Cloud Computing Issues and Challenges

Unit 4

Dr. Hitesh Mohapatra

School of Computer Engineering, KIIT DU, Odisha, India

Cloud with right decision

Cloud Computing is a new name for

an old concept. The delivery of
computing services from a remote
location.
Cloud Computing is Internet-based
computing, where shared resources,
software, and information are
provided to computers and other
devices on demand.
Data Security concern

• When we talk about the security concern of cloud technology, then a lot of questions remain unanswered.

• Multiple serious threats like virus attacks and client site hacking are the biggest cloud computing data security
issues.

• Entrepreneurs have to think about these issues before adopting cloud computing technology for their business.

• Since you are transferring your company’s important details to a third party so it is important to ensure yourself
about the manageability and security system of the cloud.
Selecting the perfect cloud set-up

• Choosing the appropriate cloud mechanism per your business’s needs is very necessary.

• There are three types of clouds configuration such as public, private, and hybrid.

• The main secret behind successful cloud implementation is picking up the right one.

• If you are not selecting the right cloud then maybe you have to face some serious hazards.

• Some companies have vast data, and prefer private clouds, while small organizations usually use public clouds.

• A few companies like to go for a balanced approach with hybrid clouds.

• Choose a cloud computing consulting service which is aware of and clearly discloses the terms and conditions regarding cloud
implementation and data security.
Real time monitoring requirements

• In some agencies, it is required to monitor their system in

real-time.

• It is a compulsory term for their business that they

continuously monitor and maintain their inventory
system.

• Banks and some government agencies need to update

their system in real-time but cloud service providers are
unable to match this requirement.

• This is really a big challenge for cloud service providers.

Resolving the stress

• Every organization wants to have proper control and access to the data.

• It is not easy to hand over your precious data to a third party.

• The main tension between enterprises and executives is their desire to control the new modes of
operations while using technology.

• These tensions are not unsolvable, but they suggest that providers and clients alike must deliberately
address a suite of cloud challenges in planning, contracting and managing the services.
Reliability on new technology

• It is human nature that we trust the things in front of our eyes.

• Normally entrepreneurs hesitate to give organizational information to any unknown service provider.

• They think that information stored in their office premises is more secure and easily accessible.

• By using cloud computing they have a fear of losing control over the data.

• They think that data is taken from them and handover to an unknown third party.

• Security threads are increased as they do not know where is the information stored and processed.

• These frights of the unknown service providers must very amicably be dealt with and eliminated from their minds.
Dependency on service providers

• For uninterrupted services and proper working it is necessary that you acquire
vendor services with proper infrastructural and technical expertise.

• An authorized vendor who can meet the security standards set by your company’s
internal policies and government agencies.

• While selecting the service provider you must carefully read the service level
agreement and understand their policies and terms and provision of compensation
in case of any outage or lock-in clauses.
Cultural obstacles

• High authority of the company and organizational culture has also

become a big obstacle in the proper implementation of cloud computing.
• Top authority never wants to store the important data of the company
somewhere else where they are not able to control and access the data.
• They have misconceptions in their minds that it puts the organization at
the risk by seeping out important details.
• Their mindset is such that the organization is on risk-averse footing,
which makes it more reluctant to migrate to a cloud solution.
Cost barrier

• For efficient working of this you have to bear the high charges of the
bandwidth.
• Businesses can cut down the cost of hardware but they have to spend a huge
amount on the bandwidth.
• For smaller applications cost is not a big issue but for large and complex
applications it is a major concern.
• For transferring complex and intensive data over the network it is very
necessary that you have sufficient bandwidth.
• This is (COST) a major obstacle in front of small organizations, which restricts
them from implementing cloud technology in their business.
Lack of knowledge and expertise

• Every organization does not have sufficient knowledge about the implementation of
cloud solutions.
• They do have not the expertise staff and tools for the proper use of cloud technology.
• Delivering the information and selecting the right cloud is quite difficult without the
right direction.
• Teaching your staff about the process and tools of cloud computing is a very big
challenge in itself.
• Requiring an organization to shift their business to cloud-based technology without
having any proper knowledge is like asking for disaster.
• They would never use this technology for their business functions.
Consumption basis services charges

• Cloud computing services are on-demand services so it is difficult to

define the specific cost for a particular quantity of services.
• These types of fluctuations and price differences make the
implementation of cloud computing very difficult and complicated.
• It is not easy for a normal business owner to study consistent demand
and fluctuations with the seasons and various events.
• So it is hard to budget for a service that could consume several months
of budget in a few days of heavy use.
Alleviate the threats risk

• It is very complicated to certify that the cloud service provider meets the
standards for security and threat risk.

