Cloud-Based Platforms and Infrastructures: Provisioning Physical and Virtual Networks

Introduction

In recent years, cloud computing has transformed the way information technology organizations and consumers conduct business. This technology revolution is attributable to the Information Technology (IT) democratization of physical and virtual platforms or network infrastructure solutions. Cloud computing is a pervasive technology that many organizations and consumers continue to adopt. In the cloud, deployment models are adopted as integrated solution architecture to interface with other cloud- based technologies: virtualization, cyber-physical systems, data analytics, big data, Internet of things, artificial-predictive intelligence, cybersecurity. In this chapter other useful solutions required to make more efficient the production time, enhance productivity and improve operation’s performance are discussed. The integration of cloud computing with other technology solutions has improved the consumption of technology services i.e., forecasting, aggregating hardware and software performance for emergency response time, and the adoption of innovative business models. Vendors examine the transformation of traditional IT systems to leading-edge cloud-based, as a complex process for enhancing involved policy implementation. The adoption of cloud solutions is often supported by analytical and practical procedures needed to balance all-inclusive cloud implementation processes (Buyya, Ranjan, Rodrigo, & Calheiros, 2010; Gartner, 2012; Buyya, Ramamohanarao, Leckie, Calheiros, Dastjerdi, & Versteeg). In recent times, the provisioning of cloud service and deployment models has advanced significantly. Despite vendor’s adoption of database-as-a-Service/DBaaS, the industry has developed assorted methods to support enterprise IT network infrastructure solutions (Ko, Ahn, & Shehab, 2009; Vozmediano, Montero, & Llorente, 2011). Aside from these developments, more security solutions are developed to protect organizations and consumers’ IT resources (Stanton et al., 2005; Ko, Ahn, & Shehab, 2009; Alhazmi, & Shami, 2014). IT experts continue to research on measures to enable the integration of native computer solutions with cloud computing systems i.e., hardware, software, data and user-users (Grance & Mell, 2011; Ross, 2010; Buyya, Ranjan, Rodrigo, & Calheiros, 2010; Ko, Ahn, & Shehab, 2009; Vozmediano, Montero, & Llorente, 2011). The transformation of these solutions is vital for leveraging day-to-day IT operations and provide essential strategies organizations need for adopting, configuring and deploying integrated computer systems (Lease, 2005). The adoption and implementation of cloud-based solutions are key of deploying IT resources for diverse enterprises (Grance & Mell, 2011; Gentry, 2009). In general, Service level agreements (SLAs) are fundamental business methods every organization would require, to assess its economic growth (Alhazmi & Shami, 2014). Lacking proper security standards commonly can affect the adoption/deployment of cloud computing resources. This could also expose network infrastructure solutions to cyber related vulnerabilities (Lease, 2005; Buyya, Ranjan, Rodrigo, & Calheiros, 2010; Gartner, 2012; Gartner, 2009; Alhazmi & Shami, 2014). Vendors must to develop customized solutions, to properly mitigate malicious cyber-attacks. Besides, this chapter aims to emphasize on areas affecting the virtualization and provisioning of cloud-based services. These services comprise: IaaS, SaaS, PaaS, DBaaS, public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud. The three NIST certified cloud computing services discussed in this chapter are: PC, PC and HC (Ross, 2010; Gartner, 2012; Amazon, 2012; Bruening & Treacy, 2009; Ko, Ahn, & Shehab, 2009; Alhazmi & Shami, 2014).