised access of attackers within cloud network. Additionally, there
has been explosion of new applications which help for student to learn or continues higher
education. Afterwards, it is moving forwards to recognise the different advantage, benefits which
brings more cloud movement for enterprise.
Singh and et.al. (2020) Said that Vulnerabilities are associated with loss of intellectual
property which is increasingly store sensitive data or information within cloud. There are large
number of sensitive information or data that include as intellectual property. When cloud service
is completely breached, attacker has gained more access to their sensitive data. Certain kind of
service can even pose a risk, if applicable term or condition which claim ownership of data
uploaded.
Compliance violations and regulatory action which become consider cause of
vulnerabilities because companies operate different sort of regulatory control in term of sensitive
data or information. under circumstances, organization must know about the data where it will be
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stored and accessible. It often violates every of these tents which are putting enterprise in the
non-compliance. At certain level, it will be generating a serious causes in the vulnerabilities and
associated within DaaS cloud services.
Giri and Shakya (2019) Loss of control over multiple end user action where organizations
are in dark about using cloud DaaS service. in case, student can down the report which needs to
be stored personal information with cloud storage service and then accessible information or
data. So as it will be developing vulnerabilities of data loss associated with DaaS cloud service.
Sometimes, it would be used as data exfiltration which are uncovered the different technique or
method whereby attackers are encoded sensitive data in the different format.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is based on the technique which basically used for collecting and
gathering large amount of information. These are completely relevant to research topic or
subject. Researcher is always focused on the research methodology which help for identifying
large amount of information which makes a better way to decision process. Sometimes, research
methodology is basically consider as important aspect within research study to examine the
previous studies, identifying future needs to research expansion.
Research type
Research type or method is basically defined as systematic and scientific procedures of
data collection, compilation analysis, implication pertaining and interpretation to the enterprise
problem. Research type can be divided into different ways: Qualitative and Quantitative. These
are the most commonly used in accordance to nature or purpose of study (Sileyew, 2019).
Quantitative research method is basically descripting about the infer, resolves any kind of
problem through different theories. It emphasis with the emotions, sound, feeling and other non-
numerical elements. It has been noted that considerable as important information within
qualitative nature but cannot be analysed in the mathematical techniques. On the other hand,
Quantitative research is based on the numerical instruction which gathering or collecting large
amount of numerical data or information. So as it become easier for researcher to find accurate
conclusion and solution.
In this study, researcher will use qualitative research method that help for collecting or
gathering relevant information through different resources such as article and journals. This type
22

of method is based on theoretical aspect so that it help for investigator to find accurate
information. Investigator will focus on the previous studies and identifying theories which
already used within it.
Research design
It is based on the procedure or plan that help for representing overall strategy where
choosing to integrate with different components of research study. it is become consider as
coherent and logical way. Thereby, it ensuring that will effectively identify the solution of
research problem. Research design can be categorised into different ways: conclusive and
exploratory. These are consider the most commonly used research design which help for
exploring the specific areas of research.
Exploratory research is useful for research where they can explore specific aspect of
research and then generating a proper result. In qualitative, research will choose exploratory
research design that provide the brief idea about the overall operational tasks. Investigator will
focus on the research aim and objective that provide better way to understand the study and
move towards right direction (Orngreen and Levinsen, 2017). Apart from that Conclusive
research design is also used in quantitative approach to find out the accurate solution. Through
this study, researcher have no option to move or change their direction. That’s why, researcher
will focus on exploratory research design to perform different tasks effectively.
Research approach
Research approach is define as process that consist of various phases on the basis of
particular assumption towards research study. Through this, it will be describing the detailed
explanation of data collection and interpretation. It help for researcher to get more solution and
generate accurate result. Research approach can be categorised into different types: Abductive,
Deductive and Inductive.
Investigator will select the inductive approach which focuses upon testing and developing
new theries. Pre-existing theories are basically providing the brief idea about the certain level
which may associated with research problem. Afterwards, investigator will use them to generate
accurate result or outcome.
Research philosophy
It helps in development of phenomenon though which data can be collected, analysed and
used. There are two main type of philosophy approaches: interpretivism and positivism.
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Positivism believes that society trends shape an individual and is mostly used in quantitative
study (Orngreen and Levinsen, 2017). Whereas, interpretivism philosophy focuses upon a fact
that specific role is performed by researcher in society. It is mostly used with qualitative research
studies. For this dissertation, researcher will be using interpretivism philosophy as it is
qualitative study in which in which formulation of beliefs and assumptions will take place.
Data collection
It is one of the most important method that help researcher in collecting appropriate and
required data for the research. It helps in answering main research questions in an appropriate
manner or many times it helps in testing developed hypothesis for reaching to conclusion. There
are two types of data collection methods that helps in collecting reliable and accurate information
(Orngreen and Levinsen, 2017). First type of method is primary data collection method which is
used by researcher to collect data for the first time though survey, questionnaire etc. Second type
of data is secondary data which is already published and is collected though books, journals,
articles etc. for this research, researcher has focused upon collecting secondary data from book,
journals, articles and from many other sources.
Literature search strategy
This strategy helps researcher in collecting appropriate and accurate secondary data from
valid sources. Literature search strategy used for this research is: in order to identify appropriate
secondary key terms will be identified that will be used to identify appropriate secondary data
from online databases and libraries. Then in order to select appropriate data inclusion and
exclusion criteria for the search will be defined. Lastly on the basis of date of publication,
secondary data selected will be selected or rejected.
Key terms for this research are: Data as a Service, DaaS, Cloud computing, higher education,
vulnerabilities, security issues.
Inclusion criteria: All the articles or papers that consist of two or more than two key terms,
published in English and were not more than 5 years old were selected.
Exclusion criteria: All the articles that were more than 5 years old and were not published in
English were rejected.
PROJECT PLAN (GANTT CHART)
Task Name Duration Start Finish
Project Proposal 6 days Sat Fri
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28/11/20 04/12/20
Project proposal
approval 6 days Sat
05/12/20
Fri
11/12/20
Aim and objectives 6 days Sat
12/12/20
Fri
18/12/20
Literature review 6 days Sat
19/12/20
Fri
25/12/20
Research
methodology 6 days Sat
26/12/20
Fri
01/01/21
Data analysis 6 days Sat
02/01/21
Fri
08/01/21
Conclusion and
recommendations 6 days Sat
09/01/21
Fri
15/01/21
Submission 6 days Sat
16/01/21
Fri
22/01/21
25