Is Cloud Computing a better Platform for Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery?"
The term ‘cloud computing’ has different meanings to different people. A unique trait of cloud computing is its valuable computing resources organized and stored in a central location for easy access by approved users (Gillam, 2010). Sharing of computing resources by intended users and the public requires experts to set appropriate measures to safeguard data. Cloud computing relies on secure data management to achieve its objectives. It is worth noting that cloud computing practices have enhanced business performance across industries. Despite its valuable to business entities, the process faces various challenges among them security threats, reliability, and consistency. This paper seeks to investigate the suitability of cloud computing in managing business continuity and disaster recovery.
Literature Review
Technology has significantly influenced business processes by enhancing speed and efficiency. For instance, advancement in information technology fostered communication efficiency making it easy for companies to manage overseas branches at low costs possible. In this regard, cloud computing is a technological innovation with the ability of positively transforming business performance. Various crucial issues determine the position of a company in the industry. Business continuity and preparedness in disaster management are essential to a firm’s prosperity. Consequently, long-term planning at all management level guarantees the adoption of a versatile disaster recovery plan. Therefore, an optimal business continuity and disaster recovery plan should entail the following elements: timely identification of threats and risks, fast remedying of the problem, and efficient management of limited resources (NIST, 2011).
Cloud computing has received unanimous support from most multinational corporations. There is consensus among various scholars that cloud computing has the power improve and add value to organizational operations. It is because of its technical, economic, and managerial implications when applied in business continuity and disaster recovery plans (Wood et al., 2010).
Applying cloud computing as a remedy to business continuity and recovery plan raises various technical challenges. For instance, some scholars believe that cloud computing is an ongoing process with numerous obstacles due to continued customization of existing technical base that makes data security difficult to guarantee. Nevertheless, the technology is economical as it is capable of reducing operation cost while boosting managerial efficiency. Cloud computing enables business entities to share data while at the same time sharing costs. As a result, it is an essential remedy for business continuity and recovery plan (Chow, 2009).
Adoption of cloud computing in business operations give managers options to easily mitigate the effects of a disaster. It is because cloud computing brings resources online thereby easing access to vital data previously stored. The process puts managers in a better position to manage a disaster. In addition, the process provides an enabling platform for companies to consider the trade-offs between data security and cost minimization. Conversely, security threats are the main barriers to cloud computing because some managers treat the process in contempt due to risk involved in data security (Gillam, 2010).
Reaction and Analysis
Despite the negative contributions of cloud computing in business process efficiencies, adoption of the process for continuity and disaster plans is noblest thing that any management should consider. As pointed out by Wood et al (2010), cloud computing is capable of reducing operation costs albeit data security concerns. Sometimes it is essential to take some risks as long as their pay offs have significant contribution to a business. Risk taking defines a real entrepreneur and sets them from the rest. Furthermore, an entity may suffer substantially for failing to accommodate some risks. It is not prudent to understate the value of cloud computing basing on the data security risks it has on an entity (NIST, 2011).
Cloud computing is indispensable in the management of business continuity and recovery plans. This is due to its ability to minimize costs of operations. Additionally, the process allows online storage of resources creating a backup in case of system failures. It provides an enabling environment in the institution of a recovery plan. Finally, it is evident that the process gives managers extra options in their decision-making processes. Managers will have an opportunity of comparing the cost-security tradeoffs when implementing prospective business continuity and recovery plan. For that reason, it is difficult to render the process invaluable on the basis of one parameter (data insecurity) while ignoring its massive contribution.
Conclusion
This paper establishes cloud computing as a satisfactory development in the management of business continuity and disaster recovery plans hitherto control of data insecurity. First is because cloud computing reduces the cost of information access. It also guarantees access to ample information in case of information theft or loss. Thus, it is misleading to dismiss the process on the basis of its technical challenges. Furthermore, Cloud Security Alliance (2009) provides a solution to most innate risks. Implementing the CSA’s recommendations will guarantee enhanced management efficiency in the achievement of business objectives. To sum it up, cloud computing provides an enabling platform for business survival and disaster recovery plan.
References
Chow R., (2009). Controlling Data in the Cloud: Outsourcing Computation without Outsourcing Control. Retrieved July 20 2012 from parc: http://www.parc.com/publication/2335/controlling-data-in-the-cloud.html
Cloud Security Alliance. (2009). Domain 7: Traditional Security, Business Continuity, and Disaster Recovery, in Security Guidance for Critical Areas of Focus in Cloud Computing V3.0. Retrieved July 20 2012 from Cloudsecurityaliance: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/guidance/csaguide.v3.0.pdf
Gillam, L. (2010). Cloud Computing: Principles, Systems and Applications. New York: Springer.
NIST. (2011, December). Guidelines on Security and Privacy in Public Cloud Computing. Retrieved July 20 2012 from NIST: csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-144/SP800-144.pdf
Wood, T., Cecchet, E., Ramakrishnany, K., Shenoy, P., Merwey, J. V., & Venkataramani. (2010). Disaster Recovery as a Cloud Service:Economic Benefits & Deployment Challenges. Retrieved July 20 2012 from usenix: www.usenix.org/event/hotcloud10/tech/full/Wood.pdf
