Cloud Computing Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cloud Computing - Research Paper Example Cloud computing has a number of business uses, such as, website hosting, project management, cloud-based accounting and billing, and document storage. Technology Required To Use Cloud Computing The only requirements for an individual or a business to access the services of cloud computing include a computer system, an internet connection, and an agreement with the cloud services providing company. â€Å"As long as a computer has Internet access it will be able to use the application† (Cheow, 2010). Business Uses of Cloud Computing For businesses, cloud computing provides a number of benefits some of which include ease in data storage, workload shift, improved organization of business processes, cloud-based project management, and improved customer service. Companies can store their important files, such as, Microsoft word files, spreadsheets, and audio files on the cloud through internet and can access them whenever required. Companies can also enjoy website hosting through cl oud computing using this facility, companies do not need to buy any physical server for the hosting of their websites, rather they can make use of cloud hosting where they can increase or decrease the bandwidth as per business needs. Cloud-based project management is another business use of cloud computing. ... Usually business professionals need to install, configure, test, and run all hardware and software products on their own. Cloud computing eliminates such problems for clients because the providers of cloud services are responsible for managing all technical issues. Another benefit of cloud computing for businesses is that of workload shift. Using cloud-computing services, employees do not have to worry about applications’ management because the service providers take responsibility of many of the business processes related to sales and service management. As Strickland (n.d.) states, â€Å"local computers no longer have to do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications†. For businesses, some of the main benefits of using cloud computing services include ease of integration with proprietary systems, low capital investment, user friendly interface of software applications, and improved data management. If we talk about the expense of using cloud services, we can say that cloud computing cuts down many of the expenses for small businesses. The only expense is the monthly bill which client organizations need to pay to the service providers. However, there is no expense related to design and management of software applications because service providers bear all such expenses. Limitations of Using Cloud Computing Along with a number of benefits for businesses related to cloud computing, there also exist some limitations of using cloud-computing services. Some of those limitations include lack of security customization, less application visibility for clients, and loss of control due to increased dependency. However, privacy is the biggest concern for the users because sending of private data to the cloud does not seem to be safe. In addition, increased