Cloud Computing

From EITLC Wiki

Contents 1 Rating of this issue is closed 2 Issue Overview 3 Benefits and Issues 4 Potential Next Steps or Solutions for EITLC Consideration 5 Sources Rating of this issue is closed Thank you for providing your ratings on this issue as a potential focus for an EITLC Priority Action Team. Results of voting and top issues will be announced shortly.

Issue Overview

Cloud computing, as described by Maj. Carl Brodhun (lead information architect for the Marine Corps' System Command), is a "globally accessible resource pool," a "business process that allows peopel to leverage the technical advancements associated with virtualization" (GNC). Three cloud computing options exist: public (external cloud, hosted off-site by third-party provider), hybrid (multiple internal and/or external providers), and private (internal/private network). It includes subscription-based or pay-per-use services which extend existing capability over the Internet, and incorporates the following:

• Infrastructure as a service
• Platform as a service
• Software as a service
• Other recent technologies which rely on the Internet to satisfy computing needs of users

Benefits and Issues

Primary benefits of cloud computing are increased flexibility and utilization of resources/infrastructure, savings with consolidation, and increase response to changing IT needs. It is a powerful trend that is often associated with publishing as they address many related barriers:

• Need for Security: Allowing unsolicited inbound requests to existing firewall
  
• Reduced Cost: Of servicing popular web services
  
• Need for responsive server: for large requrests without idle time when not being utilized
  
• Need for responsiveness: in mounting and revising services and allowing broader selection of contractors to access the infrastructure
  

However, many issues exist with cloud computing, including:

• Security: Potential unauthorized access, inappropriate use, data leakage, including:
  • Privileged access
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Data location
  • Data segregation
  • Recovery
  • Long term viability
• Performance: Quality of service commitments and service-level agreements
  
• Procurement
  
• Responsibility: users cannot physically store their data, so providers are responsible for data storage
• Freedom: Potentially limiting to users by making them dependant on the computing provider

Potential Next Steps or Solutions for EITLC Consideration

To assess the benefits of cloud computing or publishing, consider conducting a pilot on cloud publishing. For relatively low costs, perform a pilot to temporarily sidestep a host of administrative and security issues. Further investigage how different software operates in a cloud architecture, possibilities for workflow of modifications, and server capacity.

Sources

• Jackson, Jaob. "Capturing the Private Cloud." Government Computer News. Volume 28, Issue 13. July 13, 2009.
  
• Dzubeck, Frank. "Five Cloud Computing Questions." Network World. August 5, 2008. 
• Cloud Computing, Wikipedia