Improving Cost for Data Migration in Cloud Computing Using Genetic Algorithm

Introduction

Cloud computing (CC) (Weiss, n.d.) is more often adopted by organizations that want to operationalize their processes using software in lower implementation time while having higher scalability and flexibility with “Pay as you go Model.” As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (Mell & Grance, n.d.), Cloud Computing (CC) is an On-Demand model to provide services of infrastructure as well as application on a sharing basis. Cloud is known as an internet (“The Cloud”) accessible solution, Off-premise multi-tenant architecture, accessed via a browser (PC or Wireless), delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (Paas) or Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas). Common cloud companies are Google, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM, HP and Salesforce (Li, Yang, Kandula, & Zhang, n.d.). Forrester defines cloud computing as “A pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managed compute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed by consumption.” A successful multi-cloud adoption includes a seamless experience across all clouds, regardless if they are Public (hosted off-premises), Dedicated (hosted off-premises but in an environment dedicated to only a specific organization), or Private (customer managed within the firewall of an organization’s data center).

Cloud computing resources (servers, memory, storage, etc.) can be quickly provisioned and enabled to be used by the organizations. Service providers offer multiple deployment models like public, private, hybrid, etc. Public clouds are owned and operated by companies that offer rapid access over a public network to affordable computing resources. With public cloud services, users don’t need to purchase hardware, software, or supporting infrastructure, which is owned and managed by providers. A private cloud is an infrastructure operated solely for a single organization, whether managed internally or by a third party and hosted either internally or externally. Private clouds can take advantage of efficiencies of Cloud while providing more control of resources and steering clear of multi-tenancy. Hybrid cloud is a mix of two or more distinct cloud infrastructures (private, community, or public).

Conventionally, Enterprises hosts their enterprise applications on the servers which are installed inside their own data centers. In the last 5 years or so, enterprises have started shifting the physical infrastructure as well as services outside their organizational premises i.e Cloud where end to end ownership of maintaining the infrastructure and its services is owned by service providers. Movement from an on-premise model to Cloud Computing (Private or Public) has offered multiple benefits such as lower upfront capital or ownership costs, High Availability of applications, SLA improvements and reduced downtime (Chawla & Kumar, n.d.). As mentioned in the paper, multiple risks are highlighted such as:

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  Ownership of data generated in an application;

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  Data loss due to any unpredictable event;

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  Internet Speed and latency in remote areas denying access to the users;

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  Regular automated updates in the software resulting in changing functionalities;

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  Improper data encryption techniques highlighting the risk of data security and privacy;

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  Unplanned outages (Adel, Reza, & David, n.d.).