FOR KIM WOODS ONLY

Assignment 4: The Utility of Cloud Computing

Due Week 7 and worth 120 points

This assignment will focus on the utility of cloud computing. Much like a traditional utility company (phone, gas, electric), cloud computing providers are large and operate at a significant scale, pay-per-use model, are always available, and are designed to serve small as well as large organizations. In this assignment, you are to use the Internet and research a company that has migrated services to the cloud.

Resources on Cloud Computing:

http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031

http://www.microsoft.com/enterprise/viewpoints/cloud-services/default.aspx#fbid=gzSVGeJXvXE

Write a four to five (4-5) page paper in which you:

1. Examine the deployment methods of cloud computing for this organization. Determine which method you prefer and explain why.
2. Compare and contrast the selected cloud computing model(s) of your selected company to a traditional utility company.
3. Examine the technologies that this organization migrated to the cloud. Predict three (3) challenges that you foresee the selected company facing while migrating to a cloud-based environment.
4. Determine three (3) major security considerations this company faced or likely faced in its migration to cloud computing.
5. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Note: Wikipedia and similar Websites do not qualify as quality resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Summarize business applications that can migrate to the cloud.
• Compare and contrast the technologies that enable cloud computing.
• Analyze the migration steps and challenges in migrating to cloud-based environments.
• Explain the security considerations in cloud-computing environments.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in cloud computing environments
• Write clearly and concisely about cloud & virtual computing topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.