IT Business Requirements and SWOT Analysis

Cloud Computing: BallotOnline

CCA 610: Cloud Services and Technologies

The delivery of various services via the internet is referred to as cloud computing. The resources usually used in cloud computing involve the storage capabilities, databases, software, the network, servers, among others, which are essential tools to enable cloud computing to take place effectively and efficiently (Ahmed, 2016). Cloud computing calls for electronic devices to access the internet, the data server, and the existing software programs to allow the operations. Some popular cloud service providers include Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS. The essential basic capabilities of the cloud include on-demand access. Others include the internet, which links (Ahmed, 2016). The computing resources must also be available, which is normally an application. In addition, there must be a virtual and a physical server available that acts as servers. The essentiality of the servers and part of the basic capabilities should not be ignored. The data need to be stored, hence making the storage capacity available. Others include networking tools and development tools (Ahmed, 2016). It is via cloud computing that the future of the ballot online remains bright since it is known to advocate for the growth and not the expansion of the current infrastructure. It is normally hosted in or at a remote data center whose management is from the cloud service providers. Via cloud computing and cloud storage, transactions can be done at a lower cost and a great speed, preserving the cloud resources.

Some of the advantages associated with cloud computing include excellent accessibility. There has been quick and easy access to the stored information from everywhere cloud computing. In addition, there is an aspect of the low cost of maintenance. Via cloud computing, the companies are likely to enjoy a reduction in hardware and software maintenance (Sether, 2016). The other advantage is mobility, where the mobile as a tool can access data in all the clouds and easy accessibility. Via cloud computing, another advantage is the unlimited storage facility and capability where a large or voluminous amount of data can be stored, which may be essential. Some stored data in clouds include the audios, images, and documents.

There is an element or an aspect that touches on the security of data (Sether, 2016). Cloud computing is secured against possible threats and risks to the data. Despite cloud computing being associated with many advantages, there are disadvantages, including some. The internet connectivity, at times there could be internet failures and network, and inconsistent network coverage hence may render the services unavailable most of the services in the cloud computing are accessed via the internets (“Figure 6.4 reasons businesses do not use cloud computing, 2014, 2019”). Another disadvantage is the vendor lock-in .at times. It is challenging to transfer data and services from vendor to vendor since they use different platforms, hence the biggest challenges. The other disadvantage is the limited control. Cloud computing as infrastructure is fully owned and managed by the service providers. The users of the services have limited access and control. In cloud computing, security is an essential component and a requirement in information. The information can be hacked and be compromised ("Figure 6.4 reasons businesses do not use cloud computing, 2014," 2019). Despite upgraded security platforms in the security, there have been incidences that data have been hacked and compromised. The budget set aside by the company and the possible benefits makes it important to adapt to cloud computing to reap the benefits. The weakness is few and cannot outdo the advantages.

The economic impact analysis refers to the methodology for evaluating the impacts from the projects, the policy on the economy of a specific region, and programs. For example, cloud computing is known to impact the economy positively and negatively by allowing easy access, securing information and data, creating employments, and improving the infrastructure (Alimonti, 2021). It is economically sound over time since the revenue projection of the ballot online keeps on increasing, the IT budget is an insignificant percentage. The revenue of $100.8 million has an IT budget of 10 percent equaling ($10.8 million). Since the percentage required keeps on decreasing as the year goes, the revenue collected keeps increasing and hence can be well served by the impact analysis. The economic impact analysis projects that there is a tendency that the ballot online is going to enjoy more from the fact of adopting to the cloud computing, especially on storage and other software. The negatives include the distortion of information or data and hacking. The analysis is important as it shows the impact on the cost of operation, income, jobs, and competitive productivity.

Table 1: BallotOnline budget for the next 5 years

Table 1 is showing the IT budget for the next 5 years. The organization’s executive leadership has declared that the IT budget will be cut by 5% over the next five years. This translates to a 1% reduction in the IT budget every year for the next five years. IT management has been tasked with determining the best recommendation and most cost-effective method for ensuring that the current IT infrastructure meets business objectives while also reducing the IT budget to 5% of annual revenue projections over the next five years.

Table 2: Total on-premises cost breakdown vs Total Azure cost breakdown

This table illustrates the breakdown comparison between the on-premises and Azure cost. Several cost categories from the on-premises environment are consolidated in Azure and reduced as a result of the cloud's efficiency.

So, after doing the calculation, the estimated cost of running IT infrastructure on BallotOnline's premises for the next five years, according to the Microsoft Azure TCO calculator, is $46,213,390. BallotOnline will spend $16,135,160 over the next five years on Azure cloud-based services. This means that if BallotOnline uses the Azure cloud-based service instead of an on-premises solution, they will save about $30,078,230. For BallotOnline, a cloud-based IT solution is a viable option.

References

Ahmed, R. (2016). Introduction to cloud computing and the application project. Cloud Computing Using Oracle Application Express, 1-8.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-2502-8_1

Alimonti, R. (2021). Digital markets and implications for competition policy: Evidence from recent economic analysis. Economic Analysis in EU Competition Policy, 112-145.  https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800370197.00014

Figure 6.4 reasons businesses do not use cloud computing, 2014. (n.d.).  https://doi.org/10.1787/888933586388

Sether, A. (2016). Cloud computing benefits. SSRN Electronic Journal.  https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2781593