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Cloud computing:

Opportunities
and challenges

Can Stock Photo/maxkabakov

W
e live and operate in the processing capacity all exist on the
world of computing and Web, ready to be shared among users.
computers. The Internet has Figure 1 shows a conceptual diagram of
drastically changed the com- cloud computing.
puting world from the con- The main objective of cloud comput-
cept of parallel computing to distributed ing is to make better use of distributed
computing to grid computing and now resources and solve large-scale computa-
to cloud computing. Cloud computing is tion problems. For example, cloud com-
Matthew N.O. Sadiku,
a new wave in the field of information puting can focus the power of thousands
Sarhan M. Musa, and technology. Some see it as an emerging of computers on one problem, enabling
field in computer science. It consists of researchers to do their work faster than
OMonowo d. MoMOh a set of resources and services offered ever. Thus, cloud computing may be
through the Internet. Hence, cloud regarded as a distributed system that
computing is also called Internet com- offers computing services via a computer
puting. The word cloud is a metaphor communication network, usually the
for describing the Web as a space Internet (TCP/IP). Resources in the cloud
where computing has been preinstalled are transparent to the users, and the users
and exists as a service. Operating sys- need not know the exact location(s) of
tems, applications, storage, data, and the resources. They can be shared among
a large number of users, who should be
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPOT.2013.2279684 able to access applications and data from
Date of publication: 7 January 2014 anywhere at anytime.

34 0278-6648/14/$31.002014IEEE IEEE POTENTIALS


Several corporations and
institutions have shown an
interest in cloud computing,
and many platforms have been
proposed.Anexampleof
cloud service is Google Apps,
which is provided by Google
andMicrosoftSharePoint.
Services are also being pro- SalesForce
vided by IBM, HP, Amazon, Microsoft
Apple, Oracle, and Salesforce.
These companies own millions
of servers and have invested an Google
The Cloud
enormous effort to support
Amazon
cloudcomputing.Atthe
moment, Google is the largest Yahoo
provider of cloud computing
service; it has its own cloud RackSpace
computing platform. Zulu

Architecture
Figure 2 shows the cloud
computing architecture. The
services provided by cloud
computing can be divided
into three categories.
I n f r a st r uc t u re - a s - a-
service (IaaS): the simplest
of cloud computing offer- Fig. 1 Cloud computing.
ings. It involves the delivery
of huge computing resources such as
the capacity of storage, processing, and User
network. It is the ability to remotely
Front End
access computing resources. The ma-
jor advantages of IaaS are pay per use, Network
security, and reliability. IaaS is also SaaS Cloud (Web) Applications
known as hardware-as-a-service. An

Management Access

IAAA Mechanisms
Services and APIs
example of IaaS is the Amazon Elastic Cloud Software Environment
Compute Cloud (EC2). PaaS
Plat for m-as-a-ser vice(PaaS): Computational Storage Communication
supports a set of application programs
Provider
Resources
interface to cloud applications. It has
IaaS
emerged due to the suboptimal na- Cloud Software Infrastructure
ture of IaaS for cloud computing and
the development of Web applications. Kernel (OS/Apps)
Many big companies are seeking to Hardware
dominate the platform of cloud com- Facilities
puting, as Microsoft dominated the
personal computer (PC). Examples of Service Customer
PaaS are Google App Engine and Mi- Cloud-Specific Infrastructure
crosoft Azure. Supporting (IT) Infrastructure
Software-as-a-service(SaaS): pro-
vides a service that is directly consum-
able by the end user. It is a software Fig. 2 Cloud computing architecture.
deployed over the Internet. This is a pay-
as-you-go service. It seeks to replace the introducedandoverlaidonthese opportunity for businesses of all sizes.
applications running on a PC. A typical architectures. The major advantages of cloud comput-
example of SaaS is Salesforce.com. ing are on-demand self-service, ubiqui-
These service models are useful in cat- Benefits and challenges tous network access, location-indepen-
egorizing not only cloud computing but While the benefits of cloud comput- dent resource pooling, and transference
specific vendor offerings, products, and ing are many, its disadvantages are just of risk. Additional advantages include
services. As cloud computing becomes as numerous. If used properly, cloud lower costs, ease of utilization, quality
mature, several service types are being computing is a technology with great of service, and reliability.

