Webb's Store Cloud Migration Report

This report analyzes Webb's Store's decision to migrate its database to the cloud, focusing on the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) models. It discusses the current challenges faced by the store's database management and evaluates the pros and cons of both cloud delivery models. The report concludes with a recommendation for adopting the PaaS model due to its flexibility and reduced user responsibilities.

Webb’s Store
Cloud Model
8/24/2017

Webb’s Store
Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Data Migration for Webb’s Stores - IaaS.....................................................................................................3
Data Migration for Webb’s Stores - PaaS....................................................................................................4
Comparison of IaaS and PaaS – Pros and Cons...........................................................................................4
Recommendations and Conclusion..............................................................................................................5
References...................................................................................................................................................7
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Webb’s Store
Executive Summary
Webb’s Stores is an Australian retailer of food and specialty goods. The management of the store
has decided to move its database to the cloud due to the problems and issues that are present with
the current database in terms of information management. The document covers the details on
the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud delivery models and
their applicability in this case. The comparison between the two models and their respective
advantages and disadvantages has been covered along with the recommendation for Webb’s
stores.
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Webb’s Store
Introduction
Webb’s Stores is a retail chain that is based out of Australia and New Zealand. The product
categories that the store deals in and provides to its customers include food items and specialty
items. The store has its data stores and data centres in Sydney and Melbourne along with other
locations such as Brisbane and many others. These locations have a regional data centre. The
data centres that are set up for the store have Microsoft SQL Server 2012 R2 database for the
data storage along with data management, data operations and maintenance. The operational
activities of the store are completely based upon the performance and quality of the databases. A
WAN which is based upon the fibre has been used for the inter-connection of the data centres.
However, with the current system, there are many problems that have been observed in terms of
data loss and duplication. Servers based on x86 are used to run the databases which are further
attached to the HPE 3PAR SAN. These have a storage space of 1PB. SAN is used in connection
with the three major data centres of the store. The data centre that is located in Auckland also has
a copy of the entire sets of the data of the store. There are issues associated with latency and
store that have been observed. In order to overcome the current set of problems, the decision has
been taken to move the database and all the data sets on the cloud.
Data Migration for Webb’s Stores - IaaS
Cloud computing has been proposed as a solution to the current issues with the present
databases. The cloud database and the migration of the current database on the cloud shall be
done with the aid of one of the cloud delivery models. There are three major cloud delivery
models as Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a
Service (PaaS). In case of IaaS, the cloud service provider and the cloud vendor makes all the
arrangements and requirements for the setting up of the infrastructure.
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Webb’s Store
IaaS Cloud Delivery Model
IaaS models are the ones that are self-service in nature, that is, these models perform all of the
operations associated with the information storage and management along with the inter-
connection of the networks. However, the users that are present and are associated with the IaaS
model are also required to take up the responsibilities associated with the management of the
computing resources along with the memory (Khurana, 2013).
The decision to move the information on the cloud database has been taken by the Webb’s Stores
which will comprise of all of the data sets associated with employees, customers, products and
associated operations. The cloud delivery model will in this case will provide the complete
infrastructure. The user and employees associated with the store will however will not have the
skills and knowledge to manage the CPU resources and memory. The management of
middleware and the runtime activities will also be difficult to manage in case of IaaS.
Data Migration for Webb’s Stores - PaaS
There is also other model for cloud delivery that may be applied in case of the store. This model
is cloud Platform-as-a-Service which is commonly abbreviated as PaaS. The platform which is
required to perform the cloud services are provided in this model for the execution of cloud
related operations.
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Webb’s Store
PaaS is the cloud model that makes the execution of the cloud services extremely convenient and
it also provides the services that are cost-effective in nature. There are three deployment models
of cloud viz. public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud. PaaS model is compatible with all of
these three cloud deployment models (Ashraf, 2014).
Platform as a Service (PaaS) cloud delivery model
A lot of effort will be required to be put in for the migration of data and information from the
current database to the cloud database in this case. PaaS model will make the process quicker
and it will also be accurate in nature. PaaS model will provide many benefits in terms of the
adaptability and flexibility of the services and the multi-tenancy framework that will be
provided.
Comparison of IaaS and PaaS – Pros and Cons
Parameter Infrastructure as a Service Platform as a Service
Services Offered The model provides the
service in the form of the
cloud infrastructure that is
necessary for the deployment
of cloud operations and
solutions
A framework in the form of
cloud platform is provided for
the execution of the required
tasks and activities on the
cloud.
Responsibility - User Management of the CPU
resources, runtime,
middleware along with the
Users are free from all the
roles and responsibilities.
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Webb’s Store
memory.
Responsibilities – Vendor Management of the tools and
equipment and the data
sources (Rao, 2013).
Management of all the
technical and operational
activities
Multiple and Simultaneous
Users
Difficulty in access to the
multiple and simultaneous
users
Ease of access to the multiple
and simultaneous users
Scalability The services that are provided
by IaaS model are scalable in
nature
The services that are provided
by PaaS model are scalable in
nature
Convenience and ease of
operations
Limited Abundant
Recommendations and Conclusion
Out of the two cloud delivery models that have been discussed and explained above, the model
that fits the best in the case of the Webb’s Stores is Platform as a Service, PaaS model
(Hashizume, 2017).
The recommendation regarding the PaaS model has been provided because of the requirements
of the cloud services and cloud database for the Webb’s Stores. In case of the IaaS model, there
is a lot of responsibility on the end-system user in terms of the management and maintenance of
CPU resources, memory and middleware. Such activities require skills and knowledge to
perform the same which would not be possible in case of the store. However, the users will be
independent and free from all such responsibilities in case of PaaS model. There will also be
many benefits in terms of the flexibility and adaptability of the services which would make it
possible and convenient to implement the changes in future.
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Webb’s Store
References
Ashraf, I. (2014). An Overview of Service Models of Cloud Computing. Retrieved 24 August
2017, from http://ijmcr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Paper18779-783.pdf
Hashizume, K. (2017). Cloud Service Model Patterns. Retrieved 24 August 2017, from
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.463.5063&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Khurana, S. (2013). Comparison of Cloud Computing Service Models: SaaS, PaaS, IaaS.
Retrieved 24 August 2017, from http://www.iject.org/vol4/spl3/c0100.pdf
Rao, C. (2013). Cloud: Computing Services And Deployment Models. Retrieved 24 August 2017,
from http://www.ijecs.in/issue/v2-i12/8%20ijecs.pdf
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