Concepts & Models: Cloud Solutions for Regional Gardens Analysis

This report explores various cloud computing concepts and models to determine optimal solutions for Regional Gardens. It begins by comparing Zoho Docs and G-Suite for office automation, recommending G-Suite for its ease of use and integration capabilities. The report then differentiates betwee...Read More

Running head: CONCEPTS AND MODELS
CONCEPTS AND MODELS
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1CONCEPTS AND MODELS
Part 1:
Office Automation Approaches:
Office automation is supported by a huge variation of tools and Regional Gardens can
pick any tool that they require. A huge number of tools are available in the market, however
Zoho and Google Apps are among the most commonly used tools. The following discusses the
most significant features of the two suites:
Zoho Docs:
The suite contains a wide variety of applications. A Zoho writer is able to read and even convert
any document to any format that is supported by the Microsoft Word database such
as .docx, .doc, .rtf, .htm, .html, .txt and .odt. Zoho sheets also supports another feature where the
user can add charts, tables and images into their sheets along with collaborating in real time with
other users. It also has the application for creating slideshows and various themes and animations
that can be applied and just like the other applications, it can be used to read and even edit
PowerPoint documents with extensions such as .ppt, .pptx and .pps. However, the email service
does not come pre integrated, it can be integrated either free of cost or by buying subscriptions
depending on the storage limit that the user wishes to have.
Anyone can create their own business apps using the Zoho creator that will aid them in their
business. The Zoho creator has a very simple interface and even supports the drag-and-drop
function. The Zoho creator can be used to create a huge variety of apps including one where
payment app can be integrated using PayPal. The relation with the customers can also be tracked
with the help of a CRM app that can be implemented through email, chat, telephone and even

2CONCEPTS AND MODELS
social media all in one platform. The Zoho suite is more suitable for users who are accustomed to
the Microsoft Office suit as is it has some similar functions to that of Microsoft Office.
G-suite:
The suite is particularly tailored to suit the business needs of the users. Therefore, a range of
applications is included in the suite such as presentation, spreadsheets and documentations. A
special application called the Google Drive, which is cloud-based storage platform, can be used
to store all of the images, documents and any other form of media. Every application that is
created in the Google Drive is tracked by the G-suite. There is another app known as the Google
Forms. It is used for creating and conducting surveys over the Internet. The information gathered
from the customers will aid in making better business decisions. Two types of G-suite is
available for the business purposes. One of them provides a storage space of 39 GB data at five
dollars per month while the other one provides unlimited services at just ten dollars per month.
All suitable work can be performed by the huge variety of features of the G-Suite. Just like
Zoho, the G-suite can also be used to convert the documents such as Excel and Word. The
applications in Google apps are in synchronization with Google photos, Google drive and the
Gmail. Therefore, these documents can be accessed from any place using any device such as the
iPhone, the Android or even the Windows phones. The G-suite has the element of mobile that
aids it to bring the complete suite on a smartphone (Trapani, 2007).
Recommendation:
Regional Gardens can choose to use G-suite for automating their office, even if it lacks some
very advanced features of Excel and Word. The capabilities that can be used by Regional
Gardens are:

3CONCEPTS AND MODELS
 An easy to use interface.
 Documents can be imported from the web or the4 email servers.
 The docs can be easily embedded in various websites and blogs.
 The UI supports the same ribbon bar.
 Files from PowerPoint and Word can be reproduced or even converted.
 The printing fine in quality.
Part 2:
PaaS and IaaS and their differences in the public cloud:
Infrastructure as a Service:
The cloud can be used to provide the consumer with basic computation resources. These
resources can be power for processing, components for networking, components for storage
and even middleware at a monthly or yearly subscription basis. The customers have no
control over the underlying cloud infrastructure; however, they do have total control over the
applications, its operating system and its networking components. The cloud service is
considered insecure, as all of the customers will be affected in the event of a security breach
at the service provider. Data regulatory and privacy issues can also raise concerns as third-
party companies handle the data and the infrastructure. One advantage is the cloud service
provider will be responsible for making the technology accessible and reliable for the users at
Regional Gardens. The users will in turn manage the operating system. This service assists
enterprises by providing them with computational power that they require for their business.
Regional Gardens will be able to receive the following services from IaaS services:

