Essay Example on Cloud Computing Adoption

Techfite requires technology that will help manage the current network traffic that passes through the firewall that is more secure considering the sensitivity of data that passes through the firewall, which also can scan and review the logs automatically, and with a big storage capacity that would store the log files for longer periods. It also has to comply with the FISMA and NITS security framework.

Scope of Need

TechFite handles manufactures devises that are highly sensitive, and it collaborates with agencies such as NASA and the government implying that the data that handled is highly sensitive. The fact that it handles large data, it requires bigger storage capacity that is automated and which is highly secure. The company is growing, and there is need to upgrade its technology to meet the current and the future demands.

Emerging Technology Solution

Cloud computing is one of the technologies that has been credited with increased competitiveness through its flexibility, optimal resource optimization, scalability, multi-tenancy, adaptability, elasticity and cost reduction. These are some of the factors that make this technology suitable for TechFite (Mitchell, Isherwood &Silvester, 2011).

Cloud Computing Adoption Process

It is crucial that TechFite is innovative with their IT transformation approach while building flexible and agile business systems. One of adoption the strategies follows four major steps including assessing, planning, adoption, and optimization(Mitchell, Isherwood &Silvester, 2011). Assessment includes identification of gaps and challenges facing the current system as well as evaluating the risks and barriers involved in cloud adaptation. Planning entails leveraging the existing collateral with the existing infrastructure. Adoption is greatly associated with planning, and it includes understanding available cloud computing as well as adoption standards as dictated by NIST (Mitchell, Isherwood & Silvester, 2011). Then leveraging the deployment architecture developed during planning while identifying the servers, data stores, and software to identify the migration maps. Optimization then helps the company realize the benefits of cloud computing.

Risks and Benefits of Early or Late Adaptation

Cloud computing combines a majority of pre-existing technologies, which have matured at different rates and contexts. The new advances in virtualization technology, disc storage internet connection, and inexpensive servers make cloud a compelling solution(Mitchell, Isherwood & Silvester, 2011).

The main risk that is associated with early and late adoption of the technology is security. Cloud is becoming a widely utilized technology, and this makes it more vulnerable to attacks than before due to increased number of users (Mitchell, Isherwood & Silvester, 2011). The benefits of late adoption are the fact that it has been greatly improved to meet the complex needs of TechFite, for instance, automation, large storage, and improved security.

Technology Impacts

The positive impacts of the technology on the people and the organization according to Avram (2014), include:

The cost of entry is low especially for TechFite that is operating on a small budget. The computational exercises are large and take short amounts of time and make the dynamic provision of the resources possible.

Allows easy access to hardware resource with no upfront investment for users making it faster to market it in business.

Lowers the IT barriers to innovation

There is consistency in delivering accurate and timely information.

It allows for robustness through better testing of the new applications that may be developed.

It can perform big data analytics within a short time, both structured and unstructured data.

It provides huge storage for information that allows for easy storage, access, and retrieval of information

It is also cost-effective with regards to disaster recovery that is fast and with a low cost compared to traditional DR sites.

Cloud-based backup allows for automatic data dispatch from any location, without security availability or capacity issues.

The negative impacts according to Avram (2014), include:

Considering that it is a new computing model there are a lot of uncertainties regarding its security.

Its full potential depends on the availability of high-speed access.

Like any other technology, it is subject to regulations and privacy rules that may differ with countries.

Mitigating the Negative Impacts

The negative effects can be addressed by first developing a robust security system within the organization that would detect any intrusion of data from the cloud; the other is ensuring that the company complies with the set regulations and developing a high-speed solution for slow connectivity.

Technology Comparison

The current technology has proven to lack the adequate capacity to store large amounts of data. On the other hand, cloud-based technology can store large amounts of data. The other technology is operated manually, while cloud-based technology is automated. Compared to the existing technology, the cloud is more secure and robust, and it enables easy detection of any intruders. Cloud technology allows for fast processing of large amounts of data, storage, and retrieval. This allows the organization to meet its current IT capacity, and also expand in the near future.

Organizational Need

Adoption Metrics

The methods and metrics for measuring the success of the technology according to Pena-Lopez(2011), include:

Analytical techniques that would measure the economic impacts of the adopted technology, through modelling. The approaches can be parametric or non-parametric.

Case studies: these are small projects that examine the changes in the organization over time. After the studies are over a comprehensive report is written, about the impact of the technology on the organization.

Statistical surveys help to measure the impacts of the technology on the organization.

Administrative data can provide a crucial insight into telecommunication infrastructure and its benefits to the organization.

References

Avram, M. G. (2014). Advantages and challenges of adopting cloud computing from an enterprise perspective. Procedia Technology, 12, 529-534.

Mitchell, I., Isherwood, S., &Silvester, M. (2011). The White Book of Cloud Adoption The Definitive Guide to a Business Technology Revolution. Fujitsu Services Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.fujitsu.com/se/Images/WBOC-1-Adoption.pdf

Pena-Lopez, I. (2011). Measuring the Impacts of Information and Communication Technology for Development.