From the readings and in your experience, what exactly is Cloud Computing and what are some ethical issues or concerns regarding it? Considering the Internet meme that “There is no cloud. It’s just someone else’s computer”:
- I feel most of the ethical issues around cloud computing comes with the location of the data: how it is stored and secured. Brad Smith discusses the issues that have come from different laws in different countries about data security. These differences need to be addressed so that countries can maintain authority on their companies data.
As developer, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the Cloud? Describe any experiences you’ve had in using the Cloud as a development platform, what led you to use it, and if you plan on using it in the future.
- One of the main advantages of cloud computing is the ability to scale to demand quickly and efficiently. Pricing stays at the same rate per server even when more and more servers are needed. As A View of Cloud Computing describes, “cloud computing lets an organization pay by the hour for computing resources, potentially leading to cost savings even if the hourly rate to rent a machine from a cloud provider is higher than the rate to own one. A second case is when demand is unknown in advance.” These two factors allow a company to pay for cloud resources when needed, even if they do not know the demand they will face.
- There are distinct disadvantages for using the cloud. Many I have not faced myself, but I do understand the danger. Storing important company data and user data on “someone else’s computer” is not the most secure option available. However, A View of Cloud Computing holds that “the standard defense, user-level encryption, is also effective in the cloud.”
As a consumer, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the Cloud? Describe what sort of Cloud services you use on a regular basis.
- The cloud has many advantages, fantastic up time and the user does not see any slow down if the scaling is properly implemented.
- Disadvantages include the potential for external attack when the user does not know where their data is stored. This threat increases as the cloud grows.
Discuss the trade-offs are you making in utilizing these platforms as both a developer and a consumer. At the end of the day, do you trust the Cloud?
- I think there are not many trade-offs in using the cloud both as a developer and consumer. Security is, in my opinion, the only major threat to the full adaption of cloud computing. As security increases I feel this will be assuaged, but companies will need to be vigilant in keeping up with the technology.
- In Brad Smith’s letter he says, “Hackers used the Internet to attack the company and its freedom of expression. Yet Microsoft and Google used the same Internet to defend freedom of expression by making the film available online.” Cloud computing helps the power of the internet, this power gives more features to people who want to use if for good or bad.
- In the end, yes I do trust the cloud. Why, because it is in the interest of the company securing data to keep it secure so they can make money. The economic interests keep the data safe and the company responsible actively protecting it.
Ethics Blog 