Cloud Standardization: Consistent Business Processes and Information

Abstract

Cloud computing represents one of the latest emerging trends in distributed computing that enables the existence of hardware infrastructure and software applications as services. The present paper offers a general approach to the cloud computing standardization as a mean of improving the speed of adoption for the cloud technologies. Moreover, this study tries to show out how organizations may achieve more consistent business processes while operating with cloud computing technologies.Keywords: Business processes, Cloud, Enterprise Architecture, IT Governance, Standardization1 IntroductionIn the current economic climate the gov- ernments all over the world try to maximize return on investments on multiple levels. Due to their versatility, cloud technologies may be an important factor in reducing costs and at the same time increasing the value offered by information and communication technolo- gies.In order to embrace such cloud computing technology implementations, organizations have to consider all the influencing factors.2 Current EU Status-Some Proceedings for using Governance and Enterprise Ar- chitecture FrameworksAt European level there are intense activities to standardize concepts and cloud technolo- gies. In the communication sent by the Euro- pean Commission - Unleashing the Potential of Cloud Computing in [1], are ar- ticulated the first European definitions and strategies in this area. According to the Eu- ropean Commission, Cloud Computing is understood as the ability to store, process and access data located on remote systems. In this model, users can assign virtually unlim- ited computing resources for which they do not need to make major capital investments. Using a business model based on the cloud, even the smallest business can expand to larger markets while governments can make their services more attractive and effective. Cloud computing is still in its infancy, which allows EC and Europe to innovate and devel- op the concept.EC aims to prepare all the industry sectors for adoption of business models based on Cloud systems. These systems can reduce costs, and when combined with digital best practices can increase productivity and stimulate organizations to increase the num- ber of jobs. Thus by 2020 it is estimated that about 45 billion will be spent on Cloud tech- nologies and these will influence GDP by up to 957 billion and create 3.8 million jobs. Studies carried out by the EC in 2011 shows that if 80% of organizations would adopt Cloud technologies they could reduce operat- ing costs by 20%, would increase the home working by up to 46%, increase productivity by up to 41%, standardization by up to 35%, new opportunities and new markets penetra- tion by up to 33%.The unprecedented growth in data flows and data processing technologies over the Inter- net has a significant impact on the environ- ment through energy consumption, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Cloud technologies could have a major effect in reducing these problems by using re- sources more efficiently. For example in the U.S. it is estimated that major operators would save $ 12.3 billion annually if they would adopt Cloud technologies.Private sector adoption of Cloud technologies in Europe is over 64% but organizations are still cautious about implementations. The general trend is to use hybrid cloud deploy- ment models and testing of non-critical ser- vices. This reduces risk but also reduce the potential economic impact of cloud technol- ogies. The main factors contributing to these limitations are legal constraints, security and data protection in the cloud. Therefore most implementations European Cloud deploy- ments are limited to private.Adoption in the public sector is not very dif- ferent from the private and concerns are simi- lar. The principal aspects in the public sector are reducing costs and increasing service quality delivered by the Cloud platforms. …