Cloud Computing Security Challenges: A Comprehensive Report

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Abstract
Cloud computing is said to be the most convenient way of providing more facility to the
companies rather than the old systems that were used before for storage purpose, database
purpose and for maintaining the record of the services. The cloud computing is now used by
many of the companies which provide them with the ease of using the system, the cloud
computing provides cost-saving ideas, manage most of the work of the company and the
quality of the product also gets increases. This report contains various security challenges that
encounter in cloud computing. Cloud computing faces various kinds of security issues that
are being discussed here. When talking about the Hybrid Cloud, it is the most different kind
of cloud-based service available for the people. The private cloud is being used generally by
the enterprises and the main reason behind this is, the cloud will be reserve for that particular
organisation or enterprise only. In the community cloud, the services are being provided to
the closed group of the people or to a limited number of the people in a group. The
community cloud can be thinking as of the cloud service which is available to the group of
people who are using these cloud service for the same purpose. The SaaS stands for Software
as a Service which is called the biggest market in terms of cloud service usage. In the
Software as a Service, the use of the Web services is there in which the resources can be used
on the web. The services here include the managing of datacentre structures for looking at the
networking, storage facilities and for the purpose of computing.

Contents
Abstract......................................................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
Literature Review.......................................................................................................................5
Critical Analysis.........................................................................................................................7
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9
References................................................................................................................................10

Introduction
In the ’90s when the computer system was managed with the help of traditional systems
where everything was a need to be controlled manually and the data storage was a big
problem. But later on, a new system develops and the concept of cloud computing came into
existence. The conventional computing system was replaced by the cloud computing system.
The cloud computing system provides the facility of data storage and also provide software
for the use on a cost-based system. In the cloud computing system, it provides a facility to
use less of the resources which cost more and use the cloud base computing. This increases
the efficiency of the system, increases the quality of the product by using the advanced tools
available on the cloud. This report contains a brief discussion on different security challenges
that may occur or occurs while using the cloud computing systems.
With the help of Platform as a Service, it will be easy for the client to test the application,
make it possible to complete the application or the software quickly and the main advantage
is, in a cost-effective manner. Likewise, when using the excel for making sheets, the Platform
as a Service uses the same approach in which the resources are provided and the resources
can be sue to develop new applications or software. The biggest advantage of the Software as
a Service is that the client can directly use the service and there will be no need to first
download and then install the same application for the use. On one hand, if both of them
providing the facility to the client of using the resources online and use them, Infrastructure
as a Service provides a facility to the client of monitor and managing the system. The client
can manage runtime of system, data, middleware and the operating system as well. The next
type of cloud is called as the public cloud. This is being used under the supervision of service
provider and it is available for the public

Literature Review
According to the author (Rong et al., 2013), the cloud computing is termed to be the new
technology that has helped a lot in maintaining the quality of products, increases the use of
latest software’s, now efficiency has been increased while using the cloud computing
systems. The cloud computing system is divided into different kinds of categories depending
upon the usage. The different kinds of cloud computing classifications are: -
1. Private cloud: - This is being the first kind of the cloud system in which the IT services
are available to the user over the private infrastructure only. The private cloud is different
from the public cloud. Like in the public cloud, the services are available to multiple
organisations but when talking about the private cloud, it is being available to one
particular company or organisation.
2. Public Cloud: -. The main idea behind the use of public cloud is that a company will use
some of the resources if the cloud system by renting it. The service user needs to pay a
certain amount of the money to a service provider to use the cloud resources. Some of the
best examples of public cloud are Microsoft, Amazon, salesforce etc.
3. Community cloud: - Although community cloud is quite similar to that of the public
cloud but the difference creates when the service is being provided to the closed group in a
community cloud. The ultimate goal of this group is to serve the same purpose and use the
cloud resources for a single objective.
4. Hybrid Cloud: - Under this hybrid cloud, it is said to be the combination of more than
one type of the cloud-based services which can be combined from any two or more than
two of these like Private cloud, public cloud and the community cloud. The main reason
behind the use of hybrid cloud is, sometimes due to the heavy demand of the cloud
resources, these combine together to provide more services and facility to the company or
to the organisation also.
Apart from this, the cloud service model is distinguished into different kinds like the
Software as a Service, Platform as a Service and the Infrastructure as a Service. They are
explained as: -
1. SaaS: - The Software as a Service provides the services to the clients on the web to deliver
applications that will be managed and control by the third-party vendor, and the interface
will be available on the client-side. Some of the most used kind of the SaaS application is

