| The latest buzz word in the IT industry is 'Cloud | | | | for storing serverso It lifts efficiency and brings about |
| Computing.' The term also called Software as a | | | | proper resource utilizationo Reduces both capital and |
| Service (SaaS) refers to a set-up where software is | | | | operating costs, through economies of scale.o |
| shared over a wide network of computers. They are | | | | Facilitates rapid deployment and immediate scalability |
| a natural extension of Web 2.0 and are a practical | | | | with no on-premise infrastructure.o It eliminates |
| way of accessing all data and applications from any | | | | traditional IT infrastructure management hurdles that |
| location or platform. In the US, over two-thirds of web | | | | slows down and interferes with an organization's |
| users make use of cloud-based services. | | | | overall progress. |
| Forward-looking companies of all sizes are now | | | | Cloud computing is likely to be adopted across |
| looking at this model to reduce infrastructure costs and | | | | enterprises within the next five years. There is no |
| increase computational capabilities. It is important to | | | | doubting the efficiency and financial benefits that this |
| choose a reliable vendor, offering the most advanced | | | | process will bring. The greatest barrier to moving to |
| techniques to protect client data. | | | | this system relate to issues concerning:o Security |
| The case for Cloud Computingo Cloud computing | | | | & data privacy issueso Regulatory / compliance |
| brings down hardware costs considerably. An | | | | concernso Ability to bring systems back in-houseo |
| inexpensive computer terminal with enough processing | | | | Integration with existing systems |
| power to run the middleware necessary to connect to | | | | Security concerns around this issue can be countered |
| the cloud system is all that a company would require.o | | | | with the right technology and systems can be made |
| Companies don't have to obtain software licenses for | | | | as secure - if not more secure - than existing |
| every employee. Instead, the company could pay a | | | | server-based office systems. Cloud computing is a |
| metered fee to a cloud computing company.o It gives | | | | viable Internet model for small and medium businesses |
| companies the option of storing data on someone | | | | since it provides a cost effective solution to meet |
| else's hardware, removing the need for physical space | | | | increasing computing needs and energy consumption. |