Deep SinghLibrarianMalaviya National Institute of Technology ( MNIT ) JaipurEmail: nishants97@gmail.comMobile:09001440442

Application and Usage of Cloud Computing and Data Security

Cloud Computing ????Process of using a network of remote servers

(called cloud) via the internet to store, manage, and process data, instead of a personal computer.

The Cloud maintains a hosting environment that is immediate, flexible, scalable, secure.

Cloud provides libraries or organizations' financial liabilities , resources and time as well.

Examples:- Amazon, yammer, box, icloud, etc.

We all use the cloud

CLOUD COMPUTIN

G

Self healing

Multi-tenancy

Linearly Scalable

Service-Oriented

SLA driven

Virtualized

CHARACTERISTICS

How it works??? Cloud computing system can be divided it into two sections:

FRONT END BACK END

They connect to each other through a network, usually the Internet.

The front end is the side the computer user, or client, sees.

The back end is the "cloud" section of the system.

On the back end there are various computers, servers and data storage systems that create the "cloud" of computing services.

A central server administers the system, monitoring traffic and client demands to ensure everything runs smoothly.

It follows a set of rules called Protocols Servers .

Remote computers do most of the work and store the data.

TYPES

SaaS

IaaS

PaaS

Software as a Service (SaaS) :

SaaS is a software delivery model  in where data and softwares of an organization or a library are stored centrally in a cloud.

SaaS is utilized by clients through a thin client  with the help of  web browser.

Many business applications are operated through SaaS like Office software, DBMS software, Management software, CAD software, etc.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) :

In PaaS, users develop software by using tools and/or libraries from the provider. Morever in Paas, the control on software ,deployment, configuration settings,etc are in consumers’ hand. Under this a computing platform such as operating system is provided to a customer or end user on a monthly rental basis. Some of the major cloud computing vendor are Amazon, Microsoft, Google ,etc.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

In this model, organization or consumers offers infrastructure as a service. Under IaaS model, users can easily avail hardware services such as processors, memory, networks etc on agreed basis for specific duration and price.

How can LIBRARIANS take advantage of CLOUD-BASED

COMPUTING today?

Store the information in a one place ie in a common server.

Distribute the same to all the users whenever required via web based systems.

Example for cloud computing in library is follows: Library automation with multi user (client), Federated search via Web OPAC, ILS –LMS (Integrated library system), Web hosting, Universal OPAC, Online resources sharing, Digital library and Inter library loan etc…

BENEFITS OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN LIBRARIES

Highly automated atmosphere of cloud computing helps the libraries to keep a bay on IT personnel’s help for keeping software up-to –date, as maintaining is the job of service provider on cloud.

With cloud computing, services of libraries will have a new leap in future. In fact, services provided by the libraries will become more user-centric, more professional and more effective. This will in turn help the libraries to create more knowledge benefits for the country.

It helps to create an on demand self sufficient service, thereby eliminating the need for cloud user to plan ahead.

APPLICATIONS OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN LIBRARIES

With the help of cloud computing technology libraries can host their website. The district of Columbia Public Library is using Amazon’s EC2 (Elastic computing cloud) service to host their website.

Libraries can use cloud technology like Google docs to collect response to web forms, Google Calendar .

on and meeting rooms, and Google Analytics to collect statistics about their website, catalogue and blogs.

Using cloud computing user would be able to browse a physical shelf of books, CDs or DVDs or choose to take out an item or scan a bar code into his mobile device. All historical and rare documents would be scanned into a comprehensive, easily searchable database and would be accessible to any researcher.

APPLICATIONS OF CLOUD COMPUTING IN LIBRARIES

Libraries can built their computer system on web technology with cloud technologies so that user can integrate more easily the system.

Libraries can build digital library, content management system, institutional repository. Inter Library Loan system and Integrated Library System (ILS) from locally managed to vendor-hosted environment, on their own with the help of cloud service.

Cloud computing can be applied for backing up of media collections and storing and accessing of bibliographic data. Libraries can also and maintain much of the same data hundreds and thousands of times

AdvantagesEconomical

Easy to use

Environment Friendly

Easy to learn

Mobility

Continuous availability

Flexible backup and recovery

DisadvantagesSecurity and Confidentiality

Vulnerability

Technical difficulties & downtime

Vendor lock-in(dependency on provider)

Limited control & flexibility

Conclusion

Libraries have to pick and choose and be careful with what data they allow to be out there in a cloud. Cloud computing can be a useful resource to help Libraries save money but can also have downfalls. The average citizen doesn't want their personal information unprotected. As Libraries perfect their cloud computing services, I think that more Libraries should be open to using these services. This service will provide new inventive ways to use computers and provide services.