January/February 201435
The greatest challenges with cloud tion, and the high usability for the next J. Rhoton, Cloud Computing
computing are privacy and security. As generation. Successful applications of Explained. Boston, MA: Recursive Press,
data is accessed from any location, users cloud computing have been imple- 2010.
privacy can be compromised. Security is mented at educational institutions. This J. Rosenberg and A. Mateos, The
also a concern. Information security is effort allows researchers to search, find Cloud at Your Service. Greenwich, CT:
about keeping data secret. Handing over models, and make discoveries faster than Manning Publications, 2011.
confidential information to another com- ever. The applications of cloud comput- B. Sosinsky, Cloud Computing
pany makes some feel unsecure. Vendors, ing are limitless. Potentially, everything Bible. Indianaplis, IN: Wiley, 2011.
researchers, and security professionals are from word processing software to cus- B. Grobauer, T. Walloschek, and
working on security issues associated with tomized computer programs could work E. Stocker, Understanding cloud com-
cloud computing. on a cloud computing system. Cloud puting vulnerabilities, IEEE Security Pri-
For some applications, latency is computing is expected to change and vacy, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 5057 Apr. 2011.
another issue with cloud computing. increase business opportunities in the Africa,
Brazil, Egypt, Jamaica, South Y.andJadeja and
the United K. Modi, Cloud com-
States.
This is the delay from request for data to computing industry. putingConcepts,
These are just a few of the locations across the world where architecture
IEEE and chal-
its ultimate delivery. There is also the Student Branches are grooming lenges, in Proc.
the next generation Int.en-Conf. Computing,
of young
problem of a lack of standards. These Conclusions gineers through educationalElectronics
events, meetings,Electrical
industrial site visits,
Technologies, 2012,
and volunteerism. From Regions 110, IEEE Student Branches
concerns or challenges are slowing This article presents a brief overview pp. 877880.
have helped build a strong foundation for engineering students.
down the adoption of cloud computing. of cloud computing. Cloud computing is
IEEE Potentials is interested in hearing from students who are
evolving as a key technology activefor sharing
in their About
Student Branch. Has your the
Studentauthors
Branch grown
Opportunities ahead
We recognize
Cloud computing is supported by big
resources via the Internet. inStartups
small and medium businesses
popularity? Do and
areAreusing
activities?
Matthew
you organize innovative,
org) officers
your Student Branch is a professor
N.O.
fun, and Sadiku (sadiku@ieee.
educational
particularly adeptatatPrairie View A&M

the strength
companies that hope the investments on
cloud computing see a return on invest-
cloud computing to greatmeeting
Lack of privacy and security
advantages.
experiences
is the with
University,
the needs of members?
other IEEE eral
main
Would you like
Studentbooks
Texas.
Branchesand
to shareHeyouris the author of sev-
acrosspapers.
the world?

of a branch hurdle in the wide adoptionIf your of Student


cloudBranch has a Sarhan
ment in the near future. Some examples of story to tell,
M.weMusa
would like to
(smmusa@pvamu.edu)

IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA COMMONS/LARS FALKDALEN LINDAHL.


hear it. Simply e-mail potentials@ieee.org for details. In your re-
emerging cloud computer technology are: computing. We are almost at the begin- is an associate professor in the Department
sponse, please include brief answers to the following questions:
Microsoft: Window Live Service, ning of the cloud era; it is hard What
to predict of Engineering
are the goals of your Student Branch? Technology at Prairie View
Window Azure the impact of cloud computing Whatondosoci-
you consider A&M
the StudentUniversity,
Branchs most Texas.
notable He has been the
Google: Google Docs, Google ety. Cloud computing is notachievement
fully mature and why? directorofPrairieViewNetworking
App Engine and needs to be explored. How does your Student Academy,
Branch attractTexas, since 2004. He is an LTD
new members?
Amazon: Amazon Simple Storage How does your Student Branch and
Sprint keep members
Boeinginvolved?
Welliver Fellow.
Service, Elastic Compute Cloud Read more about it A profile of your Student Branch could appear D.
Omonowo in anMomoh
upcoming (momoh1@ieee.
issue of IEEE Potentials. These profiles help open up lines of
IBM: Blue cloud D. S. Linthicum, Cloud Computing org) is an assistant professor at the College
communication between Student Branches and inspire increased
Apple: Mobile Me. and SOA Convergence ininvolvementYour Enter- of Engineering, Technology, and Computer
and activity sharing information regarding what other
Cloud computing will provide the prise. Upper Saddle River, branches are doing and whatScience,IndianaUniversityPurdue
NJ: Addison- has and has not been successful. All
dynamic resource pool, the virtualiza- Wesley, 2010. Student Branches from Regions University,
110 are welcomeFort toWayne.
respond.

Brazil, Egypt, Jamaica, South Africa, and the United States. These are just a
We recognize few of the locations across the world where IEEE Student Branches are groom-
ing the next generation of young engineers through educational events, meet-
the strength ings, industrial site visits, and volunteerism. From Regions 110, IEEE Student
Branches have helped build a strong foundation for engineering students.
of a branch IEEE Potentials is interested in hearing from students who are active in their
Student Branch. Has your Student Branch grown in popularity? Do you organize
innovative, fun, and educational activities? Are your Student Branch officers
particularly adept at meeting the needs of members? Would you like to share
your experiences with other IEEE Student Branches across the world?
If your Student Branch has a story to tell, we would like to hear it. Simply
e-mail potentials@ieee.org for details. In your response, please include brief
IMAGE COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA COMMONS/LARS FALKDALEN LINDAHL.

answers to the following questions:


What are the goals of your Student Branch?
What do you consider the Student Branchs most notable achievement
and why?
How does your Student Branch attract new members?
How does your Student Branch keep members involved?
A profile of your Student Branch could appear in an upcoming issue of IEEE
Potentials. These profiles help open up lines of communication between Stu-
dent Branches and inspire increased involvement and activity sharing informa-
tion regarding what other branches are doing and what has and has not been
successful. All Student Branches from Regions 110 are welcome to respond.

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPOT.2013.2295171

36 IEEE POTENTIALS

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