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Running head: CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
Cloud Computing Benefits
Sether Ayob
Year 2016
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1
Cloud Computing Benefits ............................................................................................................. 2
Cloud Computing Services and Benefits ........................................................................................ 3
Cloud Computing Services ....................................................................................................... 3
Cloud Computing Benefits ....................................................................................................... 5
Conclusion and Future Study ........................................................................................................ 12
References ..................................................................................................................................... 13
Table 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 17
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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Abstract
Using different services, cloud computing offers more benefits than traditional computing. Cost
saving, scalability, mobile storage, anytime anywhere access, better security, energy saving,
environment benefits are some of benefits of the cloud computing. There is shift from traditional
computing to the cloud computing and organizations and individuals are benefiting from it.
There are many different cloud computing services available on affordable cost models, for
example, subscription and lease based cost models. Services for example, Remote Desktop
Session Host (RDSH) used for cloud desktop, Software as a Service (SaaS) used for renting
software and Platform as a Service (PaaS) used to rent computing infrastructure. The Storage as
a Service (STaaS) is used to rent storage and Security as a Service (SeaaS) is used for cloud
based security applications. Similarly, the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is used to lease
computing infrastructure. Using services, cloud computing offers more benefits than traditional
computing.
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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Cloud Computing Benefits
Using different services, cloud computing offers more benefits than traditional
computing. For example, data access anytime anywhere benefits, cost saving benefits, mobility
benefits, scalability, agility, efficiency, environment benefits and flexible security are some of
benefits offered by cloud computing (Griffith, 2015). Cloud computing can be used as service
rather than hardware based computing, it is cost effective and can be used like utility (Miller,
2009). Another attractive benefit of cloud computing is application processing load shift from
local computing to cloud computing. For example using thin client, application can be processed
at remote server (Strickland, 2008).
There are different cloud computing services used for different benefits, for example,
Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) used for cloud desktop, Software as a Service (SaaS)
used for renting software, Platform as a Service (PaaS) used by developers as subscription
model, Storage as a Service (STaaS) used to rent storage, Security as a Service (SeaaS) used for
renting security applications and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) used to rent computing
infrastructure (Lovell, 2011). Using cloud computing services, individuals and organizations
enjoy more benefits than traditional computing. For example, Using RDSH on Windows based
server one could divide single machine to create multiple cloud computers is an attractive
benefit. Other benefits, for example, licensing software at low cost benefits, renting storage
rather than purchasing storage resources benefits, using security applications rather than
implementing expensive security systems benefits and leasing computing infrastructure rather
than investing to own infrastructure are some of examples of cloud computing benefits not
offered by traditional computing. These services and different other services known as cloud
computing offer more benefits than traditional computing.
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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Cloud Computing Services and Benefits
Cloud computing represents range of different cloud computing services enabling
organizations and individuals to choose where, when, and how they can use cloud computing.
Different cloud computing services, for example, Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH),
Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Storage as a Service (STaaS),
Security as a Service (SeaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) are some examples of cloud
computing services offering more benefits than traditional computing. For organizations and
individuals planning to shift to cloud computing, it is important to understand different aspects of
cloud computing, assess need and then decide about which cloud computing service is
appropriate to use (Kepes, 2011).
The cloud computing services are used for different needs, for example, using Remote
Desktop Session Host (RDSH) single, Windows based, machine can be used for creating
multiple cloud computers accessible anywhere and anytime via Internet, renting software,
renting storage, renting security applications and renting computing infrastructure rather than
purchasing. These benefits and many other benefits of cloud computing services are attracting
organizations and individuals to shift from traditional computing to cloud computing.
Cloud Computing Services
The Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) used for creating multiple cloud desktops on
a Windows based machine is one of the best examples offering more benefits than traditional
computing. It is session based deployment whereby multiple cloud desktop sessions are used on
a single Microsoft Windows Server saving application licensing cost and offering more
productivity.
The cloud desktops, created by using RDSH, are used as cloud computers accessible
anytime and anywhere via Internet and or via Intranet. Utilizing Windows Server 2012 R2
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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technology, experiment was conducted to collect data, as shown in Table 1. In this experiment,
one Windows server is utilized without RDSH technology and one Windows server is utilized
with RDSH technology for comparison of benefits. As shown in Table 1, Windows server
without RDSH does not offer productivity as well as does not offer cost saving benefits.
Moreover, Windows server without RDSH is not capable to offer enough multiple remote
desktop sessions and or does not offer application license cost saving benefits, as shown in Table
1. In this experiment, server with RDSH offers 5 remote desktop sessions converting one
machine in to multiple cloud computers, as shown in Table 1. These cloud computers offer
mobile computing access anywhere and anytime over the network. Utilizing server with RDSH,
one application license is utilized by multiple remote desktop sessions which is huge cost saving
benefit, subject to vendor’s license scheme, as shown in Table 1.
