Exam

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RUNNING HEAD; TERM PAPER PROGRESS REPORT

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TERM PAPER PROGRESS REPORT

Direction: Please write the ABSTRACT (250 words) and CONCLUSION (250 words) from the attached file named 'ESSAY'

Title: Cloud Adoption and Security

Abstract ???

Introduction

In today's world, technology has a great impact on business. We have cloud computing, which is revolutionizing corporations and their operations. This relatively modern technology has been the foundation of corporations' digital transformation. Businesses benefit from cloud services that are cheaper, quicker, more flexible, and consumers get a better experience. A virtuous circle exists in software as service clouds between app users and software developers. They can easily enhance the software because they can see real-time use and performance data. Meanwhile, as soon as they are released, users get the new app updates without paying more or having to fiddle with clumsy downloads. Organizations moving to the cloud have concerns about the protection of confidential company and consumer data. Via data violations or account hijacking, to ensure that information is not lost or compromised, the security aspects of cloud adoption or cloud security are essential for your cloud service.

Body

Cloud adoption is a tool used by companies to improve the scalability of the resources of Internet-based databases while reducing cost and risk. Different industries, such as healthcare, marketing and advertisement, retail, finance, education, construction, real estate, etc., also benefit from cloud adoption. The cloud benefits include:

· Scalability: a Cloud system can support rapid expansion at user fingertips, whether expanding the CPU, memory, or storage capacity to store data. If the company wants to improve performance, they can adjust it in just a few minutes. This is the difference between Cloud and On-Premise system that requires pre-provisioning when expanding the system.

· Speed & Agility: a Cloud system could quickly adapt to changing market needs and demands. For example, the company plans to launch a new campaign that will require servers and storage. If it is a Cloud system, they can press and order the service right away to start building a new system. However, it might not be possible whether it is a traditional method because the equipment acquisition planning may not be completed on schedule.

· Lower Cost: the cloud system will charge you by the same concept as utility services, which means you only pay what you use, also known as Pay-As-You-Go. With that concept, the organization will be using the Cloud at a lower cost compared to the investment in purchasing the system to install by themselves. Even in some cases, the cost of the Cloud may not be significantly lower than that of On-Premise investments, but the organization still reaps the benefits of cost management. This is because cloud spending is an expense (OpEx) instead of an investment (CapEx).

· Development and Continuous Delivery: it cannot be denied that technology has changed. Especially in the past few years, the approach to software development has changed as well. It took several months to switch to a new development based on Agile and Continuous Delivery concepts that split the software into sub-modules. New versions were released repeatedly. This method has the following advantages: users will see new capabilities. Suppose you find features or functions that do not meet expectations, the Cloud can be adjusted immediately, no need to wait months to do so. The delay in modifying the system could affect the system's overall structure.

After understanding the advantages of using the Cloud to save costs and increase performance, let's understand the cloud system and pick which form of work to consider and which cloud system to use because every organization does have one. There are many jobs, and each one will be suitable for different types of Cloud systems.

1. SaaS (Software as a Service)

For the given capabilities, SaaS (Software as a Service) is a ready-to-use application. The service company is taken care of both device and data storage and debugging for the benefits. We typically pay fees depending on the number of users or the amount of work done. This system is sufficient for the job, which we already have unique specifications. It may also provide external features, such as operating from any location and on any smartphone. The following are some examples of these systems:

· Email system such as Microsoft Exchange, Google Gmail

· Office Automation systems such as Microsoft Office 365, Google Apps.

· A CRM system such as Salesforce.com.

· Personnel management systems such as Workday

2. PaaS (Platform as a Service)

The PaaS (Platform as a Service) system would create new apps or services by putting cloud-based services together in a puzzle-like manner to develop new applications or services that solve business problems. The new service could run entirely in the Cloud or as a hybrid app, with certain aspects of the system operating on-premise and others in the Cloud.

3. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)

The IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) system makes use of a cloud-based Virtual Computer, also known as a VM, to allow easy and low-cost hardware acquisition. At the same time, it provides the consumer with full control.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an organization is transitioning to the digital age more quickly, creating new normal behaviors such as online information exchange from work from home, online applications due to social distancing, and many other activities. The online operation, which is inevitable, uses the Cloud system to store various data because Cloud is like a large enterprise storage warehouse. Many organizations need to have a large storage warehouse, such as the Cloud, for creating the document, data recording, save contacts, etc. Customer information, including processing those data, is considered confidential data for each organization, so Cloud Security or security systems on the Cloud technology are continually evolving to help prevent data theft on the Cloud system. Cloud Security is an essential part of cybersecurity, a system designed and developed in security on the Cloud for service users. The system will select an area to store safe information to prevent cyber intrusion and protect against malware. Also, the system will notify the system's changes. In today's digital age caused by New Normal behavior, Cloud security could benefit both servers and users in exchanging information on the online world safely and efficiently.

About every company applies cloud computing to its operations, as well as my company. I am working for a food distribution company; furthermore, my company launched the new Enterprise Application Software (EAS) called SAP, and Warehouse Management System (WMS) called High Jump at the end of 2019. A few months ago, our old EAS system got attacked by a hacker. The entire business is still running since we have been using the new system for a year. However, confidential data such as customer name, address, order history, and sales transactions from previous fiscal years are in our old EAS system. My company's IT Manager told me that the hacker migrated our data into his Cloud and encrypted it with the code. The hacker wanted us to pay him to release our data. Fortunately, our company had Cloud insurance for data protection, so we let the insurance company deal with the hacker to get our data back. This issue seems to be straightforward because we had Cloud insurance. Cloud insurance can also help cover missed transactions if a cloud service is inaccessible and offer financial compensation to a cloud user in the case of an accidental data loss or security violation. One reason a company might be hesitant to use cloud computing is the possibility of a service interruption that results in missed revenue or damage to a company's reputation. Moreover, it can help minimize those costs and make it possible for companies to adopt cloud technology.

As mentioned earlier, the operating system is still running after the system got hacked because of the new system. On the other hand, if we have only one system and the entire business could not operate, how will it affect my company? I researched and found out that the total annual cost to organizations has been rising for all forms of cyberattacks. A single malware attack in 2018 cost more than $2.6 million, and ransomware costs jumped the most from $533,000 to $646,000 (a 21 percent increase) between 2017 and 2018. Information loss and business interruption combined more than 75% of overall cybercrime damages in 2018. No industry is resistant to the increasing expense of cybercrime; according to the survey, security breaches have risen by 67% in just the last five years. Banking is the industry that has been hit the hardest, with annual losses exceeding $18 million in 2018. This should come as no surprise, given that they are still a massive motivator for hackers. The following table shows the total cost of cyberattacks (per organization) across 15 industries:

Surprisingly, the effect on life sciences businesses increased the most in a year (up 86 percent to $10.9 million per company), led by the travel industry (up 77 percent to $8.2 million per company). This is most likely due to a growth in the sharing of confidential and useful data, such as clinical trial specifics or credit card numbers, on the internet.

The next affect is company’s reputation because consumers expect their data to be kept private. They have confidence in the companies they purchase from to do so. When customers in the United States see companies upholding their end of the bargain by safeguarding personal and financial information, the vast majority of them remain faithful to the company. Customers continue to have concerns as businesses are hacked and become victims of a cyberattack. They no longer trust the company's website for their credit card numbers. New consumers have a negative perception of the company and its goods or services. It will take years to restore consumer confidence, and a company would be unable to survive if it is unable to maintain existing clients while still recruiting new ones. Other than that, the majority of the time, several problems are to be addressed, and every section is operating at full capacity. According to a recent study, ransomware cyberattacks take an average of 23 days to recover, attacks involving inside companies taking an average of 50 days which means that a large portion of the workforce is devoting their time and resources to recovery activities rather than business as usual. This can be causing an organization to fall behind budget by weeks, if not months.

Conclusion ???