Cloud Computing Implementation for a Local Food Delivery Business

This report examines the implementation of cloud computing for a local food delivery business. It begins with an introduction to cloud computing and its growing importance for small businesses, highlighting the advantages over traditional methods. The report details various cloud computing services like cloud storage, backup, and SaaS, and outlines five key characteristics: broad network access, on-demand self-service, rapid elasticity, resource pooling, and measured service. The core of the report focuses on the reasons for migration, including lower costs, better collaboration, increased flexibility, and greater integration. It also acknowledges the disadvantages, such as security risks and implementation costs. The report concludes by emphasizing the long-term benefits of cloud computing for the business, including cost reduction, improved customer satisfaction, and the ability for business owners to focus on critical areas. The report also mentions specific vendors for cloud solutions and emphasizes the importance of investing in cloud technology for long-term benefits. The report includes a comprehensive list of references.

Running head: CLOUD COMPUTING FOR LOCAL BUSINESS
Cloud computing for local business
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction:...........................................................................................................................2
2. Why cloud computing is used................................................................................................2
3. Main Cloud computing characteristics...................................................................................3
4. Reasons why the business should migrate.............................................................................4
5. Disadvantage:.........................................................................................................................5
6. Implementing cloud for the business.....................................................................................5
7. Conclusion:............................................................................................................................5
7. References:.............................................................................................................................6

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1. Introduction:
The growing role of technology in small business nowadays cannot be ignored
because of the benefits they provide. Although, there are certain drawbacks but still the
benefits provided by new technology such as cloud computing over weighs the drawbacks.
For a business such as food delivery, implementation of cloud computing is more than
necessary. This report will point out the basic characteristics of cloud computing and also
pros and cons. The report will take special care in analyzing the method of implementation in
the small business. There is a need to know what exactly cloud computing is. Whenever there
is access to the internet; an individual can access data irrespective of the place they are. The
business climate in today’s time keeps o changing and therefore it is critical that the small
business owners get whatever they need and wherever they are. This is the main advantage
that cloud computing provides.
2. Why cloud computing is used.
There are various types of cloud services under the umbrella term ‘cloud computing’.
The first one is cloud storage. This service backs up files and stores data for regular access.
Sharing and syncing is also enabled for devices. The next service that cloud computing
provides is Cloud backup. This is pretty much similar to cloud storage however there is a
twist. This service is specially used in the case of crash, data loss and cyber attack. The next
service that cloud computing provides is SaaS service (Software as a service). This service
uses the web to provide wide range of service such as Office 365, QuickBooks online, sales
force and Google apps. Additionally, there is one more service that cloud computing
provides. It is known as Cloud hosting (Botta et al., 2014). The main service that this branch
provides is that it facilitates information sharing such as application hosting, email services,
data storage and web based phone systems.

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3. Main Cloud computing characteristics.
Five characteristics of cloud computing.
a) The first one is Broad network access. Over the network capabilities are
available and those can be accessed by standard mechanisms that promote use
by thick client platforms such as tablets, mobile phones, workstations and
laptops ("5 Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing", 2018).
b) The next characteristic is on-demand self service. Computing capabilities can
be unilaterally provisioned by a consumer such as network storage and server
time. This is done automatically without the requirement of human interaction
for every service provider.
c) The third characteristic is rapid elasticity. This is one of the most important
characteristics that cloud computing provides. Here, capabilities are elastically
provisioned and released which means as required in few cases capabilities are
scaled rapidly outward and inward to satisfy demand. For a consumer, this
(provisioning) appears to be unlimited and this can be appropriated in any
quantity at a given time.
d) Resource pooling is another characteristics of cloud computing. Using a multi-
tenant model, computing resources are pooled for serving several consumers.
According to consumer demand, virtual and physical resources are reassigned
and assigned in accordance with the consumer demand. Additionally, there is
an overwhelming feeling of location independence. Customer will have no
knowledge or control over the location of resources provide. They might be
able to pinpoint location at a higher level of abstraction such as state,
datacenter or country. Processing, network bandwidth, memory and storage
are the examples of resources (Avram, 2014).

