Sample BIS3005 Cloud Computing Assignment

BIS3005 Cloud Computing Assignment Sample

Group/individual: Individual
Word count: 2000
Weighting: 30%

Answer each of the questions below for assignment help -

Describe the difference between a locally hosted school (ie. in an enterprise data centre) and a school service provided using a SaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in choosing to migrate from a locally hosted service to an SaaS service?

Describe the difference between locally hosted university infrastructure (ie. In an enterprise data centre) and a university infrastructure provided using an IaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in choosing to migrate from local hosted infrastructure to an IaaS service provider?

ECA, wants to investigate moving two of its educational arms to a service- based model where many of its services would be supplied to its clients as a service, in addition to its plans to move to an IaaS model. There are several infrastructure models that could possibly be used to achieve this. Some of these models are:

1. Local hosted infrastructure and applications.
2. Local hosted infrastructure with some SaaS applications.
3. Hybrid infrastructure (some locally hosted infrastructure with some IaaS) and applications.
4. Hybrid infrastructure and applications with some SaaS applications.
5. Full IaaS model with some with SaaS apps.
6. Full SaaS model.

You are required to choose an infrastructure model that you think will achieve the ECA Roadmap; Describe the benefits and drawbacks, excluding costs, of your chosen infrastructure model.

Solution

Describe the difference between a locally hosted school (ie. in an enterprise data centre) and a school service provided using a SaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in choosing to migrate from a locally hosted service to an SaaS service?

Software as a Service is an internet based service which is provided and maintained by the service providers rather than in house enterprises. This is an approach to software distribution which is created by the software providers where they create and host a combination of software, database and code to create an application which can be accessed by anyone, anywhere (Palanimalai, & Paramasivam, 2015). This gives the liberty to the firms to work from anywhere around the world where there is an access to the internet. In a school there are several things that needs to be recorded as well as updated. There are several outputs that are required such as results, scores and performance in the class for both the teachers as well as the students with the help of a software. There should also be forums where students as well as the teachers can interact. Moreover, most important thing is the uploading of the class lectures that will be helpful for the students after the class. All of these things are required in a school and this required a software. Now the question arises is that there are a lot of host service providers that provides supports using SaaS which can be an option, and there are locally hosting servers can also be an option. Below are the comparison done between migrations from local server to a SaaS service provider in a school.

Time efficient: In a traditional on premise deployment it takes a lot of time to setup a particular software in a school. It is not limited to that as this requires a number of people who are expert in this field. This will make an addition to a department in a school which is absolutely unnecessary. The software will need a lot of time to build and will take time to implement it at the same time. The resources will be extra that will be required for this venture. These resources can be put to use for the school and student welfare. The extra services that will be required cannot not be shared always and the school have to compromise because of the time that it will take to be developed. In case of SaaS, the software is already installed and configured all the school have to do is to provision the server into the cloud and the system will be up and running and ready to use (Nakkeeran, et.al. 2021).

Higher Scalability: Unlike the local server the SaaS has a higher scalability which means that for an extra service the school needs to by a new SaaS and merger it with the previous one. The new SaaS will be owned by the service provider or the host as they will maintain the whole thing for them. For an instance, during the pandemic all the schools needed to conduct online classes but the schools authority did not have that feature. For the inclusion of this feature the schools authority should only have granted for a new SaaS that will be owned by the host but in case of a local server the whole thing was needed to develop first and then merge with the local server that can be accessed using a different link.

Upgrade: SaaS gets auto updated as the host will maintain the whole system for the school. The effort associated with the upgrading of the system is much less in case of SaaS and also cost efficient at the same time. In a traditional model the school will have to buy the upgrade and then install it into the system where as in SaaS the provider will do everything for the school at a very low amount of time.

Proof-of-Concept: This is a feature in SaaS where the users can see and learn about the updates prior to its launch (Kaltenecker, 2015). The functionality can also be tested to understand its functionality. In case of local server this is not an option as the software can only be tested once it is upgraded into the system.

The above differences will give an idea about the difference between and advantages of a SaaS service provider over the local enterprise system. In an enterprise like school it would be a little much to go for SaaS but a lot of things will be easier for the school. The SaaS service is more upgraded nowadays. Many a firms including schools and colleges are interested in using SaaS as their system software. Due to pandemic every institution has started to understand the usability of Software as a Service. Institutes has also started using IaaS as their new system solution which is a better solution. That is been discussed in the next question. Describe the difference between locally hosted university infrastructure (i.e., in an enterprise data center) and a university infrastructure provided using an IaaS provider. What are the critical points, other than cost, that an enterprise would need to consider in migrating from locally hosted infrastructure to an IaaS service provider?

Computing infrastructure includes hardware such as computers, modems, networking cables/wires, etc. Resources such as offices and staff are required to run a firm. To start an IT firm, one must have an infrastructure. Designing, finishing, and executing the designs and requirements need much planning (Rodriguez, 2014). It also demands a significant investment in land and other technological devices. A locally hosted infrastructure may install and deploy numerous software applications using one's hardware, networks, and storage devices. However, as cloud computing advances in the technological world, organizations may rent physical amenities such as functional connections and hardware facilities monthly. Infrastructure as a Service (IAS) is an IT infrastructure available through various cloud-based solutions. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers provide hardware and other essentials in return for service. It is essential to examine and analyze the whole service details for better implications and results.

