Cloud Computing Project: Enhancing Business Performance

This project delves into the realm of cloud computing, analyzing its significance and benefits for businesses. It begins with an introduction to cloud computing, its architecture, and various infrastructure types, including private, public, and hybrid cloud models. The project investigates the impact of cloud computing on business efficiency and productivity, supported by a literature review exploring the evolution and advantages of cloud technology. Key research questions are formulated to guide the data collection process. The methodology involves an explanatory research design utilizing both primary and secondary data collection methods. The project outlines a detailed time schedule and addresses ethical considerations and limitations. The conclusion summarizes the findings, emphasizing the importance of cloud computing for businesses and its role in enhancing overall performance. References and appendices are included to support the research.

Running Head: Cloud Computing
CLOUD COMPUTING

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................2
Project Objective.........................................................................................................................................3
Project scope...............................................................................................................................................4
Literature review.........................................................................................................................................5
Research Questions/Hypothesis...................................................................................................................7
Research Design and Methodology.............................................................................................................8
Research Limitations.................................................................................................................................11
Time schedule (Research Plan)..................................................................................................................12
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................15
References.................................................................................................................................................16
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................19

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Research title: Cloud Computing
Introduction
With the advancement in the technology, many organisations are implementing the new
technologies in their processes. One of those technologies is cloud computing. It is the
technology that is being used by most of the organisations these days. Those technologies
provide many benefits to the businesses. Not only the big companies but the small companies are
making more use of cloud computing services. This is because big companies have their own IT
infrastructure but small companies find it very costly to develop their own IT infrastructure.
Development of cloud computing has also created a new era of competition amongst the
businesses to build their network and enhance the businesses. Cloud computing has become a
very popular idea and service (Ezell & Swanson, 2017).
Cloud computing is an innovative technology which is being used by the businesses for
managing the data in a better manner and focusing on the performance of the business. Cloud
computing has provided a cost benefit to the organization which has contributed to the
performance of the business. Cloud computing is considered as a bonafide business strategy for
the organizations operating at different levels. Cloud computing has enhanced the level of
flexibility of the organizations and promotes better forecasting on the basis of the stored data
(Shuleski, et. al., 2016).
This essay describes the overall functioning of cloud computing and it infrastructure.
This is the project that discusses about the concept called cloud computing. The major focus of
the project is to analyse the importance and benefits of cloud computing is business efficiency

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and productivity. Research has been conducted on this topic so as to analyse the aspects related
to the topic which is popular in the business environment.

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Project Objective
This project focus on the concept cloud computing. Objective of the research is to gather data
regarding the role of cloud computing, the manner in which cloud computing works and benefits
of using the cloud computing for enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the business. As
far as the specificity of the objectives is considered, following are some of the objectives of
cloud computing:
1. What is cloud computing and how it works?
2. What are the benefits of cloud computing on the business efficiency and productivity?

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Project scope
The scope of the project is to know about the level of involvement, cloud computing has in
businesses. This report focuses on cloud computing and its impact on businesses. This helps the
researchers to better understand the intensity of cloud computing involvement in the businesses
these days. The scope of the research is so wide. Understanding the benefits of cloud computing
in businesses help them to take better decisions in order to implement the cloud computing
services in the organisations (Armbrust, et. al., 2010). The focus of this research program will be
on analyzing the increasing role of cloud computing and impact of cloud computing on business.
There various benefits of using cloud computing to a business and these benefits will be
discussed in this research program. Cloud architecture will be discussed in this research program
along with the cloud computing infrastructure and types of cloud computing infrastructure.

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Literature review
Concept of Cloud Computing
According to the report presented by Intel (2013), cloud computing can be explained as the
storage device acting as an online database where data is stored. The Internet is being used as a
medium for storing, saving data and using the data as per the need of the business. Cloud
computing has contributed to the decision making the process of the business. Safety and
security of the data have increased with the use of cloud computing.
Cloud computing architecture
Cloud computing architecture can be explained as the components which are required for cloud
computing. There are four layers in the cloud computing architecture. These four layers are
hardware layer, an infrastructure layer, a platform layer, and application layer.
Cloud computing infrastructure and types of Cloud computing infrastructure
Different virtual technologies are being used for the purpose of building the cloud computing
infrastructure. Different models of the cloud are available which can be used by the businesses as
per their need. These models of the cloud include private cloud, public cloud, and hybrid cloud.
Organizations can select the models of the cloud as per the need of the business. Different types
of cloud computing infrastructure are available which include infrastructure as a service,
software as a service and platform as a service (Lewis, 2010).

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Figure 1: Reasons for using cloud computing by the business
Source: (Wpengine, 2017)
Cloud as an emerging utility in business
Buyya, et. al. (2009), the use of cloud computing by the businesses has increased with the change
in the business environment. Various applications can be accessed in an easy manner with the
help of cloud computing. Numerous pros of cloud computing have been identified which include
on-demand services, pay as you go, guaranteed quality, accessibility and pooling of resources
(Metzler, 2011). Customers or businesses can use cloud computing services as per the need and
customization is possible. Payment can be made for the service used as per the usage is possible.
Cloud computing is designed with a user-friendly interface (Gibson, et. al., 2012). Quality of the
service is maintained in cloud computing by focusing on the infrastructure of the business.
Services can be used on a shared basis with the help of cloud computing (Avram, 2014).

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Cloud Computing in Business
According to Carlin & Curran (2012), organizations are using IT tools for the purpose of rapid
development, batch processing, and business analytics. With the increase in the competition,
there has been a rise in the number of organizations using of cloud computing. Cloud computing
has resulted in a reduction in the cost involved in managing and storing data, reliable, enhanced
security of the data, mobility, recovery and backup and immediacy. These benefits result in
enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the organization.
Figure 2: Impact of cloud computing on business
Source: (Coles, 2018)

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Research Questions/Hypothesis
Research questions have been prepared so as to form a base for guiding the data collection
process and assembling of the quality data. Research questions for this research program are
mentioned below:
Primary question
 What is the importance of cloud computing for businesses?
Secondary questions
 What are the benefits of using cloud computing in business?
 How does cloud computing work towards the enhancement of the efficiency and
productivity of the business?

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Research Design and Methodology
Data collection is an important aspect of every research as the success of the research is based on
the quality of the data collected. For the attainment of the objectives of the research, data has
been assembled with the application of different methods or approaches. These different
approaches have contributed towards the assembling of the data regarding the concept of cloud
computing and its importance and benefits to the efficiency and productivity of the business.
With the change in technology, cloud computing has gained much importance due to the benefits
associated with its use.
Research method or design: analysis has been made of the different research methods so as to
choose the appropriate design. An explanatory research design has been chosen for the
accumulation of the data regarding the cloud computing and its role in enhancing the efficiency
and productivity of the business (Subedi, 2016). Explanatory research design helps in the
developing knowledge of the concept in a better manner by forming priorities. The explanatory
research will help in developing an understanding of the behavior in the market (Gorard, 2013).
This research will help in gathering information related to cloud computing and its increasing
importance for the business efficiency and productivity. The qualitative method will be used for
the accumulation of the data with the use of primary and secondary methods.
Data collection: The term data collection can be explained as the process of assembling of the
data for an activity. Data collection is an important aspect which determines the chances of
success of the research program. Quality of the data is an important element which is dependent
on the methods selected for the process of data collection. Primary data is the raw and first-hand
data assembled by the researchers solely for the research. This form of data is a less reliable form