ABSTRACT
Cloud computing is getting a lot of attention. Foregoing a formal definition for a moment, “cloud” really refers to the outsourcing of Internet-based infrastructures and applications to external service providers typically leveraging a high degree of virtualization. The long-term cost-saving claims of cloud computing as championed by the vendors are compelling to any chief information officer or chief financial officer. With cloud computing, customers are in the control of their computing resource needs and can add computing resources as they wish through a highly automated and responsive set of processes. The customer has control over the operating system, storage, network configuration, and any application and system software such as web servers, database management systems, and network software including host-based firewalls. The customer has complete responsibility for the installation and configuration of business applications and for the creation and administration of website applications and data access.
