Anglia Local News Assignment - Report Example

?  Anglia Local News Assignment Cloud computing Cloud refers to the aspect of rendering any services via the internet. These services are broadly categorized into three, namely: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IA as), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Unlike the traditional hosting, the cloud is distinctive in three ways: First cloud is provided (sold) on demand, usually by the minute or hour. Secondly the cloud is elastic, that means the services provided through the cloud is elastic hence users can have the amount of service according to their needs at any given time. (Gillan2010) Also unlike the traditional host, it is the provider who manages the service implying that the consumer only has to have a computer and internet to access the service. Another feature of cloud is that it can be private or public. A public cloud is offered (sold) to anyone via the internet whereas a private cloud refers to a proprietary network that is only provides to a limited group of individuals. Whether one goes for the private or public cloud, the goal is to render scalable computing services. Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) refers to a model whereby cloud providers deliver and control Information technology resources such as storage, computation and network capacity. (Blokdijk & Menken 2009) By this, cloud providers own, manage, render as well as distribute Information technology resources more effectively and conveniently to their subscribers. Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) This refers to a set of software and development tools provided by a cloud vendor as a hosted infrastructure. Through this developers can be able to create applications running on the provider’s platform via the internet. (Blokdijk & Menken 2009) Platform-as-a-Service providers may use AP1s, web portals as well as gateways that are installed in a client’s computer. Examples of PaaS are GoogleApps and Force.com. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) This refers to a model in which the vendor provides the hardware and software infrastructure as well as the software product that interacts with the user through a front-end portal. The range of services provided by SaaS is very broad. Examples of this include We-based Mail, database processing as well as inventory control. (Blokdijk & Menken 2009) Because the applications and the data resides with the host provides it enables the services to be accessible from anywhere. Benefits of cloud services By adopting cloud computing, some of the benefits an organization would accrue as would include the following: First, cloud computing saves time. This is because by an organization relying on using installed software’s to meet their needs they stand the chance of spending more time procuring, mastering and managing their programs. (Velte & Robert 2009) However a business saves time upon adopting cloud since some cloud vendors offer software as a service, hence an organization is spared the inconvenience of managing their programs. Secondly a business stands fewer chances of glitches upon cloud adoption. This is because services offered through cloud require few versions. Therefore there is less upgrades needed and it becomes easy to implement considering the fact it is the cloud providers who implement this. (Velte & Robert 2009) Also considering the fact that most businesses incur problems in integrating software with other similar applications which makes it hard to share data, cloud enables user to integrate applications such as management systems, emails and office applications reducing cases of productivity glitches. It has also been known that cloud promotes conservation of the environment. This is considering the fact that personal computers only utilize 10 to 20 percent of the capacity; this implies there is a large percentage in energy waste. Therefore by pooling resources in cloud based systems there is energy savings on the life extended by personal computers. Another great advantage of the cloud is increased access power. By this cloud subscribers have the benefit of utilizing powerful virtual servers unlike being constricted to the standard personal computers (Beasly, 2008). With this in mind users of cloud stand a chance of utilizing powerful virtual servers by automating tasks such as ordering, sales, schedulers and many activities not earlier availed through their standard personal computers. Current consumer trends illustrate a high number of people benefiting from cloud computing considering there are over 69 percent of Americans with internet access. With services such as web, storage, email or software availed by cloud, these trends illustrate the numbers would continuously increase as more consumers are adopting modern business approach. More on the business, there will be advantages to businesses when they adopt cloud computing because more users will not require IT personnel in order to get the service. There will be more self-service IT from the business side. There will be less and less involvement of the IT department because it is more about Software-as-a-Service. Many business users will be in a position to adopt future cloud computing by the use of self-service. With new technologies like cloud computing and particularly private cloud, there will be more tolerance for innovation and a lot of experimentation form businesses. There will be fewer barriers to creating new ways of doing businesses. It will pave way for prototyping and market validation of new approaches in a much faster and less expensive than before. The other sectors of the organization like branding, legal, and compliance will struggle to keep up the pace with the other sectors and thus the gradual change of the organization will be seen as cloud computing bring business possibilities to be possible in the world of cloud computing. Although this will not fix broken innovation mechanisms in businesses, but