Jan 22 2010

How to manage risk in the cloud

Category: Cloud computingDISC @ 3:06 am

What is Cloud Computing and does it provide more protection to your business?

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  • Cloud Computing will bring many benefits to organisations, some of which include reducing operating costs, reducing power consumption and freeing you up to focus on your core business.
    The concept of shifting computing to a shared service provider is not new. What may be new is that the cost of Cloud Computing is falling so dramatically that considering outsourcing to the Cloud is no longer rare, and it is now accessible enough that any individual or organisation can use it to their advantage.

    Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing
    For Cloud Computing to be a viable option, you need to be confident that your business information will be secure and that the service you offer to your customers will still be reliable. So if you want to adopt a Cloud Computing strategy, you need to make sure you carry out due diligence on the service provider before you entrust this firm with your vital data. However, the author challenges the assumption that Cloud Computing will offer less protection to your data than relying on an in-house server. Buy Now!>

    Cloud Computing not only allows you to make economies of scale; it can also offer you the increased security that comes from sharing the resource. The author argues that moving over to Cloud Computing can actually help to defend your organisation from threats such as denial of service attacks, viruses and worms.

    Cloud service providers will tell you that Cloud Computing is bound to be better, faster and cheaper. The reality is that before switching over to Cloud Computing, you need to think carefully about whether it will really work for your business. This book shows you what you need to do to ensure that with Cloud Computing you will continue to give the standard of service your customers require. It also offers you some valuable tips on how to choose your provider of Cloud services.

    Published date: 9th February 2010.

    Pre-order this book using Voucher Code: “cloud2010” to save 10%!

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  • Tags: Business, cloud, Cloud computing, cloud computing benefits, cloud computing concerns, cloud computing risks, cloud computing security, cloud security, cloud services, cloudcomputing, Computer Science, Denial-of-service attack, Distributed Computing, due diligence, Economy of scale, Outsourcing, Security


    Jul 07 2009

    Cloud Computing Pros and Cons

    Category: Cloud computingDISC @ 6:19 pm

    Cloud Application Architectures: Building Applications and Infrastructure in the Cloud

    Cloud computing is the future of the computing, which happens to provide common business applications online that run from web browser and is comprised of virtual servers located over the internet. Basic idea behind cloud computing is the accessibility of application and data from any location as long as you are connected to the internet. Cloud computing makes the laptop the most essential tool to get the job done.

    For example Hosted Email (SaaS) Security provides safeguards at the Internet level, eliminating spam and malware before they reach your internal network infrastructure. The hosted email provides centralized security with built-in redundancy, failover, and business continuity, while easing network and security administration. In the hosted email software as a service the security controls are at work at the internet level. It’s about time to expand the corporate perimeter beyond firewall and one of the major benefit of cloud computing is to give organizations capability to implement security controls at internet level and eliminate threats before they reach the internal network.

    An online backup service is another example of software as a service (SaaS) which provides users with an online system for backing up and storing computer files.

    Cloud computing incorporates several different types of computing, including:
     software as a service (SaaS)
     platform as a service (PaaS)
     infrastructure as a service (IaaS)

    It is a range of technologies that have come together to deliver scalable, tailored and virtualized IT resources and applications over the Internet.

    Cloud Computing have several benefits and potential risks which you may want to know before signing a contract with a cloud vendor.



    Cloud Computing benefits

  • Users can avoid capital expenditure on hardware, software, and other peripheral services, when they only pay a provider for those utilities they use;

  • Consumption is billed as a utility or subscription with little or no upfront cost;

  • Immediate access to a broad range of applications, that may otherwise be out of reach, due to:

  • The lowering barriers to entry;

  • Shared infrastructure, and therefore lower costs;

  • Lower management overhead.

  • Users will have the option to terminate a contract at any time, avoiding return on investment risk and uncertainty.

  • Greater flexibility and availability of ‘shared’ information, enabling collaboration from anywhere in the world – with an internet connection.


  • Cloud computing associated risks

  • Cloud computing does not allow users to physically possess the storage of their data which leaves responsibility of data storage and control in the hands of their provider;

  • Cloud Computing could limit the freedom of users and make them dependent on the cloud computing provider;

  • Privileged user access – how do you control who has access to what information?

  • Security of sensitive and personal information lay with the vendor. How do you explain this to your customers when their data is compromised without sounding like you’re ‘passing the buck’?

  • From a business continuity stand point, can you rely on each vendor to have adequate resilience arrangements in place?

  • Long-term viability — ask what will happen to data if the company goes out of business; how will data be returned and in what format?



  • Complexities of cloud computing will introduce new risks and complexity is the enemy of security. The organizations and end users should be mindful of this security principle before introducing this new variable into their risk equation. As a consumer you need to watch out and research your potential risks before buying this service and consider getting a comprehensive security assessment from a neutral third party before committing to a cloud vendor.

    Recomended books on cloud computing

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