Discuss Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing to an Organization.

Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the latest technological evolution that is gaining high popularity. It uses the internet and centralized remote servers to maintain applications and data. This new technology allows businesses and customers to use applications without a need to install a program. They can directly access their personal data and files from any computer or other machine, just with an internet access. Cloud computing technology makes the system much more efficient, save data storage space, and improve bandwidth and processing.
The basic characteristics of cloud computing includes on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. Broad network access of the cloud computing provides services to the users over the internet or private networks. On-demand self-service allows customers and organizations to independently manage and request computing resources. Resource pooling feature of the cloud computing provides an option to the users to draw computing resources from the pool by themselves. Customers use cloud services as per their needs and billed accordingly; therefore, they do not need to take full subscription or purchase the entire equipment for their little use (Temenos, 2011).
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Computing to an Organization
Cloud computing services are quickly becoming popular because of the great number of advantages that employees, customers, and organizations can avail. Cloud Computing technology can be used in almost all business sectors and by individual users like healthcare industry, banks, or IT organizations. Organizations are facing current market challenges, can much efficiently resolve the issues using latest cloud computing technology. However, besides several advantages of cloud computing, there are certain risks associated with the implementation of cloud computing structure. The advantages and risks are discussed as under.
Advantages
– The structure reduces organizational costs and other operating complexities. Since, the cost to be incurred on purchasing the computing equipment, upfront payments, and software licenses is saved. Organizations and individuals only pay for the services that they consume (Ross, 2013)
– Increased and quick return on investment
– Quick deployment of computing structure
– Customized deployment of the computing structure as according to the organization requirements
– Flexible computing structure
– Customers and staff members can install and use the similar structure in several ways; thus, innovations can be developed
– Small organizations can also acquire advanced services by making a contract with the specialized cloud providers. Small organizations can setup their own email server that may not be possible to install independently.
– Improves accessibility, efficiency, scalability, and reliability of organization functions
o Scalability means increased storage capacity and high processing speed.
o Accessibility means that data files can be accessed from any computer machine from any place in the world just with an access to internet.
– Organizations do not need to install software programs or hardware and maintain them. It frees up organization resources and thus, provides an opportunity to the organizations to focus more on the primary organization goals and product development (Robinson, n.d.)
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– Information stored on the cloud cannot easily be lost because; everything is stored over the virtual network. There is no chance of physical damage to the virtual drive.
– Research on cloud computing security standards will further improve its functionality in future (Waldner, 2010).
Disadvantages
– In Cloud computing, data is stored and accessed over the internet; thus, it travels to several remote locations making data more vulnerable to risks and attacks.
– In Cloud computing, software and hardware providers deliver services to the customers at a time. These computing services increases the risks of data breaches and attacks.
– Increased number of security issues when services are obtained through cloud providers. For example, cloud providers may misuse the organization information. Therefore, contract should be made only with the reliable cloud providers.
Ethical, Social and Legal Aspects of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has introduced several advancements in the field of technology, but at the same time, it has given rise to the number of ethical, social, and legal issues. Ethical issues refer to the situation when a person or an organization chooses between the two alternatives either right that is ethical and wrong as unethical. With the advent of cloud computing, large number of people and groups are getting involved in unethical behavior. The new computing environment has made it easier for the unauthorized users to access important personal data or business information through certain illegal internet access; thus, raising legal issues as well. Cloud computing allows the user to distribute intellectual property easily, make easy storage, and transfer information in digital form. This method of computing functions has resolved various complexities, but at the same time, has made users’ data vulnerable to theft or attack. Unauthorized users or hackers break legal laws and steal personal and confidential information. They can make an unauthorized access to specific user’s or business data stored on the cloud and steal critical information which also considered as an ethical issue. In addition, there are certain social issues also related with the cloud computing. For example, now, it is much difficult for the new businesses to position themselves in the market. Due to increased risks related to cloud computing, customers go for the well-established businesses that provide reliable cloud services.
Security Issues related to Cloud Computing
In the current era, the personal and business information or data is of critical importance, since the information is recorded in digital form. All organizations must move into the current era of technologies to compete with the world. However, at the same time, they must consider the security issues related to new technologies. Cloud computing is largely getting popular among several organizations. Similarly, financial Institutes like banks are adopting the same computing technology. However, security is highly critical in case of banks and, therefore, requires special settings and design of cloud. Banks are concerned about the security; whether cloud computing is safe to implement or not. Therefore, it is important for the organizations to design cloud strategy as per the requirements of the financial industry. Similarly, telecommunication, government institutes, and other market industries have to face the same kind of security issues related to cloud computing. This new technology has no doubt reduced the expenses of organizations and individuals that may have been incurred on the purchase of new systems, machines, and software, but on the other side, they have increased the security expenses.
Cloud computing has great contributions in transforming the world of information technology. Banks, educational institutes, and government organizations, all have been able to bring in innovations to their systems and simplified their functions with the Cloud computing technology; however, it has increased the risk of security also. At this time, we cannot compromise on all the benefits of this computing technology, because of increased risks. Therefore, it is important to study and improve the standards of security through the deployment of new technologies.

References
Robinson, G. (n.d.). Amazon Web Services. Retrieved from Technology Banker : http://www.technologybanker.com/vendors-page/amazon-web-services-cloud-computing-pioneer#.U1-zKKL6fOM
Ross, A. (2013, October 7). How Cloud Computing Benefits your Company? Retrieved from Smart Data Collective: http://smartdatacollective.com/asher-ross/150686/10-ways-know-how-cloud-computing-benefits-your-company
Temenos. (2011). Banking in the Cloud. Microsoft.
Waldner, F. (2010, April). Cloud Computing: What is it, and How Will it Affect Organizations? Retrieved from Technology Innovation Management Review: http://timreview.ca/article/340