Cloud Computing Assignment

June 2022 Examination

Question 1

Answer 1:

INTRODUCTION

Cloud Computing: It is the on-demand access to computing resources including data

storage, servers (virtual and physical), applications, networking capabilities, development tools
etc. which is hosted at a remote data centre controlled by a cloud services provider which can be
accessible via the internet.

Overview of Cloud Based e-learning Solution:

Students, instructors, and administrators all benefit from cloud computing in a university or
educational institute. Why on cloud?

 Require huge storage space and server capacity which is costly and difficult to
achieve on-premises.
 It is difficult to maintain own data centre for such requirements.
 Lower costs: Because cloud computing web-based programs run in the cloud rather than
on a desktop PC.
 Improved performance: cloud-based e-learning systems have fewer apps and processes
stored into device memory, they function faster.
 Instant software and security updates: web-based programs, updates are automatic.

What is Cloud Deployment model? It is a specific configuration of environment

parameters such as ownership and deployment infrastructure accessibility, as well as storage
space.

Let’s report out some pros and cons of each cloud deployment model for university online
learning platform.
CONCEPT AND APPLICATION

Cloud Deployment model is generally classified based on the type of service being provided or
its location. Based on location, cloud deployment models can be classified as private cloud,
public cloud, hybrid cloud and community cloud.

Cloud-based E-learning Alternatives:

Public Cloud Approach:

Public Cloud: General masses use or accessed these types of clouds. Public cloud are
maintained, hosted as well as managed by cloud service providers like Google, Amazon and
Microsoft. Charges or cost for the users are as per their usage.

Pros for Public Cloud:

 It is the most practical and quickest strategy to developing a good cloud-based e-

learning system.
 University can profit from this cloud solution at the lowest cost shortest time and in the
shortest time.
  Auto scaling is a characteristic of public cloud services and Its Maintenance and
Reliability

Cons for Public Cloud:

 No control: Causes some uneasiness among business owners

 Flexibility: There are issues for configuration and security. In public cloud of some
providers flexibility of switch storage solution or operating system is not given.
 Security: When workloads are moved to a shared infrastructure, the risk of illegal access
and exposure grows. It's perceived as a security or privacy threat.
 Customization: it is almost impossible to make any customization in public cloud as the
atmosphere of public cloud is limiting to customization and it lacks customer support.

Private Cloud Approach:

A cloud-based e-learning system that is operated within a single company and governed by the
third party or same organization is nearly portable and secure. This is designed solely for the
single organization and it can’t be accessed by or shared with other organization.

Pros for Private Cloud:

 Easy Customization: The Company can easily customize the hardware and other
resources.
 In the event of an on-premise infrastructure, the initial hardware investment is relatively
significant.
 Security: A single customer owns the cloud. As a result, the infrastructure and systems
can be set up to provide maximum security.
 Controls: Improved data, user, and information asset controls.
 Compliance: In private clouds, compliance is simple.

Cons for Private Cloud:

 Cost: In terms of expenses costs are substantial. Like personnel costs and periodic
hardware upgrade, per resource usage etc.
  Capacity Capping: due to physical hardware limitation danger of data loss due is there
and there is capping in capacity to handle only certain amount of servers or storage
 Under-Utilization: resources subscribed can be under-utilization in some instances and it
is challenge to optimize it.
 Lock-In Vendor: when the hardware and infra is outsourced this can be major
impediment in private cloud adoption.

Hybrid Cloud Strategy:

The cloud environmental in which various external or internal service providers provide services
to many organization is known as Hybrid cloud. High-level security where private cloud and if
application required less security concern can be hosted on a public cloud. In hybrid cloud, an
organization can be using both types of clouds i.e. public and private cloud.

Cloud Bursting in such case generally uses its own computing infra and in which application
running out of storage can shift itself from private to public cloud.

Pros for Hybrid Cloud Strategy:

 Flexibility: it easier to bring the e-learning system back in-house or migrate to another
cloud provider
 Deployment and Scalability: modular system according to needs. Provides better
resource allocation and avoids investing in hundreds of servers.
 Speed and Mobility: enable to move faster move among software
 Increased Data Security: It also aids in the enhancement of system security by allowing
sensitive data to be stored in a private environment.