The Software as a Service (SaaS) is cloud computing service. It is software owned and
developed by vendor and organizations and individuals rent and access it via Internet. Unlike
traditional software that users install on their traditional computers, the SaaS vendor owns the
software and runs it on computers in its data centre and organizations and individuals do not own
it but rent it and or buy subscription based service from cloud computing vendors (Levinson,
2007). The SaaS licensing is more economical than buying perpetual software license and
customer always gets updated version providing same benefits as standalone and perpetual
software licensing model (Sehlhorst, 2012). Using the SaaS, organizations and individuals can
enjoy cost saving and mobility benefits. The SaaS enables organizations and individuals to
reduce dependency on in-house IT department adapting cloud computing quickly (Hinchcliffe,
2009).
The Storage as a Service (STaaS) is cloud computing service offering affordable cloud
computing based storage available anytime and anywhere on the rent basis and or buy
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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subscription based service from cloud computing vendors. The STaaS is used to rent storage
saving cost for organizations and individuals. For example, STaaS can be used to store data
backups in cloud computing and access it anytime and anywhere which is very attractive benefit
(Kundu, Banerjee, & Saha, 2010). Using STaaS, organizations and individuals can enjoy cost
saving benefits and storage mobility benefits.
The Security as a Service (SeaaS) is also cloud computing service used for renting
security applications. The SeaaS applications are highly affordable offering multiple security
products without running them on local computer leading to enhance computing performance
and reducing resources management burden (Kundu, Banerjee, & Saha, 2010). There are many
benefits of SeaaS, for example, shifting mail and applications security to cloud computing on
affordable cost.
Cloud Computing Benefits
The Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) is used for creating multiple cloud desktop
sessions on Windows based operating system which is one of the best examples offering more
benefits than traditional computing. It is session based deployment whereby multiple cloud
desktop sessions can be used on a single Microsoft Windows Server. The cloud desktop can be
accessible anywhere and anytime via Internet or Intranet making it very convenient, affordable
and productive to organizations and individuals. One could use cloud desktop as personal mobile
desktop available for 24 hours and 7 days without turning it off. During this study, utilizing
Windows Server 2012 R2 technology, experiment was conducted on two servers, for example,
server without RDSH and server with RDSH, as shown in Table 1.
Using RDSH technology, an organization can use one accounting software application as
one license installed on one single server, subject accounting software vendor licensing scheme.
The server uses RDSH to create multiple desktop sessions utilized by an organization for
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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different staff members located virtually anywhere. The staff members can access these different
desktop sessions from anywhere and anytime via Internet and or via Intranet. The multiple
desktop sessions work same way as dedicated desktop computers work enabling staff members
to perform their work without with flexibility. Depending on security model adapted by
organization, the desktop session offers secure environment as well as offers all features of
dedicated desktop computer. For example, staff member can generate and print invoices, staff
member can work on any other document, send emails, browse Internet, listen music, watch
video and perform any work similar to performing any work on a physical desktop computer
without affecting other staff members work on same single machine. This saves organization’s
cost to purchase dedicated hardware based desktop computer for each staff member, saves cost
of purchasing separate accounting software license for each staff member, saves maintenance
cost and offers convenience and mobility benefits to increase productivity.
The RDSH experiment as shown in Table 1, proves that how cloud computing offers
more benefits than traditional computing. For example, converting one Windows machine in to
more computers offers more productivity benefits, offers cost saving benefits, computing
resources accessible anywhere and anytime benefits, mobility benefits, licensing cost saving
benefits, energy saving benefits and reducing burden of IT resources benefits are some of
examples of benefits offered by cloud computing.
The Software as a Service (SaaS) offers benefits of renting software from a cloud
computing vendor on affordable cost rather than buy on high cost to own and manage it. Vendor
may offer SaaS as managed service on rental basis which makes it affordable as well as reduces
maintenance cost (Levinson, 2007). The Software as a Service (SaaS) reduces software
acquisition risk of an organization enabling it to meet business goals quickly. For example,
Information Technology (IT) department of an organization would be able to utilize Software as
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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a Service (SaaS) for meeting organization's business goals quickly without worrying about
software update burden and resources maintenance burden. Software as a Service (SaaS) has
potential to enable IT department to work as computing services provider helping organization to
meet business goals without investing in software acquisition which is very attractive benefit of
cloud computing (Carraro & Chong, 2006).