4CONCEPTS AND MODELS
 They will not have to purchase any hardware that is required for the business
operations. The service will be provided through cloud by the vendors upon
payment
 The resources on the cloud can be scaled from low to high depending on the
requirements for storage and processing power.
 The expenses for maintain the hardware will be saved.
 The data is replicated and stored in the cloud and hence any single point failure will
no longer be an issue.
 More time can be allocated for handling the complex business process and
strategies and less time is required for resource handling.
Platform as a Service:
The cloud environment helps the customers to take control of everything except the underlying
cloud hardware, operating system and the network. The PaaS cloud also supports the use of some
built-in applications that can be used by the consumers to test the applications that they have
developed as well as the use of the resources and storage. PaaS is found to be useful by those
organizations, which create and manage the applications as they can test these applications and
create porotypes very easily.
The following benefits can be provided by PaaS cloud to Regional Gardens:
 Various enterprises can develop applications for business development as if in a on
premise environment.
 The enterprise would be free from the responsibility of creating backups of data and
security tasks for the applications.

5CONCEPTS AND MODELS
 Collaboration can be enhanced as the representatives can work from any pace in the
world.
Choosing IaaS over PaaS:
The compatibility it has with the other cloud services is a major issue that affects the
migration from the existing service. IaaS is highly compatible with the Windows operating
system and the SQL Server 2008. However, the PaaS is incompatible with these servers. PaaS is
more secure than IaaS as PaaS does not rely on virtual machines and the consumer has full
control over the deployed application and partial control over the environment. Multiple users for
a single VM also raises IT security and data privacy issues. Every issues must be addressed
before Regional Gardens decides to migrate to these infrastructures.
Part 3:
Migration of SharePoint to the cloud from on premises:
Infrastructure as a Service:
Flexibility and reliability that is similar to hosting SharePoint at the data center on the premise of
the organization by the customer, is provided by the IaaS. The user sets up the platform and the
installation procedure whereas the service provider does the maintenance of the network and the
hardware. The implementation of this model aids in application development and deployment
while accessing is same as that from hosting on premise. A company called Rackspace provides
these types of services.
Software as a Service:

6CONCEPTS AND MODELS
SaaS has enabled the cloud users to use any application directly without the need for any
additional hardware or software. The service provider installs and manages the hardware and
software and th application can be directly used by the user. As an example of SaaS, SharePoint
in Microsoft Office 365 provides a multi-tenant environment. A multi-tenant environment
provides the advantage of reduced cost and hence Regional Gardens can opt for this as it will
provide cost effectives and there will be no additional cost for maintain any additional hardware
or software. However, one major drawback being low adaptability and the software also does not
allow any forms of customization.
Platform as a Service:
The user is provided with the complete platform in PaaS where the person can install any
application and even create applications based on their requirements. SharePoint could be
installed on the Virtual Machine that is provided where the service provider manages the
platform. The user has the core responsibility of deploying the application. OpenStack and
Microsoft Azure are examples of such service providers.
The best option for Regional Gardens:
IaaS is best suited for Regional Gardens as SharePoint can be migrated to it as it is the best that
Microsoft Azure virtual machine can provide and Microsoft manages all the deployments that
are required by SharePoint. In addition, Windows assists in adjusting the workload that is present
on SharePoint (Microsoft Azure, n.d.).
Critical factors that needs attention before migration:
 Security: Multiple tenants using the same VM raises security risks. However, it can be
mitigated if the service provider provides security supervision.

7CONCEPTS AND MODELS
 Internal Attacks: This risk is generated from the employees of the service providers
who have full access on the cloud infrastructure.
 Encryption Breach: This risk is created when the Transport layer Service is dependent
on the encryption provided by the cloud API.
REFERENCES
Frontier Business, (2017).Fundamentals of Cloud Computing - What is SaaS, PaaS, laaS and
How They Affect Your Business. Retrieved on 30 March 2018. From
http://www.supplvchain247.com/article/fundamentals of cloud computing what is saas
paas iaas
Micosoft Azure. SharePoint on Azure. Retrieved on 30 March 2018 from
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/solutions/sharepoint/
Trapani, G., (2007). Zoho Suite vs Google Docs. Retrieved on 30 March 2018. From
https://lifehacker.com/315256/zoho-suite-vs-google-doc