Webb Store: Cloud Computing, SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS Analysis Report

This report examines the implementation of cloud computing solutions for Webb Store, a regional retail industry facing challenges in data security and efficient data access. The report analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of migrating the company's application platform to cloud-based solutions, including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) models. It provides an overview of cloud computing concepts, compares AWS and Azure, and explores different cloud service models. The report discusses an IaaS approach for migrating Webb Store's database, a PaaS approach, and offers recommendations for mitigating cloud computing issues such as security and access level protection. The content includes PowerPoint presentations and a detailed analysis of the approaches, advantages, disadvantages, and potential solutions.

Running head: VIRTUALIZATION AND CLOUD COMPUTING
Virtualization and Cloud Computing: Webb store
Assessment No
Assessment Title
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VIRTUALIZATION AND CLOUD COMPUTING
Executive summary
This report reflects the importance of utilizing cloud based data management application to
mitigate the issues of traditional information management. Due to the increasing number of
consumers the Webb Store regional retails industry is failing to provide security to the server
and also efficient data access approaches to the employees. In order to mitigate these issues
the company is willing to migrate, their application platform to cloud based solution. The
challenges, advantages and disadvantages of cloud based SaaS, PaaS, IaaS are illustrated in this
report.
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Table of Contents
Question 1: Power point presentation.......................................................................................... 3
Question 2: Power point presentation.......................................................................................... 9
Question 3:.................................................................................................................................. 11
i. An IaaS approach to migrate Webb store’s database to the cloud.......................................11
ii. A PaaS approach to migrate Webb store’s database to cloud.............................................11
iii. Advantages and disadvantages of the approaches.............................................................12
iv. Set of recommendations to mitigate the issues of cloud computing..................................12
References................................................................................................................................... 13
Appendices.................................................................................................................................. 15
Appendix 1: Question 1............................................................................................................... 15
Appendix 1: Question 2............................................................................................................... 15
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Question 1: Power point presentation
Slide 1
Slide 3
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Slide 4 notes:
It's been 10 years since the introduction of Amazon Web Services (AWS). In that time a lot
has changed about AWS and about the competitive landscape around it. One of those
competitors, Microsoft Azure, has been operating since 2010. That's not as long as AWS of
course, but six years is still quite a while, and Microsoft has a history of making significant
improvements to any product it really puts it in mind to and starts iterating on. Considering
the quality of service and productivity support Webb Store should use AWS.
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Slide 5 notes:
Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)
Cloud Providers offering Infrastructure as a Service tout data-center space, and servers;
as well as network equipment such as routers/switches and software for businesses. These
data-centers are fully outsourced, you need not lift a finger, upgrade an IOS or re-route data.
Although this is the base layer, it allows for scalability and reliability; as well as better security
than an organization may have in a local co-lo or local datacenter
Platform-as-a-Service (Paas)
Provisioning a full hardware architecture and software framework to allow applications
to run is the essence of Platform-as-a-Service. There is a huge market for customers who
require flexible, robust web-based applications. But, in order for these applications to run,
there needs to be platform supporting it that is just as robust and flexible
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Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
Software-as-a-Service is the process of provisioning commercially available software but
giving access over the net. The customer does not have to worry about software licenses, since
they are handled by the service provider. The provider also handles upgrades, patches, or bug
fixes.
Slide 6 notes:
The infrastructure is shared. Multiple clients share a common technology platform and
even a single application instance. The services are accessed on demand in units that vary by
service. Units like user, capacity, transaction or any combination thereof. Services are
scalable. From the user's point of view, services are flexible; there are no limits to growth. The
pricing model is by consumption. Instead of paying the fixed costs of a service sized to handle
peak usage, you pay a variable cost per unit consumption (users, transactions, capacity, etc.)
that is measured in time periods that can vary, such as hour or month.
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Slide 7 notes
IaaS provides the processing environment (servers, storage, load balancers, firewalls).
These services can be implemented through different technologies, virtualization being the
most common one, but there are implementations that use grid technologies or clusters. PaaS
provides an environment for developing and running applications. Authentication,
authorization, session management and metadata are also part of this service. SaaS is the most
advanced and complex cloud model. The software services provide functionalities that solve
user problems, whether it's an individual or an employee of a company.
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Slide 8: Conclusion
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Question 2: Power point presentation
Slide 3
Slide 4
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Slide 5
Slide 6
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Slide 7
Question 3:
i. An IaaS approach to migrate Webb store’s database to the cloud
In order to manage large set of confidential data it is necessary for Webb store to use
proper data management technology. The company is currently using the 2012R2 database for
managing the data (Bruneo, 2014). However, in order to combat this issue, IaaS high security
providing platform is required to be used by Webb store.
ii. A PaaS approach to migrate Webb store’s database to cloud
PaaS offers the user to use this platform with a lesser cost and access time as well. The
overall capital expenditure gets reduced with the cloud elements such as network components,
storage and server (Chang, Walters & Wills, 2013). It also reduces the functional and software
operational cost.
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