ABSTRACT

With cloud computing in place, any future changes and challenges could be inherently taken care of in next-generation IT infrastructures.

­e cloud, being an enterprise-scale technology, must guarantee several quality attributes in its o¡erings. Simplistically, a cloud is an advanced IT infrastructure comprised of a server, and storage and networking systems, and hence, the service and operation-level parameters are of the utmost importance. Incidentally, several enterprise-level qualities are being reali zed with the adept leverage and use of ³ourishing cloud technologies. Newer deployment and delivery models are being developed and rendered comfortably and conveniently with the adroit adoption of clouds. Further, the potential of clouds to cut capital expenditure and rein in operating costs is so compelling that chief information o®cers (CIOs) are pushing and pitching aggressively for cloud adoption. However, good managers understand that cost savings is not the only variable to consider when evaluating whether to go for cloud IT. Cloud computing enables a tremendous amount of ³exibility and scalability in deploying and managing IT services and applications. With this ³exibility comes a list of items that have to be managed more closely compared to traditional systems. Availability, security, serviceability, and controllability of cloud services and strict compliance to local and governmental rules and regulations need to be guaranteed by cloud infrastructures. ­ese expectations have to be e¡ectively monitored and managed.