Cons for Hybrid Cloud Strategy:

 In-House Expenses: expensive than public cloud because of maintenance and

installation.
 Difficult to Implement: difficult to maintain and complex to implement
 Data integration and Compatibility: compatibility between files used in private and
public cloud is difficult.
  Concern of Security due to 3rd party Involvement

Community Cloud Strategy:

A community cloud is a type of cloud that is shared among various organizations with the
common interest. It can be made available on-or-off premises.

For example: For all the university departments, information is made available of all department
of university over the cloud.

Pros for Community Cloud Strategy:

 Flexibility and Scalability: it easier to bring the e-learning system back in-house or
migrate to another cloud provider
 Its Reliability and Availability
 Security and Compliance: Community deployments work in the same way as private
deployments. Users can set their own security level.

Cons for Community Cloud Strategy:

 It can male increase IT staff and would require support staff.

 Security is based on IT staff knowledge
 Remote access may be limited and would require support.
 Complexity is increase as the department’s data is shared of all community.

CONCLUSION
So, this can be concluded that, Cloud computing has the potential to revolutionize the entire
educational system. So, all these cloud deployment models are available to be deployed for
online platform of the university and have their own pros and cons. The argument over Cloud
deployment models according to me won by “Hybrid Deployment Model” for university online
learning platform. As it best suits for the university requirement of security with scalability
and huge storage requirements.
Question 2

Answer 2:

INTRODUCTION

A Goa based Software Development Company which is majorly working on the development of
insurance related products. They have decided to implement cloud for its customer support
but because of the majority of their product domain is insurance and banking, they are
concerned about the security of their customer data over the cloud.

Overview of Cloud Based Insurance Related Solution (Build by Software

Development Company):

Cloud computing can assist developers and businesses in making systems and software more
secure. Recovery and Data integrity are made possible by cloud systems. Developers that do
not use the cloud will have less secure software and computer networks, which could lead to
hacking or data losses.

What Insurance Product Software Requirements and Needs for Cloud Computing?

 Insurance solution needs to have scalable service delivery that satisfy their business
application requirements and accelerate the time to market for their offerings.
 Cloud computing can leverage Insurers as a delivery model to help them expedite or
facilitate business transformation.
 Would help insurance product development and test, collaboration, virtual desktop,
and analytics, to launch new products and services faster, increase productivity, and
save operational costs.
 By looking at the four primary areas of insurance business processes and applications:
front office, back office, compliance, and investment where cloud computing can be
required
 Insurance software would require collaboration among their company staff and the
end user of the insurance company.
So, all such needs and requirements can be fulfilled using a cloud based insurance solution. But
this comes with the drawback as the insurance data is sensitive in nature and cloud
deployment model should be chosen carefully as there are risk of data leak, security and
other technical challenges of using a cloud.

Let’s report out such security and technical concerns in great detail:

CONCEPT AND APPLICATION

Some of the use cases of cloud computing for insurance practices in areas like: Analytics, Data
storage, Introducing system modernization (business flexibility), Collaboration and Cost
reduction etc. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model has lower level of standardisation
where Software as a Service (SaaS), has very little control over functionality provided and
business processes.
Security Challenges of Adopting Cloud:

 Reduced control and Visibility: When one move to a cloud network that is operated by
outsourced company, control can be loosen over the data and systems. Lack of control
has numerous risks involved where one need to entrust them. The cost can be raised once
the data is crucial and dependable and the visibility of the data can’t be in your hands
anymore.

 Data security Compliance Issues: Depending upon the nature of business and Location
Company is responsible for the sensitive information. Laws like General Industry Data
Security Standard (PCI DSS), General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) etc are
governing how data is held and responsibility of its protection. Data loss is major and
expensive challenge for insurance company.
 Vendor End Security Risks: The number of people's hands data flows through generally
reduces data security proportionally. When you outsource sensitive data storage to a
cloud service provider (CSP), the number of persons who have technical access to that
data grows. Internal employees are equally as likely as external bad employees to cause
data breaches as one have less control over cloud, and it greatly increases that risk.
 Unauthorized access and Data Security: Around 83 percent of insurance companies
use the cloud and their major concern is of data security, to store sensitive data and
unauthorised accesses. The reason for this is the vendor's large client base. The greater
the number of clients storing data with the cloud vendor, the greater the risk of date-
security is there.
 Loss of Stored Data and Incomplete Deletion: Data stored on cloud can be loosed due
to multiple reasons. Fire at premises, natural disaster, and accidental deletion of data can
be some of the reasons. Malicious attackers or malwares might also delete or corrupt vital
data that can be precious.
 Increased complexity and lack of availability: Data availability at any point of time is
not 100% guaranteed. Based on CSP and their backup/setup it depends. Furthermore,
 despite of cost-saving it can be complicated sometimes and would require professional
training due to pace of technological innovation.

