Cloud Computing And Its Applications And Use In The Real World

Introduction

In this paper, I will be talking about cloud computing and its applications and use in the real world in the forms of current use, security aspects, ethical and social implications, future and its future use. Cloud Computing is storing and accessing data and programs over the internet instead of using your physical computer's hard drive (PCMAG). Cloud computing is what allows data to be accessed anywhere that the internet is available. The data that is accessed on servers, which can be either physical or virtual. This allows for consumers and businesses to run their day to day operations and tasks and save space, time, and money. Cloud computing was invented by Joseph Licklider around the 1960s, where Licklider was helping develop the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET), which was basically a basic version of the modern internet. Following that, in the 1970s, virtualization of machines took place. The Virtualization of machines was basically virtual machines run fully functional operating systems. This development led to the creation of the Cloud in the late 1990s (Foote). This led to the development of the modern cloud infrastructure.

Current Use

Cloud Computing is used in many data centers and services to let customers use and access their services and serve their respective purpose. Some of the benefits that are included in Cloud Computing is resource/storage virtualization, scalability and elasticity, efficiency of resource sharing, accessibility, and anonymity (Timmermans). We can see overlooked uses of cloud computing in the form of web-based email, data drive services such as Dropbox, iCloud, and many more. The most common uses of cloud computing are virtual assistants such as Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant, application development, scalable usage, and business process services such as Salesforce and Marketo, which are only available via Cloud. You can also use cloud computing in Infrastructure and Platform services which is critical in maintaining a good IT infrastructure, the most common of which is the. This type of computing is most used by consumers what want a file storage backup in cases of disasters and having multiple backups. Use of the cloud is most prominent in Amazon Web Services (AWS), which is a pay-as-you-go service which provides you servers that you conduct business on and maintains the security, and all the required maintenance. It also stores multiple backups which are readily accessible.

Security Aspects

The data that are in the cloud are usually stored physically in data centers and virtually in the cloud. These are protected by multiple security features such as firewalls and only accessible through authorized access. If any manipulation/disaster occurs to the data stored in the cloud, multiple backups are always available and readily accessible. Many data storage companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) provide on-site security maintenance as well as virtual database administrators that monitors for any suspicious activity. Security aspects of the cloud include: Identity and Access Management (which ensures the individual that is accessing the data is authorized and validated), Data Loss Prevention (which monitors the data and securely verifies it), Web Security (which gives protection of data and access in real time use), E-mail Security (which an email network is usually included in the package), Security Assessments (commonly used for IT infrastructures to meet standards), Intrusion Management (which monitors unusual activity), Encryption (which allows for anonymity within the company and virtually so no outside parties can access and decrypt the data) and Network Security (which monitors data in the physical and virtual aspects).

Ethical and Social Implications

Computer ethics is “a set of moral principles that regulate the use of computers” (Christensson). Non-ethical use of the cloud includes any type of misused data mining and illegal share of customers data to any third-party company. A recent example of un-ethical use of customer data occurred when Cambridge Analytica, a UK based data analytics company, gained unauthorized to millions of Facebook users data. This occurred through the use of a quiz app that the company had put out, which had used the data and then put out politically targeted advertisements. The representatives of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica had ensured that the users had indirectly given the app access to the data, however many think otherwise and questioned the integrity of user’s data in Facebook’s access, since many of the users were unaware that the data was being shared. The use of the data in this example is unethical due to the fact that the customers and the users who downloaded the app were unaware that their data was being shared and harvested to make them see politically targeted ads. The social implications that arose from this incident warn and raised consumers knowledge about what they are giving access to when they use and download applications over the Cloud.

Future Use

Cloud Computing has already advanced technology and the world as we know it, in the future, it will have the ability to further reduce costs for technology to reach developing countries and create advanced and better ways of communication. The future expected use of Cloud Computing is more efficient compression and storage of data which allows for more data to be stored on the cloud, at more efficient upload and download speeds. Faster transmission of data from the cloud can lead to faster speeds of Wi-Fi, and cellular networks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be further integrated into the cloud, which can already can be seen in use through Watson, by IBM. Watson is a fully-functional question answering virtual assistant. It can answer and respond to questions with human-like characteristics and dialect. Google is also trying a similar approach in its Artificial Intelligence backed assistant called Google Assistant.

In conclusion, we can see the cloud being used daily and only ever-growing. It began as a server maintenance service to being integrated into Artificial Intelligence. We are at the beginning of an ever-flourishing industry as long as technology and efficiency is required.