Analytical Report: Exploring Cloud Technologies for Enhanced IT Deployment
Introduction
Our company currently relies on various applications for stock control, manufacturing, order
processing, and personnel management. All data and applications are centralised on servers
located at the head o:ice. Our IT director’s vision to adopt cloud technologies could significantly
improve our performance. This report aims to thoroughly analyse available cloud technologies,
including their characteristics, deployment models, and alignment with our organisational goals
to help inform our decision-making process.
Current IT Deployment
Our current IT infrastructure is traditional; that is, it relies on on-premises servers, which
centralise data and applications. While it provides stability and control, it may lack scalability
and flexibility, making maintenance and disaster recovery challenging.
The company uses these applications:
1. Stock Control System: This application helps the company manage its inventory. It
tracks the quantity of each item in stock and alerts the company when it is time to reorder.
This ensures that the company always has enough stock to meet demand, but not so
much that money is wasted on storage costs.
2. Manufacturing System: This application oversees the company’s manufacturing
processes. It schedules production runs, monitors the performance of machinery, and
ensures that products are manufactured to the correct specifications. This helps the
company produce high-quality products e:iciently.
3. Order Processing System: This application manages the company’s orders. It records
customer details, tracks orders from placement to delivery, and handles invoicing. This
ensures that customers receive their orders on time and that the company gets paid.
4. Personnel System: This application manages the company’s employees. It handles
tasks such as payroll, leave management, and performance reviews. This helps the
company take care of its employees and comply with employment laws.
These applications help the company achieve its goals by increasing e:iciency, improving
product quality, enhancing customer service, and ensuring legal compliance. However,
maintaining this on-premises IT infrastructure requires significant resources, prompting the need
to explore cloud technologies.
Cloud Technologies
Cloud technologies are modern solutions that deliver computing services over the internet,
transforming how businesses manage their IT infrastructure. The three main types of cloud
services are: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a
Service (IaaS).
Characteristics of Cloud Services
Cloud Service: Software as a Service (SaaS)
, Analytical Report: Exploring Cloud Technologies for Enhanced IT Deployment
Description: It o:ers ready-to-use software applications over the internet, eliminating the need
for installation or maintenance. The cloud provider takes care of the infrastructure, platform, and
software maintenance, relieving the company’s IT department from the responsibilities and
ensuring e:icient and reliable access to essential business tools.
Characteristics:
- It is accessible via web browsers, no installation required.
- It is easily scalable to accommodate changing needs.
- Automatic updates and patches are managed by the provider.
- It is managed from a central location.
- It is hosted on a remote server.
- It is accessible over the internet.
- Users are not responsible for hardware or software updates.
Examples:
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides)
- Microsoft O:ice 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)
- Cisco WebEx
- Salesforce
- Dropbox
- Slack
- Stripe
Benefits:
- The license costs are lower compared to our traditional models.
- SaaS solutions are easy or scale up or down based on your specific needs.
- It can be accessed from any device.
- Our company can benefit from new software releases and upgrades.
Impact: Our company can benefit from SaaS applications like Google Workspace or Microsoft
365 for tasks such as email, document management, and collaboration. These ready-to-use
applications hosted in the cloud would allow employees to access them via the internet without
the need for local installation or maintenance. It would also reduce the need for upfront cost in
infrastructure and software development.
Drawbacks: [2]
- No control over any of the infrastructure or security controls
- Little to no customisation
- Integration issues with your existing tools and applications
Cloud Service: Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Description: It provides a platform for application development, testing, and deployment
without managing underlying the infrastructure. While the organisation manages the application
development, the cloud provider handles the platform and infrastructure, enabling faster
development cycles and easier scalability.
Characteristics:
Introduction
Our company currently relies on various applications for stock control, manufacturing, order
processing, and personnel management. All data and applications are centralised on servers
located at the head o:ice. Our IT director’s vision to adopt cloud technologies could significantly
improve our performance. This report aims to thoroughly analyse available cloud technologies,
including their characteristics, deployment models, and alignment with our organisational goals
to help inform our decision-making process.
Current IT Deployment
Our current IT infrastructure is traditional; that is, it relies on on-premises servers, which
centralise data and applications. While it provides stability and control, it may lack scalability
and flexibility, making maintenance and disaster recovery challenging.
The company uses these applications:
1. Stock Control System: This application helps the company manage its inventory. It
tracks the quantity of each item in stock and alerts the company when it is time to reorder.
This ensures that the company always has enough stock to meet demand, but not so
much that money is wasted on storage costs.
2. Manufacturing System: This application oversees the company’s manufacturing
processes. It schedules production runs, monitors the performance of machinery, and
ensures that products are manufactured to the correct specifications. This helps the
company produce high-quality products e:iciently.
3. Order Processing System: This application manages the company’s orders. It records
customer details, tracks orders from placement to delivery, and handles invoicing. This
ensures that customers receive their orders on time and that the company gets paid.
4. Personnel System: This application manages the company’s employees. It handles
tasks such as payroll, leave management, and performance reviews. This helps the
company take care of its employees and comply with employment laws.
These applications help the company achieve its goals by increasing e:iciency, improving
product quality, enhancing customer service, and ensuring legal compliance. However,
maintaining this on-premises IT infrastructure requires significant resources, prompting the need
to explore cloud technologies.
Cloud Technologies
Cloud technologies are modern solutions that deliver computing services over the internet,
transforming how businesses manage their IT infrastructure. The three main types of cloud
services are: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a
Service (IaaS).
Characteristics of Cloud Services
Cloud Service: Software as a Service (SaaS)
, Analytical Report: Exploring Cloud Technologies for Enhanced IT Deployment
Description: It o:ers ready-to-use software applications over the internet, eliminating the need
for installation or maintenance. The cloud provider takes care of the infrastructure, platform, and
software maintenance, relieving the company’s IT department from the responsibilities and
ensuring e:icient and reliable access to essential business tools.
Characteristics:
- It is accessible via web browsers, no installation required.
- It is easily scalable to accommodate changing needs.
- Automatic updates and patches are managed by the provider.
- It is managed from a central location.
- It is hosted on a remote server.
- It is accessible over the internet.
- Users are not responsible for hardware or software updates.
Examples:
- Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides)
- Microsoft O:ice 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams)
- Cisco WebEx
- Salesforce
- Dropbox
- Slack
- Stripe
Benefits:
- The license costs are lower compared to our traditional models.
- SaaS solutions are easy or scale up or down based on your specific needs.
- It can be accessed from any device.
- Our company can benefit from new software releases and upgrades.
Impact: Our company can benefit from SaaS applications like Google Workspace or Microsoft
365 for tasks such as email, document management, and collaboration. These ready-to-use
applications hosted in the cloud would allow employees to access them via the internet without
the need for local installation or maintenance. It would also reduce the need for upfront cost in
infrastructure and software development.
Drawbacks: [2]
- No control over any of the infrastructure or security controls
- Little to no customisation
- Integration issues with your existing tools and applications
Cloud Service: Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Description: It provides a platform for application development, testing, and deployment
without managing underlying the infrastructure. While the organisation manages the application
development, the cloud provider handles the platform and infrastructure, enabling faster
development cycles and easier scalability.
Characteristics:
