Cloud Computing - a Survey

CLOUD COMPUTING

INTRODUCTION
This brief report deals with the literature about Cloud Computing, opportunities, benefits and the obstacles faced by firms in implementing and continuing to use Cloud Computing as a viable Supply Chain Solution. Also, we will see the possible structural solutions to overcome these issues in providing Cloud Computing service.

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Companies around the world are paying much closer attention to cloud computing and its potential value to supply chain processes – from sourcing to after-sale service. Concerns about risk and reliability are abating, while benefits – from less cost to more flexibility – are becoming more prevalent. Small wonder that Industry experts expect that one-fifth of all businesses will own absolutely no IT assets by 2012. Nor is it surprising that the market for cloud-based services is expected to reach nearly $150bn by 2014!!

In today’s fast-moving business environment, most companies are striving to operate a more dynamic supply chain to respond to rising volatility in customer demands and market conditions. Because supply chains are increasingly powered by information technology, flexible IT-based solutions are an increasingly important part of a supply chain design. Against this background, it is no surprise that the topic of “cloud computing” is generating intense interest.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing allows companies to have the ability accessing IT-based services; including infrastructure, applications, platforms and business processes. Due to the advanced technology, companies may be able to respond faster and more effectively to changing business conditions, creating new services, and opening up new markets. Although the term ‘cloud computing’ was just brought up recently, many elements of the concept, such as timesharing and virtual machines, have already been around for several decades since then.

What makes cloud computing a growing reality for today’s businesses is the... [continues]

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