Other Technical Challenges of Adopting Cloud:

 Multi-tenancy Issues: Resources like data, code, applications and services are available
to different users at same time. Such issues pose a major challenge in implementing and
developing cloud solutions. More complication can occur when the shared information is
changed at the same time by different users. Multi-tenancy includes challenges like
accuracy of information, security and availability of information in isolated environment.
 Data Management Issues: Data Management includes data consistency of replicated
data over a distributed environment. Some issues associated with it are transactional
isolation, atomicity and consistency.
 Challenges with Virtualization: Challenges arise with the improvement in virtualization
techniques like scaling of systems vertically or horizontally, monitoring and managing
resources and interoperability.
 Programming Models: Enhanced capabilities like dynamic scalability of data and
applications, multi-tenancy, virtualization and availability of resources through images.
Simple Interfaces or APIs must be available to users to completely utilize these
capabilities. Upgrading is the challenge.
 Challenges related to successful cloud deployment: While deployment of cloud model
there can certain challenges which can occur such as:
o Transport-protocol latency: the impact of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
latency is data loss, congestion and reduces performance.
o Number of Nodes traversed: Multiple hops are needed for data to traverse
between end-users and servers. Cloud providers must reduce the latency between
nodes with-in multi-tier latency.
o TCP Congestions: TCP used generally for the data transmission of data packets
over network. Throughput rates and reliability impacts when TCP uses smaller
windows to traverse in case of congestion or packet transmission errors.
Cloud-based Insurance software solution Alternatives (Overcoming
challenges):

 Using optimized network fabric for cloud will reduce transport latency or delays.
 Deployment of multi-factor Authentication (MFAS).
 Managing User access to the software to ensure cloud security.
 On Regular basis provide technical and anti-phishing trainings to employees.
 Monitoring end-user activities with automated detection solutions to raise flags.

CONCLUSION
So, this can be concluded that, for insurance software solution developed by software
Development Company is recommended irrespective of some of the security or technical
challenges which are discussed in detail above. The company must make sure to take
sufficient steps to overcome these challenges and further can efficiently server its customers
within customer support department.

Question 3 a

Answer 3 a:

INTRODUCTION

Sales and BDM Department of the KPO Company needs to have a new software solution to
monitor, store, analyze and manage customer’s data. They are in confusion whether to
implement such solution on-premises or adopting a cloud based solution.

Firstly let’s define the terminologies briefly.

On-Premise Software Solution:

Custom In-built software solution by a firm for its own use, and the data is stored on company
servers. Generally, companies that handle exceptionally sensitive data prefer on-premise options.

Cloud based Software Solution (Software as a Service-- SaaS):

The term "cloud-based solutions" refers to the on-demand distribution of computing resources
over the Internet. On a pay-per-use basis, one can gain access to as many resources or software
solutions as one need including software, apps, storage space, networks, and other on-demand
services.

CONCEPT AND APPLICATION

One of the most relevant and important issues when it comes to selecting a business software
solution is cloud vs. on-premise. Specifically, cloud SaaS vs. on-premise. Which option is better
for a KPO company for their sales and BDM department?

Let’s find out advantages of both sorts of Options to help company to decide.

 Benefits of On-premises Systems:

If Company has a concern of sensitive to data to be exposed over cloud they can go for on-
premises software solution.
  Because company’s data is hosted on its own servers, they can have complete control
over their system architecture and data security.
 Design the system and change it whenever and however required- company can have
ultimate control over it because they would have designed it themselves. Tailoring and
updates can be done anytime according to business requirement.
 Can meet high-end security standards – servers are in your company's hands it can be
entirely in closed premises and not shared.
 If you have a high number of users, on-premises may be more efficient - CSP charge
based on the number of users, so for large number of user cloud may become costly.

 Benefits of Cloud-Based SaaS Systems:

KPO Company as doesn’t have efficient technical staff to build software like CRM from scratch
for their sales and BDM department.