The essential idea contributing to the mobile infrastructure IaaS prototype is to employ a simulated notion that allows equipment assets to be shared by several firms for various servers held by IaaS suppliers rather than arranging for hardware and organization demands as with nearby hosted groundwork.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of IaaS Analyzing particular benefits and drawbacks can lead to better choices and implications, in a real-life scenario. On the other hand, organizations will get the highest benefit, by building the most appropriate and compatible infrastructure. Cloud technology is already hard to manage and control in an organization. In that case, the analysis will also provide better clarity and operational benefits. Several studies show that cloud storage is growing increasingly popular among enterprises. Clients can rent infrastructure and platform services in addition to software from the cloud facility. In addition to cost reductions, using Infrastructure-as-a-Service may provide several other benefits. There is no one source of dissatisfaction, no hardware venture, and so on. No need to consider where the infrastructure will be placed, regardless of location. Serve that exact are stored in the same area as the company's other business activities is a huge hassle. There is no reason to lease or rent space when infrastructure is hosted in the cloud.

Hardware safeguards

There will be no need to keep an eye on the physical apparatus to ensure security. CCTV and security staff are used by businesses to secure their physical assets (Vaquero, Rodero-Merino, & Morán, 2011). IaaS services, on the other hand, are accessed via a cloud platform, and the company that employs them is indifferent to the physical security of the equipment. The failure of one or two switches does not affect the overall performance of a cloud-hosted network. IaaS providers have the redundant infrastructure to safeguard their consumers. If a single data center fails, the infrastructure may be automatically relocated to other data centers so that users can continue accessing it.

Flexible

As needed, infrastructure may be scaled up or down. If the company expands, it won't have to acquire more equipment to meet demand, as is the case with locally hosted infrastructure. However, with IaaS, organizations need to take a few simple actions to access extra resources immediately. This functionality considerably improves IaaS scalability as compared to locally hosted infrastructure.

Cloud computing technology is also resource and cost-efficient, as all the data are saved and monitored by cloud servers. In that case, the cost of big data centers is saved. Database management, system optimization and changes also become easier and more organized. This will help in other financial investments like inventory. The project managers can also plan new system updates and categorizations that can easily connect new suppliers and other stakeholders with the system. Building financial and sales reports will also be more accurate and easier by implementing the particular technology. In that case, the business leaders and management team will be able to prepare a most market-compatible and effective strategy.

Availability

It offers round-the-clock support with access to the company's selected infrastructure to store and install the software. Because of this concern, infrastructure is always accessible. Companies and customers can access infrastructure from anywhere in the world. This also improves the networking model and connectivity between the stakeholders and organizational authorities. In a cloud environment, organizations may manage their infrastructure more efficiently. This is because they are in charge of managing and making such resources available on demand (Vaquero, Rodero-Merino, & Morán, 2011). Infrastructure Management Requires Fewer Employees because the IaaS provider collects the infrastructure. Before making arrangements to relocate from local hosting, businesses must examine many critical aspects. This is also essential for organizational and system security management. The operation will require system encryption, a developer support team, regular system checkups, system verification, etc. The project managers will also be responsible to prepare particular system policies that can satisfy the security management requirements and implementation requirements. ECA wants to investigate moving two of its educational arms to a service-based model where many of its services would be supplied to its clients as a service, in addition to its plans to move to an IaaS model. Several infrastructure models could be used to achieve this. Some of these models are:

1. Local hosted infrastructure and applications.
2. Locally hosted infrastructure with some SaaS applications.
3. Hybrid infrastructure (some locally hosted infrastructure with some IaaS) and applications.
4. Hybrid infrastructure and applications with some SaaS applications.
5. Full IaaS model with some SaaS apps.
6. Full SaaS model.

You are required to choose an infrastructure model that you think will achieve the ECA Roadmap; describe the benefits and drawbacks, excluding costs, of your infrastructure model selected.

Hybrid infrastructure (some locally hosted infrastructure with some IaaS) and applications There are various advantages of employing hybrid architecture and technologies in IaaS services. The Hybrid cloud method with special IaaS features provides several benefits. It is a strength to serve both public and private clouds. It offers round-the-clock support for access. Outline the merits and disadvantages of the hybrid approach, excluding prices. This method has a significant advantage since it can be used for both. Private and public cloud infrastructures can coexist, and sensitive and non-sensitive data can be isolated (Williams, 2013).

It offers round-the-clock help for gaining access to improved Mobility. Choosing a hybrid cloud is also helpful in terms of change or upgrade. A small testing project is planned so that infrastructure may be easily adapted to suit future demands. Increased Development/Testing Capacity contends that hybrid clouds provide the best of both worlds in terms of scalability, adaptability, elasticity, and Location independence. A hybrid cloud option is also available worldwide, making it easier to use (Williams, 2013). The accessibility of on-site servers is another advantage for the company that it may utilize its existing servers. As a result, selecting a technical model compatible with some IaaS applications that suffer from the drawbacks of hybrid infrastructure and software is a good mixture (Manvi, & Shyam, 2014). In addition to its many benefits, the chosen model has several downsides, like identification and Personal Information Protection. As previously said, hybrid clouds provide the benefits of leveraging private and public cloud resources but also require substantial administration work. When determining what is public and private, extreme caution must be exercised (Khajeh-Hosseini, Greenwood, & Sommerville, 2010).

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