for Email and teamwork, relationship management for a customer and for healthcare
facilities.
2. PaaS: - It stands for the Platform as a Service. The platform is being provided in the
platform as a service in which the client will get the access or a platform where it can be
used in order to develop the application or the new software’s. Basically, the Platform as a
Service provides the framework which can be used to develop different new applications
or the software. E.g. for Platform as a Service is Microsoft window Azur, Google App
Engine and Apprenda which provide private cloud facility in which Platform as a Service
can be used for .NET and JAVA.
3. IaaS: - It stands for the Infrastructure as a Service. Infrastructure as a Service is the
different kind of the cloud service which uses the approach in which the client or the user
will be provided with the facility to make use of, retrieving, monitoring and managing
remotely located services. The Infrastructure as a Service is purely different from Software
as a Service and Platform as a Service.

Critical Analysis
The article talks about the different security challenges that may occur in cloud computing.
The different kinds of security challenges that may be faced during the use of cloud
computing are: -
1. Resource Location: - The first kind of problem that arises in the use of cloud computing
is called the problem of the location. The user when using the services while not knowing
how far the database is located from where the resources are being used creates a problem
for the user. There are many countries who have certain rules and regulations because of
which it is not possible to share personal information and thus it creates lots of problem
for the user and the service provider as well.
2. Multi tendency issue: - The next kind of the problem that occurs in cloud computing is of
the authentication and user data. There is always the risk of a potential threat that might
occur on the data of the user. The user may use the same kind of website to serve various
kinds of resources. This creates the problem as data of the user can be used by anyone in
the case of authentication. Today cloud computing is using on a large scale and this
creates a high risk on the data of the user. This need to be taken into consideration and
solve as soon as possible because the data of the user is on risk and might get used in the
wrong way.
3. Authentication and trust of acquired information: - The data in cloud computing is
usually available online for the user to access it. But when talking about the authentication
the data of the user can be changed by the service provider without informing the client or
the user. This creates a problem for them to retain the data back and hence it will be
problematic for the client. The authenticity here of data is a must and keen point for the
user as well.
4. System monitoring and logs: - When companies are uploading more and more data
online and thus, they want more authentication for their data and the monitoring of the
same. So, there will be a need for more monitoring systems. As more of the authenticity
when provided for the data it will be critical for them. The service provider may use the
information and can share with the third party. The misuse of data might occur here.
5. Cloud standards: - There are various kinds of standard that is being provided to the
customers in order to keep them. It is because of these standards only, the client will get an
idea of what is going to be provided by cloud service providers. These standards make it
possible for the cloud service providers to help their customers or client to retain and thus,

the services sometimes are incompatible without the help of order services. E.g. Amazon
S3 is compatible with Google storage.
6. Service level agreement for cloud storage: - It is being important for all the customers
who are using cloud services. All need to have the same kind of security related to cloud
computing use. So, there is always a need for an agreement that will be signed between the
service provider and the client. All the requisites, service-related information need to be
there in the agreement. Security-related information needs to be provided to the client so
that they can have a trust issue on a service provider. The user always wants a good
service from the service provider side. So, it becomes very important for them to let the
user get good service by providing them with the facility of monitoring their systems.

Conclusion
Here, in this report, all the problem and the challenges that might occur in cloud computing is
being discussed. There are various kinds of the challenges that need to be resolved and this
report shows that points as well. The brief discussion is done here about the problems cloud
usually have. The different features cloud has, provides and create opportunity is also
discussed. Cloud computing is always remaining promising to the companies and to clients as
well when needing to use resources only. The overview is provided about cloud computing,
its uses, problems that occur for the clients and companies and its effects on the service
provider. The trust level needs to be maintained between the client and service provider in
order to fulfil their demands and the client always wants a system that can monitor their work
as well and provide better facilities to them as well. All of these points are discussed here
with a brief providing on the service level agreement policy need to be maintained by a
service provider with the client.

References
Rong, Chunming & Nguyen, Son & Jaatun, Martin. (2013). Beyond lightning: A survey on
security challenges in cloud computing. Computers & Electrical Engineering. 39. 47–54.
10.1016/j.compeleceng.2012.04.015.