 Easy to scale up and down - increasing storage capacity, adding more users, or doing
opposite like downgrading these is very simple with the cloud.
 System flexibility - System will run smoothly and reliably in case of few users or large
as per plan taken by company.
 Lower setup expenses – the CSP (cloud service provider) handles all costs related with
setting up your system, such as hardware and servers.
 Lower maintenance expenses and effort - the CSP handles all hassles related to
maintenance of server or system upgrades and bare its cost.
 Functional and Technical upgrades are automated – CPS will also keep track of
updates but actually upgrade is to done by company/user. Automatically apply patches to
deliver technical updates and new features to the programs can be taken care by CSP.
 Easy access to data while on the go - because the data is saved in the cloud,
company/users with an internet connection can access it from anywhere.

CONCLUSION
So, it can be concluded that, the KPO Company should think and look into the suggestion
mentioned above benefits of both the options available and try to figure out which solution is
suitable to them. As they have regular IT staff they should keep this factor in mind as
solution like CRM is not easy to implement. In part 3 (b) best options is highlighted and
discussed.

Question 3 b

Answer 3 b:

INTRODUCTION

KPO Company has a regular IT team which is not much technically sound to implement such
solution from scratch and it would become difficult to implement on-premises. As they want
to implement software solutions like Sales force CRM which has huge scope of requirement and
development. Let’s first understand which type of services available over cloud:

There are three main service models of computing over Cloud:

  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Most common cloud computing service architecture
as it includes the basic infrastructure of networks, virtual servers, data storage, and
operating systems.
 Platform as a Service (PaaS): The foundational software and infrastructure are provided
by CSP (Cloud Service Providers), but where companies can run their custom designed
applications. PaaS allows users to construct web apps easily, fast and is scalable.
 Software as a Service (SaaS): Such approach entails the distribution of software through
the internet to a variety of companies that pay by subscription or pay-per-use. It's a great
tool for CRM and apps that require a lot of web or mobile access, such mobile sales
management software.

So far it’s clear that the KPO should go for the cloud-based solution for the solution for
their Sales and Marketing department. But among these mentioned Cloud models which is
best suited for them. Let’s discuss this in detail.

CONCEPT AND APPLICATION

The most suited software solution for KPO Company is “SaaS CRM”. But what it is actually.

 SaaS CRM: It is a software system that assists businesses in managing their customer
contacts. Using efficient and practical CRM software, it may effortlessly engage with
vendors, customers and everyone others involved in company’s business chain.

 What are some of its benefits for a KPO Company to manage their Sales
and BDM activities?

 Cloud SaaS CRM service May Enables Company maintains and build genuine customer
relationships.
 It may assist businesses in creating outstanding customer experiences.
 Inter-departmental cooperation has improved: Because it can collect all forms of
information, SaaS CRM solution can serve as a initial point for teams. Generally it’s not
 easy effort to coordinate marketing, development, support, and sales together which can
be done by SaaS CRM.
 Tried and Tested: Solution available is matured and is almost bug free as it already
widely used tried and tested worldwide.
 Data Entry Automation: Automated data entry can be done in SaaS. It can allow KPO
Company marketing, sales, and CSRs to access the same data. As a centralized system,
data can be obtained instantly.
 Compatibility Improvements: Integration flexibility of different systems is essential.
Information exchange between already existing technology is critical which can be done
by cloud based SaaS CRM but not On-premises.
 Follows the Customer's Journey: Using a SaaS solution in your sales process can help
shorten sales cycle and keep deals from slipping away.
 A SaaS solution can create a successful sales chain and tracking.

 You can utilise SaaS CRM to and track follow-ups in order to convert leads into clients.

CONCLUSION
So, this can be concluded that KPO Company should go far the “Cloud-Based solution” for
their specific solution helping their team of sales and marketing individuals. Specifically, as a
cloud model they should Opt. for the “Software as a Service (SaaS)” model as software like
CRM can be made available to them on pay per user basis and can be scalable and reliable for
them as per their requirement.

References and Image Links:

https://www.quasa.io/storage/photos/%D1%84%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE
%2013/%D0%90%D0%90%D0%90%D0%9A%D0%9B%203.jpeg

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331735808/figure/fig2/
AS:776738044915713@1562200189238/Cloud-Computing-Challenges.png
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
348759555_Security_issues_concerned_to_Cloud_deployment_in_Insurance_s
ector

https://saaslist.com/wp-content/uploads/saas-vs-on-premise-diagram.jpg