• Every organization may not have enough mechanisms to mitigate these types
of threats.

• Organizations should observe and examine the threats very seriously.

• There are mainly two types of threats such as internal threats, within the
organizations and external threats from professional hackers who seek out
important information about your business.

• These threats and security risks put a check on implementing cloud solutions.
Unauthorized service providers

• It is a new concept for most of the business organizations.

• A normal businessman is not able to verify the genuineness of the service provider
agency.
• It’s very difficult for them to check whether the vendors meet the security
standards or not.
• They do have not an ICT consultant to evaluate the vendors against the worldwide
criteria.
• It is necessary to verify that the vendor must be operating this business for a
sufficient time without having any negative record in past.
• Vendor continuing business without any data loss complaints and having a number
of satisfied clients. The market reputation of the vendor should be unblemished.
Hacking of brand

• It carries some major risk factors like hacking.

• Some professional hackers are able to hack the application by breaking the
efficient firewalls and stealing the sensitive information of the organizations.

• A cloud provider hosts numerous clients; each can be affected by actions

taken against any one of them.

• When any threat came into the main server it affects all the other clients also.

• As in distributed denial of service attacks server requests that inundate a

provider from widely distributed computers.
Recovery of lost data

• Cloud services face the issue of data loss.

• A proper backup policy for the recovery of data must be placed to deal with
the loss.

• Vendors must set proper infrastructures to efficiently handle server

breakdowns and outages.

• All the cloud computing service providers must set up their servers at
economically stable locations where they should have proper arrangements
for the backup of all the data in at least two different locations.

• Ideally they should manage a hot backup and a cold backup site.
Data portability

• Every person wants to leverage migrating in and out of the cloud. Ensuring
data portability is very necessary.
• Usually, clients complain about being locked in the cloud technology from
where they cannot switch without restraints.
• There should be no lock-in period for switching the cloud.
• Cloud technology must have the capability to integrate efficiently with the on-
premises.
• The clients must have a proper contract of data portability with the provider
and must have an updated copy of the data to be able to switch service
providers, should there be any urgent requirement.
Cloud management
• Managing a cloud is not an easy task.

• It consists of a lot of technical challenges.

• A lot of dramatic predictions are famous about the impact of

cloud computing. People think that traditional IT departments
will be outdated and research supports the conclusion that
cloud impacts are likely to be more gradual and less linear.

• Cloud services can easily change and update by business

users. It does not involve any direct involvement of the IT
department.

• It is the service provider’s responsibility to manage the

information and spread it across the organization.

• So it is difficult to manage all the complex functionality of

cloud computing
Dealing with lock-ins

• Cloud providers have an important additional incentive to attempt to

exploit lock-ins.
• A prefixed switching cost is always there for any company receiving
external services.
• Exit strategies and lock-in risks are primary concerns for companies
looking to exploit cloud computing.
Transparency of service provider

• There is no transparency in the service provider’s infrastructure and

service area.
• You are not able to see the exact location where your data is stored or
being processed.
• It is a big challenge for an organization to transfer its business
information to such an unknown vendor.
Transforming the data into virtual set-up

• Transition of business data from a premise set up to a virtual set-up is a

major issue for various organizations.
• Data migration and network configuration are the serious problems
behind avoiding cloud computing technology.
Popularization

• The idea of the cloud has been famous that there is a rush of
implementing virtualization among CIOs (chief information officers).
• This has led to more complexities than solutions.
Conclusion

1. These are some common problems regarding cloud computing execution in real life.

2. But the benefits of cloud computing are more vast in comparison to these hazards.

3. So you should find the perfect solutions and avail the huge benefits of cloud
technology in your business.

4. It can take your business to new heights!!