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e) The final characteristic is measured service. Resources are automatically
controlled and optimized by using a metering capability at certain level of
abstraction which corresponds to the type of service that is processing, storage
and bandwidth. The final characteristic also provides transparency since
resource usage can be reported, controlled and monitored.
4. Reasons why the business should migrate.
The first point is lower cost. This is the most important benefit that a local business
can get. Implementing cloud computing for a business provides significant savings. Full
utilization of hardware is done by cloud computing. Virtualization in this technology means
the value of physical server is increased considerably (Oliveira, Thomas & Espadanal, 2014).
The business is able to do more with much less. This will result in lowering of power
requirements, decrease in rack space and IT requirements. This will further result in cutting
the cost of installation and maintenance, hardware and support and upgrade costs (Lavoie,
2018). The next point will talk about better collaboration. Collaboration is very easy in the
cloud. Employees are able to work from the same master document because they are able to
access and save various files. Google drive is a cloud tool for collaboration that helps users to
edit, comment and upload documents. This helps in better workplace collaboration. The third
point will talk about increased flexibility. This is one of the most important benefits that
cloud computing provides which is location independence. This feature mainly enables users
to access files on devices from any corner of the world. This is the only way by which the
business can cater to remote workers without the requiring to actually setting up a workspace
there. The final point should talk about greater integration. A small business have unlimited
options of integrating with numerous cloud based providers. The local business chosen here

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can take advantage of services which integrate human resource, back office operations and
marketing. This will in fact let the business owner to focus on a critical area of business.
5. Disadvantage:
Certain drawbacks are there which includes additional cost for the organization since
implementing any new technology will require training to be provided to employees and
there must be a troubleshooting system after the launch. Security risk is another big concern
about cloud computing (Almorsy, Grundy & Müller, 2016). In this online world there is no
business that is safe from the ravages on cyber warfare ("Advantages and Disadvantages of
Cloud Computing | LevelCloud", 2018). Sensitive data is stored in the cloud and protection of
data is of utmost concern.
6. Implementing cloud for the business.
To implement cloud for the business there must be a significant investment on
servers, switches and routers. This paragraph will list some vendors that provide cloud
solutions. Egnyte, IDrive, Zoolz, Carbonite, Backblaze , Acronis, dropbox, Crashplan, Box
and JustCloud (2018, 2018).
7. Conclusion:
From, the above report it can be concluded that the business whose main area is
delivering food to customers must invest heavily in cloud computing technology. In the long
term, it will bring numerous benefits and ultimately will lead to cost reduction. There are so
many benefits such as integration, increased flexibility and cost reduction. Penetration of this
technology will mean big changes for the business in terms of management, customer
satisfaction and cost reduction. Additionally, the business owner can focus on critical areas of
business since cloud computing will help in managing other areas of business.

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7. References:
2018, B. (2018). Best Cloud Storage Solutions for Small Business 2018. Business News
Daily. Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/5851-
cloud-storage-solutions.html
5 Essential Characteristics of Cloud Computing. (2018). Inforisktoday.com. Retrieved 30
April 2018, from https://www.inforisktoday.com/5-essential-characteristics-cloud-
computing-a-4189
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing | LevelCloud. (2018). LevelCloud.
Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.levelcloud.net/why-levelcloud/cloud-
education-center/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-cloud-computing/
Almorsy, M., Grundy, J., & Müller, I. (2016). An analysis of the cloud computing security
problem. arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.01107.
Avram, M. G. (2014). Advantages and challenges of adopting cloud computing from an
enterprise perspective. Procedia Technology, 12, 529-534.
Botta, A., De Donato, W., Persico, V., & Pescapé, A. (2014, August). On the integration of
cloud computing and internet of things. In Future internet of things and cloud
(FiCloud), 2014 international conference on (pp. 23-30). IEEE.
Guide, C. (2018). Cloud Computing: A Small Business Guide. Business News Daily.
Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4427-cloud-
computing-small-business.html
Lavoie, A. (2018). 4 Reasons Small Businesses Should Migrate to the Cloud. Entrepreneur.
Retrieved 30 April 2018, from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/245784

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Oliveira, T., Thomas, M., & Espadanal, M. (2014). Assessing the determinants of cloud
computing adoption: An analysis of the manufacturing and services
sectors. Information & Management, 51(5), 497-510.