There are different options for using the Storage as a Service (STaaS), for example,
public and private service. The private service offers dedicated environment inside the
organization’s environment and the public service is offered by different vendors. The STaaS is
highly scalable and easy to manage storage becoming popular choice as cloud computing
storage. Small companies and individuals can enjoy cost saving and scalability benefit of Storage
as a Service (STaaS). One can benefit by storing, archiving and retrieving data seamlessly in
secure way to grow. It is fast growing area of IT where organizations and individuals are ready to
work with vendors those offering attractive Storage as a Service (STaaS) solutions in current
economic climate offering more benefits than traditional computing.
The Platform as a Service (PaaS) is used to rent computing infrastructure. For example,
organizations and individuals can rent or subscribe cloud computing infrastructure for
applications accessible via Internet. Using PaaS service, vendors can provide customized
solutions on affordable cost leading them to generate more revenue compared to customized
traditional computing based solutions. For example, application development platforms, web
based application add-on platforms, standalone application platforms and open platforms are
some examples of solutions. Instead of offering virtualized infrastructure, cloud computing can
offer Platform as a Service (PaaS) where systems could be hosted on required resources easily
and on affordable cost (Kulkarni, Sutar, & Gambhir, 2012). These benefits make PaaS more
attractive than traditional computing.
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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The Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is also cloud computing service offering many
benefits. For example, IaaS is used to rent computing infrastructure including virtual machines,
operating systems, middleware, applications, network and other infrastructure (Hess, 2007).
Utilizing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), infrastructure vendors are able to scale and allocate
cloud computing resources on demand to develop systems meeting customers' need quickly
(Kulkarni, Sutar, & Gambhir, 2012). Utilizing the IaaS model, computing capabilities can be
standardized where consumer is responsible to configure and operate infrastructure, whereas
vendor focuses on service covering the performance and availability of the infrastructure
(Loeffler, 2011). It reduces vendor’s support burden and maintenance cost enabling vendor to
offer completive price. Utilizing IaaS service, CPU, memory, storage, network and other
resources can be selected as per application requirements on subscription based from IaaS
vendor as per need basis whenever required.
Cloud computing offers better security and with proper planning and with proper security
control, level of risk can be reduced. For security purposes, cloud computing resources can be
dynamically reallocated which is one of the attractive benefits (ENISA, 2009). Though security
of cloud computing is suspected, but with proper planning and security control, it could offer
better security. The cloud computing offers real-time backups to recover data loss, businesses get
maximum uptime and it is difficult for hackers to attack as it is hard to find actual location of
cloud computing resource, for example, finding origin of web server while using Content
Delivery Network (CDN) makes cloud computing security attractive (Kumar & Callow, 2011).
Multi-factor authentication is good example of cloud computing security and due diligence for
applying security patches to cloud computing resource makes cloud computing more secure
(Wood & Tracy, 2011). In traditional computing, security is a real challenge but in cloud
computing clear security policy and proper planning can make it more secure offering better
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information (Friedman & West, 2010). With proper
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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security measures, proper assets monitoring and regularly assessing security policies, cloud
computing offers better security environment (Jansen & Grance, 2011). Shift to cloud computing
is opportunity to rethink about security and reliable security for cloud computing can be
implemented using combination of best practices, proper planning and technology (Hoover,
2011). These and many other benefits of cloud computing security are hardly available in
traditional computing security.
One of the primary benefits of the cloud computing is significantly low cost compared to
traditional computing cost. Organizations and individuals feel that using cloud computing they
are able to reduce IT infrastructure cost and reduced IT operations costs (Leung, 2010). Cloud
computing is highly affordable compared to traditional computing because it is more
subscription and rent based model. The traditional computing requires to invest for purchasing
resources, requires lengthy installation procedures and puts maintenance burden of expensive
resources (Christian, 2011). When comparing to traditional computing, cloud computing does
not require high-power and high cost computing, all resources can be low cost and efficient
(Miller, 2009). Cloud computing is virtual infrastructure based and is Internet based compared to
traditional computing which is physical infrastructure based which does not offer better
scalability (Koomey, 2011).
Mobility benefits of cloud computing make it perfect for anytime and anywhere access.
For example, accessing information whenever required and wherever required, staff can access
information from home, access information from clients' offices or even from a smartphone such
as a BlackBerry or iPhone, can work collaboratively on files and documents on the go are some
of examples of cloud computing mobility benefits (Christian, 2011). Cloud computing is
sustainable to deliver IT technologies anywhere anytime as mobile platform, replicates the
capabilities of traditional computing in better way, allows updates and changes such as additions
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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and deletions of applications in smart way hardly available in traditional computing (Clark,
2009). Cloud computing enables to access information from anywhere while traditional
computer is fixed location based (Huth & Cebula, 2011). One of the attractions for users to move
to cloud computing is that they are able to use different devices including mobile devices to
access shared data anywhere anytime make it more attractive than traditional computing.
