What Is Cloud Computing?

As a Project Manager, you're increasingly likely to encounter the need to use cloud computing in your project. But what is the cloud? How many different types of "clouds" are there, and which type is best for your project? What do you need to know about the cloud to effectively plan, execute and monitor projects that involve clouds?

Cloud Computing 101 introduces Project Managers and other stakeholders to the basics of cloud computing: What it is, what makes it different from legacy systems, and what questions to ask to ensure that your project maximizes the advantages of the cloud while minimizing the downside risks and costs.

This book helps you answer the types of questions Project Managers need to ask about the cloud:

• What type of cloud do I need for my project?
• How many types of clouds are there, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
• How do I arrange for appropriate cloud services for my project?
• What questions should I ask of a cloud service provider?
• How do I protect the security of my data in a cloud?
• How do I map my legacy-based project's database to a cloud-based data structure?

Written in clear, accessible language, Cloud Computing 101 helps you cut through the jargon and hype surrounding clouds and cloud-based services. It will enable you to distinguish between the different types of clouds, service models, deployment models, and their relative strengths and limitations. By the end of this book, you will be able to:

• Be conversant in cloud terminology
• Distinguish between different types of clouds
• Distinguish between the various cloud service models and cloud deployment models
• Understand the capabilities and limitations of each type of cloud
• Enable your organization to effectively leverage cloud-based capabilities
• Effectively plan, execute and monitor a project that uses a cloud

Cloud Computing 101 also maps key topics to the process groups and knowledge areas in the PMBOK® Guide, allowing you to easily apply the accepted standards of project management to cloud computing.

"[Patrick Allen's] simple yet elegant explanations of the architecture, technology and systems that encompass cloud computing, coupled with his 'real world' examples of how these capabilities enhance our lives, provide just the right level of knowledge and understanding for managing projects that intersect with or employ these technologies." – Michael D. Berendt, President, I C Data Inc.

See also: YouTube Video on "Cloud Computing 101: A Brief Overview and Common Security Issues" - A Tech Talk for JHU Applied Physics Lab, 10/25/2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR66Q6n56U0

Foreword, by Michael D. Berendt, President, I C Data Inc.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Purpose

No Prerequisites

Why Clouds Are Important

Why Clouds Are Important to PMs

Chapter 2: What Is a Cloud?

What Is a Cloud?

No, Really - What's a Cloud?

Sizes of Clouds

Benefits and Risks of Clouds

Cloud Adoption Trends

Chapter 3: The Three Types of Clouds

Chapter 4: Type 1 Cloud: Storage Cloud

How Storage Clouds Work

Benefits of Storage Clouds

Limitations and Issues of Storage Clouds

Storage Clouds and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 5: Type 2 Cloud: Utility Cloud

Overview

What Are Virtual Machines?

Why are Virtual Machines Used in Type 2 Clouds?

Utility Clouds

What Type 2 Clouds Do Not Provide

Type 2 Cloud Service Models and Their Strengths and Limitations

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Cloud

Platform as a Service (PaaS) Cloud

Software as a Service (SaaS) Cloud

Other "X"aaS Variants

Software Licenses on the Cloud

Questions PMs Should Ask About Type 2 Clouds

Utility Clouds and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 6: Type 3 Cloud: Data-Focused Cloud

Overview

The Data-Focused Cloud

Structured and Unstructured Data

What Data-Focused Clouds Can Do For You

Comparing Data-Focused Clouds to Traditional Relational Databases and Queries

Relational Database Format

Triple Store Format Example

Benefits of Triple Store Format

Accumulo Format

Advantages and Disadvantages of Data-Focused Clouds

Questions PMs Should Ask About Type 3 Clouds

Data-Focused Clouds and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 7: Security Issues and the Cloud

Overview

General Cloud Security Concerns

Physical Security and Geographical Issues and Solutions

Communications Security Issue and Solutions

"Shared Use" Security Issue and Solutions

Co-Residency and Side-channel Attacks and Solutions

The Recoverable Data Deletion Security Issue and Solution

Distributed Denial of Service Attacks and Solutions

Common Customer Cloud Security Errors

Other Cloud Security Topics

Useful Security-related Online Reference Architectures

Limited Access Clouds

Penetration Testing Benefits

FedRAMP Authorization

Classified Data and the Cloud

Questions PMs Should Ask with Respect to Cloud Security

Cloud Security and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 8: Arranging to Use a Cloud

Overview

Using In-House or Third-Party Vendor Clouds

Cloud Deployment Models

Sample Cloud Service Providers

Factors in Pricing Cloud Services

Service Provider Guarantees and Issues

Holding Competitions Between Candidate CSPs

Transitioning from One CSP to Another

Questions PMs Should Ask When Arranging to Use a Cloud

Service Level Agreements and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 9: Designing Programs for a Data-focused Cloud

Overview

Terminology

Analyzing Unstructured Data

Map-reduce Program Concepts

Map-reduce Program Examples

Links to Online Map-reduce Tutorials

Benefits of Map-reduce Programs

The Value of Data Cleansing

Questions PMs Should Ask About Map-reduce Programs

Map-reduce Programs and the PMBOK® Guide

Chapter 10: Summary

Types of Clouds

Type 2 Cloud Service Models

Cloud Deployment Models

Security in the Cloud

Arranging to Use a Cloud

Map-reduce Programming Concepts

Project Managers' Questions and the PMBOK® Guide

A Final Thought

Appendix A: Knowledge Check for Chapters 1-6

Appendix B: Knowledge Check for Chapters 7-9