Cloud Computing (Research Paper Sample)

Cloud Computing
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Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a relatively new practice in business. It entails storage, processing and retrieval of data on remote servers as opposed to local servers. The remote servers are accessed through the internet as opposed to the intranet that is used to access local servers. Conversely, web 2.0 is a change in the access and usage of the World Wide Web from the static usage that characterized the earlier models of access to dynamic usage that allows users to make changes on websites. Web 2.0 enabled the rise of social media by creating interactive platforms and is used on business websites to collect feedback from clients. Cloud computing and web 2.0 are very important tools for contemporary business organizations.
Due to the increasing demand for secure storage and the ability of the internet to provide these storage facilities at subsidized rates, organizations use cloud computing for storage of information. The low costs of internet access and the increased speeds of access have also contributed to the increased application of cloud computing in organizations (Governor & Hinchcliffe, 2009). For example, due to the high memory capacity of online storage, they are often cheaper to use because they do not require maintenance costs from the business. In addition, cloud computing is useful in cases where an organization has many subsidiaries. For example, if a business has branches in many different cities, using cloud computing allows all branches of the organization to have a central data management system (Bean, 2009). Therefore, cloud computing is not exclusively a domain of internet service providers. In many cases, an organization has central servers that are accessible to all the different branches of the organization in different places. Usage of cloud computing therefore enables creation of central information management systems, while at the same time lowering the costs of installing servers (Bean, 2009).
Web 2.0 is used to gather and disseminate information. For example, social media platforms are increasingly becoming popular among business owners (Governor & Hinchcliffe, 2009). These platforms connect the workers of an organization internally and also create platforms for external contact. They create a sense of unity by embracing an element of social life and integrating it with the professional life. In addition, web 2.0 has business applications. For example, websites now have the ability to receive feedback from the visitors (Bean, 2009). There are platforms that connect the comments to social media platforms and therefore leave the identity of the commenting party as well as a way to get back to the clients. The feedback is important because it fosters improvement of services and tailoring of service delivery to the specific needs of the business clientele (Bean, 2009). Therefore, organizations use web 2.0 as an advertising platform that has the benefit of providing client feedback.
These tools have minimum technological requirements of the organizations. For example, most browsers were updated to keep up with the inception of web 2.0. For example, most browsers have the capacity to access social media (Governor & Hinchcliffe, 2009). On the part of cloud computing, the requirement is a working internet connection and good access points. The speed requirements of the internet connection are determined by the needs of the cloud computing. For example, if an organization has many employees who require the information in the cloud computing platforms, there is a need for fast internet connectivity such as the services provided by the optic-fiber connectivity (Bean, 2009). Software requirements are also very important. The internet is not secure because of the incidence of web terrorism. Therefore, usage of web 2.0 requires working firewalls and antivirus programs and access protocols that limits that nature of access. In the event where the cloud computing services are provided by an external party, the service provider will usually provide the access software and security measures (Bean, 2009).
Benefits
Cloud computing offers mass storage and backup at low prices. Storage on cloud computing platforms offers an organization cheap backup and security that would be hard to get on the other platforms. In addition, the ability of cloud computing platforms to enable organizations to have central data systems is a big benefit. The centralization of data storage and processing makes the process of management easier and united different factions of the same management (Bean, 2009).
Web 2.0 offers organizations a platform to post free advertisements and to interact with clients (Governor & Hinchcliffe, 2009). These benefits in advertisement are particularly helpful t...