on the other side, cloud computing is accessible which enables new internal entrepreneurs to use the cloud computing tools to create new solutions anyway. There are some benefits though, of cloud computing which by far outweigh the risks and challenges. These benefits will be to those companies which are proactive in managing the down-size that may come with cloud computing. These benefits will include the availability of an easier change management of the information technology infrastructure which includes upgrades and maintenance. The economics of scale will also be achieved because with a private cloud, the many clients in a company will be able to access the application software that is installed on the server machines without the need to buy individual software for the many client machines in the company. The good side of new technologies, more so cloud computing, is that innovative companies will have the opportunity to come up with solutions that were hitherto impossible to come up with. It will offer small opportunities for companies to enjoy the economies of scale that come up with this new technology. What is more, business ideas which required more computing power, scale, or new business models like Global Service oriented architecture but could not be effected because of technical bottlenecks can now be achieved. Every improvement that is directed towards storage, processing speed, or technology were hard to be achieved at initially but cloud computing has made this achievable. It is only smart companies who will notice this irresistible move. Dangers of using cloud One danger in the use of cloud is the issue of security and privacy. This would be a challenge considering you will be entrusting your personal data and information to a third party. (Cloud computing techie 2012) This would also be more concerning with regards to the fact that the provider’s servers can be accessed elsewhere in the world by other users. Privacy also poses a challenge, and this would only mean that cloud subscribers only seek reputable vendors. Secondly, by a company adopting cloud services, they have to contend with the fact that they will be losing control of their data to cloud service providers. (Blokdijk & Menken 2009) This would make a company to be less insightful in information management procedures such as data recovery, restoration and back-up. Lack of control would also present a difficulty in migrating to other cloud service providers. This also comes with the challenge of resource monitoring since it is only the vendor that can ascertain that. Another danger posed by cloud is the higher cost, especially with regards to the fact that cloud computing is a fairly new service and hence it has to be researched and improved and this makes it quite expensive despite the fact that cloud hosting is cheaper to convectional technologies. There is also decreased flexibility posed by cloud since the client would be working under the confines of the vendor’s service. (Blokdijk & Menken 2009) Hence however much cloud service providers purport to provide flexible services there is an aspect of tweaking the service that cloud subscribers will always be hindered in undertaking. Cloud computing is not the main problem in it is the fact that use of this technology has been taken so far. At this point, it is worth noting that, for instance, without global cloud computing to gather and analyze data, a global phenomenon like Global Warming could not be understood, or even properly detected. Only its local effects would be observed. What becomes problematic is the use of cloud computing to support the fantasy that information is alive in its own right, and that the activities or expressions of individual people are nothing but one form of computing resource, targeted for aggregation. This is, unfortunately, an approximate statement of the latest ideology that has taken hold of the cloud. There is a new awareness and leverage of the greater Internet particularly Web 2.0. The Web has advanced especially with the introduction of Web 2.0. The challenges in scale, and performance has created solutions for businesses, both large and small, and has come up with infrastructures that can address challenges in a powerful and economical ways that many companies have found no equal (Beweley, 2010). The employment of SaaS, non-relational databases will in the end serve companies well in the new company cloud. This will enable companies to gain new skills and perspectives that are needed to compete well in the 21st century. Cloud computing has been a good match of SOA. With cloud computing, SOA will be improved and changed for the better. Web Oriented Architecture has been found to fit well with cloud technologies which are based on the Web. Traditional SOA will not suffice with the development of cloud computing because it will be moved to a place where new business and technical requirements with faster rate of changes will be achieved. It will be common to see the phasing out of traditional SOA and the emergence of new technologies that will bring more efficiency to businesses (Fowler, & Worthen, 2010). More on the business, there will be advantages to businesses when they adopt cloud computing because more users will not require IT personnel in order to get the service. There will be more self-service IT from the business side. There will be less and less involvement of the IT department because it is more about Software-as-a-Service. Many business users will be in a position to adopt future cloud computing by the use of self-service. With new technologies like cloud computing and particularly private cloud, there will be more tolerance for innovation and a lot of experimentation form businesses. There will be fewer barriers to creating new ways of doing businesses (Knorr, & Gruman, 2010). It will pave way for prototyping and market validation of new approaches in a much faster and less expensive than before. The other sectors of the organization like