Purpose
Small businesses are increasingly moving to cloud computing, signing up with private providers that make sophisticated applications more affordable as well as setting up their own accounts with public social media sites like Facebook. The trend is confirmed by Microsoft in its global SMB Cloud Adoption Study 2011, which found that 49 percent of small businesses expect to sign up for at least one cloud service in the next three years.
Directions
Participate in this discussion by researching and explaining the various risks businesses must consider when using cloud computing services. Find the due dates for different parts on the Course Calendar.
Part A
Cloud computing is an increasingly attractive alternative to managing an entire suite of hardware, system software, and application software internally. Many businesses, large and small, have moved some or all of their applications into the cloud and more are considering doing so. Are there any risks associated with moving into the cloud? Are these risks more with each cloud market segment (-Saas, PaaS and IaaS)?
Post your response on the discussion forum titled "Unit 8: Cloud Computing."