User:Kevinvo1993/Cloud Computing

Introduction

            Traditional storages such as CD, portable hard drive start to show its weakness because it is inconvenient to carry around. The data can’t be restored if the physical storage is lost or damage. It’s a reason why Cloud computing is introduced. Cloud computing is known as a new revolution of computing era after Internet. It enables uploading data to data center through application. Consumer can freely upload, share, and access their data through remote server anytime and anywhere as long as they have Internet connection. As the progress of technology, cloud computing not only served as a virtual storage, it also let the user to rent the software through vendor, purchase a platform to run program. Cloud service was first introduced in 2002 by Amazon Web Service. Then in 2008, Google and Microsoft enter the completion; cloud computing become popular and widespread. This paper will address the technology, benefit, legal, ethical, and social issue of cloud storage.

=The current use of Cloud Computing =

Cloud computing service is divided into three different type, which are Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). IaaS offers their customers applications they need to use the cloud service. IaaS allows user to move their infrastructure to the cloud and let the cloud provider to deal with it. IaaS help small enterprises to save budget on equipment and building cost. For example, in the last decade, for the small company to have telephone system, they have to purchase an expensive physical device and plug in the all of phone cable. But now they use Voice Over IP telephone that connect to a telephone service on the cloud.

            PaaS provides a base level platform for the coders to run their program. By using PaaS service, the consumer won’t worry about hardware requirement, updating to the server, or middle malware. Facebook, One of the most famous online social networking service, is an example of PaaS system “ (PaaS) can be used by online portal- based application like Facebook that need to scale to thousands of users.” (Sitaram and Manjunath,2012) this is the service that provide programmers a tool to write and run their software. Since cloud computing is on high demand in the IT market, the programmers will have more option to find the plan that suite their budget as well. However, before purchasing a platform, they need to make sure what tool the providers will give out and will it support your program or not. Especially, it’s kind of complicated when purchasing PaaS because each providers tool is hard to use. For example, if your program is written on Python, you need to purchase the Python platform.

            SaaS enables the users to subscribe a certain software provided by a vendor for period of time. It will help to reduce the software cost and storage significantly because instead of making a one-time purchase and install the software into the computer, users can rent the software for the time they need it. By using SaaS, users have option to choose on how they want to pay for the software. Especially for college student, they only use a certain software for around 1 month to work on their project. Using SaaS is a win-win for both side because the vendor can make benefit from subscriber monthly and consumer save money and time to update and maintain the software.

=Security Issues of Cloud Computing=

Cloud computing is facing two potential risk, which are management issue, and technology. When the data is upload to cloud, it is encrypted and stored in the data center for management. In order to access the data, user need to have the Internet connection. Since the business has to entrust their information to a third party, information leak or stolen can become a major issue if the service providers don’t manage the data center efficiently. There are several security threats cloud service providers need to be aware of. Data breaches happens when confidential data is stolen or viewed without permission. Cloud provider can become target for Data breaches because it contained a vast amount of information from many enterprises. Hackers can also use cloud computing service as a place to spread malware to the cloud customer. NBCNEWS reports an incident of a group of Chinese cyberespionage team hacked Dropbox, “The attackers have simply registered for a free Dropbox account, uploaded the malicious content and then publicly shared it with their targeted users” Dropbox become a target because its popular used by people and unlikely to be blocked. Since cloud computing is used