branding, legal, and compliance will struggle to keep up the pace with the other sectors and thus the gradual change of the organization will be seen as cloud computing bring business possibilities to be possible in the world of cloud computing. Although this will not fix broken innovation mechanisms in businesses, but on the other side, cloud computing is accessible which enables new internal entrepreneurs to use the cloud computing tools to create new solutions anyway (Fowler, & Worthen, 2010) The firms which are slow in adopting new technologies will find it hard to compete with the fast-adopters. The failure to adopt cloud computing does not bring immediate fall to these companies but it will instead pile onto the more recent advancements and make it even harder to compete in the fast-moving technology world. In the end, the slow adopters will face serious and growing economic and business disadvantages. Cutting edge technologies is not that good if some factors will not be taken into consideration. What will happen if the private cloud is down? Will this mean that the business will be brought to a standstill? These are the questions that should be put in place when contemplating on setting up new technologies. Private cloud will be problematic to the company if it goes down and there is no technical staff to work on it. What is more, with IT department being less involved, it will be problematic to the business and may even lead to loss of revenue just because the system is down. The initial cost of setting up a private cloud on the company enterprise may seem higher given the hardware that the enterprise is required to purchase. This will defeat the purpose of setting up the cloud in the first place because, with public cloud the economies of scale is achieved. The enterprise is the one that will meet all the hardware cost in the case of private cloud. Recommendation for suitable computer Considering the case scenario presented by Anglia Ruskin University, the decision to add three web and two database administrators would require the addition of five personal computers. The choice of a suitable and efficient desktop computer will have to be considered to ensure that operation run at optimum. Considering these computers will be used to interface with the cloud, it will require that the PC can well handle the services that are rendered through the cloud as well as have the capability to handle broadband internet connection. (HP 2012) For the hard drive, a minimum size of 250 GB would be required though 320 GB are becoming common. The PC’s would also require a minimum memory of 2 GB. When it comes to the processor, at least a core 2 duo processor will guarantee optimum performance as well as provide for a 64 bit capability. As for the display I would recommend a 17 inch TFT screen. There are several examples of computers in the market that will offer similar specification with the provision for a 3 year warranty. (HP 2012) For instance the HP TouchSmart Elite 7320 model which goes for just ?598.00. It comes equipped with a 2TB hard drive, USB 3.0 ports, Intel 2nd Generation Core i3 processor, full HD support as well as genuine windows 7 professional operation systems. Other great features include 6-in-1 media card reader and 2.0 Mp webcam. Printer recommendation According to the specifications provided by Anglia Local News, it is apparent that they will be relying on 4 non-coloured printers and 1 coloured printer. The choice of a good printer will be determined by the following factors: First of all one has to consider the printer resolution that is the number of dot a printer renders per square inch. It is recommended that a minimum of 1440 dpi is offers great clarity. Secondly the operation cost has to be kept in mind to ensure that would entail calculating the cost of replacing cartridge and paper as well as being aware of the cost of paper, toner and ink. It is also important to be sure about the manufacturer’s warranty. In this case at least a 90 day warranty support would be recommended. Other important consideration would include ease of use and network support. However since Anglia Local News require 4 black and white printers; it will be worth considering first that these printers will be involved in a lot of document printing therefore an inkjet would not be recommended as they are slower (HP 2012). It would be therefore recommended that a laser jet be used since they cost effective in operations as their toner cartridge are not replaced often. I would therefore recommend HP (Hewlett-Packard) LaserJet Pro CP1025NW Laser Printer. As for the colored printer ink jet would be a good choice to render high quality color photo at a reasonable price. This is also because ink jets can handle tabloid-sized papers. Prior to this a printer with a minimum resolution of 4800 by 1200dpi resolution will be recommended for quality printing. When considering the cartridge to be used in color printing it is the best to avoid single-cartridge printers which come with only one color and hence they cannot print true color. It is also considered cost effective to purchase a color inkjet with multiple cartridges so that they can be replaced individually. A good choice of color printer (HP 2012) would be HP Office jet Pro 8600 All-in-One Inkjet Printer that cost between ?93 and ?127. Selecting a suitable network hardware Selecting the network device Since a modern network will be deployed, several devices for connectivity will therefore be required. When considering higher devices in the OSI model, it is apparent that intelligent devices would be required to better analyze data traffic and forward information to other lower layers. In this case Anglia Local News will have to choose use a switch and a router. A switch will be used for connectivity within the organization local area network and the router will be used to form the wide area network. Also the addition of wireless access points will be required to allow computers and other devices to