Question

Topic: Cloud-Based Organizations

Overview: Your company is interested in learning more about cloud computing and the varying services offered. Your organization wants to start small by transitioning from Exchange to a cloud-based corporate email and calendar application with a service provider that can eventually support all other internal productivity programs. The head of the IT department has handed you a list of cloud-based organizations because he doesn’t have time to put together a report for the CEO that explains what cloud computing does and how it might benefit the organization. That, of course, is why YOU got the list.

Select two providers from the list, and report back on the following:

Briefly explain the provider’s primary cloud function—what advantages might the organization have over another organization that provides the same product or service?

Briefly explain the type of cloud computing service model is the organization uses.

Briefly explain the cloud deployment model(s) that the provider supports.

What features do the providers you have selected offer regarding security and privacy best practices? Are those considerations important to your company? Explain why a secure environment for email and office productivity programs is important.

In your conclusion, please explain which organization you recommend that your company choose and explain the reasons why from your evaluation.

The list of organizations you were given to evaluate contains the following:

1. IBM SmartCloud

2. Nextcloud

3. Zoho One

4. Apple iCloud

5. Amazon WorkMail

6. Google G Suite

7. Microsoft Office 365

Using APA 6th edition style standards, submit a Word document that is 3-5 pages in length and include at least three credible scholarly references to support your findings.

Answer 1

Consider Amazon work main and Google G Suite as the service providers for the requirement.

Step 1: Introduce the topic: Tell importance of cloud and why migrating to cloud is an advantage

Cloud computing is one of the disruptive technologies that is taking over the market and it is becoming the new normal due to the benefits like lower operating costs, greater resource utilization and agility. According to the Forbes, 83% of the work load will be migrated to cloud by 2018 (Columbus, 2018). This explains that moving to cloud will provide many benefits to our company.

Step 2: Explain why Amazon and Google

Amazon and Google are the leaders of cloud industry (Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service 2018. , n.d.). Though Microsoft is also the leader of cloud industry, the other two providers offer better price model for the services to thier clients. Microsoft is usually advantageous to existing customers since they provide better discounts for only ongoing customers. Also Google and Amazon offer plethora of services.

Step 3: Amazon's and Google's Primary cloud function

Both Amazon and Google offers a broad range of cloud services such as compute, storage, developer tools, networking, database, application management tools, security, analytics, Machine learning, AI, IoT, Identity access management etc. However, there are few advantages over Google by Amazon and vice versa. Google takes lead in the area of security since it encrypts all the data in storage and transit by default. Google also primes in the area of machine learning and AI services since they have custom build silicon to run the ML algorithms. Where as Amazon aces at serverless computing. Also, Amazon has its services offered in 18 regions all over the world but Google offers in 15 regions. More importantly Amazon offers a private cloud to US based organizations.

Step 4: Cloud Computing Service Model

Both the providers follow pay-as-you-go model. Meaning, the organization is charged based on the resource usage When it comes to security, both organizations follow shared responsibility model.

Step 5: Cloud Deployment Model

Both the organizations offer Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.

Step 6: Suggestion

According to the companies requirement, Google cloud platform is the best choice since Google considers security as prime responsibility and encrypts all the data in storage and transit by default. Where as Amazon does not. Moreover, The overall average cost using GCP is less that overall cost charged by Amazon. Hence, GCP is the best pick given the current scenario.

References

Columbus, L. (2018, January 25). 83% Of Enterprise Workloads Will Be In The Cloud By 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2019 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2018/01/07/83-of-enterprise-workloads-will-be-in-the-cloud-by-2020/

Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service 2018. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4 2018 from https://www.bmc.com/blogs/gartner-magic-quadrant-cloud-iaas/