Using cloud computing, shared computing resources can be distributed to applications
efficiently for maximum performance. One of the benefits of cloud computing is the programs
requiring storage and processing power running off-site offering low maintenance more
economical benefits. Using servers as cluster to maintain cloud computing offers better
reliability compared to traditional computing (Ganore, 2010). Cloud computing is more reliable
compared to traditional computing, for example, in clustered environment, if one cloud
computing resource fails, transaction can be carried over using other cloud computing resource
without disruption. It makes cloud computing more beneficial than traditional computing.
Cloud computing offers better scalability and its resources are more on-demand and need
basis, can meet growing need of storage and network resources, allows to develop, deploy and
run applications on reliable cloud computing clusters that rarely fail (Smyth, 2009). Cloud
computing is highly scalable, for example, as per need applications can demand and acquire
more computing resources dynamically scaling to meet user’s requirements. Cloud computing
offers flexibility and scalability and provisioning is done on-demand which allows to
accommodate traffic surges of cloud computing based applications reducing time to implement
services and meeting the customer requirements on time on affordable cost (Spivey et al., 2009).
Scalability is one of the main benefits of cloud computing as scalable solutions are implemented
quickly and resources can be utilized whenever required saving time, saving money and
increasing efficiency. Cloud computing also offers on-demand network access to configured
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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shared resources and is highly scalable. The scalability is one of the many benefits of the cloud
computing attracting organizations and individuals to move to cloud computing (Sridhar, 2009).
If compared, cloud computing offers better scalability than traditional computing.
Cloud computing also offers energy saving benefits attracting service providers to offer
outsourcing solutions (Weissberger, 2011). Efficiency, scalability and flexibility makes cloud
computing perfect for outsourcing sector which attracts organizations and individuals to
outsource their services to cloud computing vendors (Stevens, 2009). Cloud computing meets
organizations’ and individuals’ computing needs quickly where they can see improved
efficiencies compared to traditional computing. Cloud computing offers better opportunity to
focus on innovation for product growth which is more beneficial than traditional computing
(Spivey et al., 2009). If compared, cloud computing is more efficient, scalable and flexible than
traditional computing.
Cloud computing offers environment benefits, for example, it enables vendors to offer
tailor made solution reducing power consumption which reduces emission, dangerous for
environment (Kumar and Callow, 2011). Cloud computing uses Internet which has significant
environmental benefits, infrastructure is always at peak performance and saving more energy
(Guilbert, 2010). Cloud computing is expanding quickly offering energy saving and green
environment benefits to organizations and individuals.
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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Conclusion and Future Study
This paper discusses cloud computing benefits compared with traditional computing.
There are different cloud computing services offering different benefits, for example, Remote
Desktop Session Host (RDSH) used for creating multiple desktop sessions using single Windows
based machine offering cost saving benefits, mobility and productivity benefits, as shown in
Table 1. There are different cloud computing services, for example, Software as a Service (SaaS)
used for renting software, Platform as a Service (PaaS) used by developers as subscription
model, Storage as a Service (STaaS) used to rent storage, Security as a Service (SeaaS) used for
renting security applications and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) used to rent computing
infrastructure (Lovell, 2011). These cloud computing services offer different benefits, for
example, data access anytime anywhere benefits, cost saving benefits, scalability benefits,
security benefits, energy saving benefits and environment benefits (Griffith, 2015).
The Platform as a Service (PaaS) can be studied further. It is rent based model offering to
rent cloud infrastructure which helps vendors to attract organizations and individual for renting
cloud infrastructure rather than investing to own it. Similarly, the STaaS can also be studied
further. For comparing its benefits as renting storage and accessing it from anywhere and
anytime offers scalability, saves cost and time which attracts organizations and individuals to
move from traditional storage to cloud storage. Moreover, the Security as a Service (SeaaS) is
also good candidate for further study. There is tremendous need of cloud based security
applications. For example, cloud based firewall has seen tremendous demand in recent years.
Future study can be conducted on other cloud computing services as well. For example,
Software as a Service (SaaS), Storage as a Service (STaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service
(IaaS) are some examples of other cloud computing services for conducting future study.
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS
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Table 1
Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH)
S. No.
Without RDSH / with RDSH
Remote Desktop
Sessions
Licensing
Benefits
01
Server without RDSH
One remote desktop
session utilizing
entire server
resources
Single application
license used for
single session only
Limited productivity
and high cost burden
02 Server with RDSH 5 remote desktop
sessions (in this
experiment) used as
cloud computers on
single server
One application
license acquired for
single machine is
utilized by multiple
remote desktop
sessions
Single server enables to
create 5 cloud
computers offering
more productivity and
cost saving benefits (5
for this experiment).
Moreover, there are
additional benefits of
saving computer
license cost and saving
application license cost