share the Internet protocol as well as connect the network to the broadband connectivity (Lowe 2011). When considering the choice of LAN (Local Area network) devices a switch would be recommended to hubs as their performance is enhanced hence and this makes them cost effective. Some switches also provide network monitoring capability through special ports though this is not a universal feature. When selecting a switch it is important to consider the following: First the speed and type of ports. It is a good idea to purchase switches with faster ports (Helper, 2009). It is also important to buy a switch that will provide for future expansion by having additional ports. Secondly one has to consider the expandability of networking devices. Modular devices are recommended as they have more expansion slots that provide for flexibility to add new modules as requirements evolve. (Lowe 2011) One use of the expansion slot is to support the addition of fibre-optic module to offer scalability of Local area network (LAN). It is also important to look into the factor of manageability. In this case I would recommend a switch that has the capability of providing monitoring operations as well as provide for setting changes. For example it would be ideal to have a switch that can be turned on or off as required to control access. Once these considerations have been met analysed I would recommend that Anglia Local News procure a 32 Ports Cisco Switch 9500 Ethernet that costs ?76. This switch would be ideal considering the addition of 5 new workstations which will increase the port demand to 24. Since this switch can accommodate that, it will also provide an additional 8 ports for future expansion. Selecting Internetworking Devices Upon selection of the LAN switch, an Anglia Local News will have to select a suitable switch so as to facilitate interconnection between networks and key being the local area network and the internet (Helber, 2009). A good switch should offer security, quality of service, voice over IP capability, network address translation, dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), wireless access, virtual private networks as well as be able to detect intrusions. Also considering the fact that most routers come with UTP cabling support, it would be beneficial to get a router that can support other types of media such as fibre-optic cable for future connectivity. Therefore it is recommended that Anglia Local News install the Cisco 1841 ISR router that has been designed to support medium-sized businesses as well as offer a number of different connectivity options. It has the advantage of being modular in design and can deliver multiple security services. Recommended topology Due to the fact that Anglia Local News will is still falls under small and medium sized enterprise and which creates a possibility for expansion in the coming future, it would be then important to render a logical network topology that is scalable to the needs of the organization. (Helber 2009) With this mind a star topology would be recommended as it is it offers several advantages key being: for one the star offers fail safe measures since the failure of one node does not affect the operation of the entire network. Another advantage in line with our need for scalability is the fact that a star topology allows extension through a process known as daisy-chaining whereby a star network is extended by adding another switch to the central switch which would act as a centre of a new topology. (Lowe 2011) Recommendations for a physical layout Recommended IP Table for PC’s PC Identification Assigned IP PC 1 192.168.1.1 PC 2 192.168.1.2 PC 3 192.168.1.3 PC 4 192.168.1.4 PC 5 192.168.1.5 PC 6 192.168.1.6 PC 7 192.168.1.7 PC 8 192.168.1.8 PC 9 192.168.1.9 PC 10 192.168.1.10 PC 11 192.168.1.11 PC 12 192.168.1.12 PC 13 192.168.1.13 PC 14 192.168.1.14 PC 15 192.168.1.15 PC 16 192.168.1.16 PC 17 192.168.1.17 PC 18 192.168.1.18 PC 19 192.168.1.19 PC 20(Web admin 1) 192.168.2.1 PC 21(Web admin 2) 192.168.2.2 PC 22(Web admin 3) 192.168.2.3 PC 23 192.168.1.23 PC 24 192.168.1.24 Recommended Broadband Internet connection Before Anglia Local News can subscribe to an internet service provider several considerations would have to be made. First of all one would have to consider the speed, it is recommended that a broadband with at least 2Mbs will be sufficient. Secondly the issue of which software will be needed should be looked into. This in most cases would entail antivirus software that can defend the network from viruses, malwares and rouge website. With this in mind, several broadband options are available. However the best pick Anglia Local News can subscribe to would be Sky Broadband Unlimited with Talk Free time. This new service has the benefits of high connection speed up to 20Mb of download speed. It’s also allows unlimited download content size. (broadband.co.uk 2012) This means there would be no limit on file sizes either uploaded or downloaded through the internet. This package also comes with a 24 hour technical support plus the addition of a free McAfee Internet Security Suite. The cost for this service is only ?222 per year inclusive of sky talk free time (broadband.co.uk 2012). Reference Lowe, D 2011, Networking for dummies, Wiley Publishing Inc, Hoboken. Blokdijk, G, Menken, I 2009, Cloud computing – The complete cornerstone guide to cloud computing best practices, Emereo Pty Limited. Velte, T, Robert, C 2009, Cloud computing, A practical approach, McGraw-Hill. Hallberg, B 2009, Networking a Beginner’s Guide, McGraw-Hill. Gillan, L 2010, Cloud computing: Principles, systems and applications, Springer. Beasley, S 2008, Networking, Prentice Hall. Bilal Ahmad (2010). Techmaish [online]. [Accessed 17 March 2012]. Available from: . Cloud computing techie [online]. (2012) [Accessed 17 March 2012]. Available from: . HP [online]. (2012) [Accessed 17 March 2012]. Available from: . broadband.co.uk [online]. (2012) [Accessed 17 March 2012]. Available from: . Read More