Cloud Computing Reliability, Availability and Serviceability (RAS): Issues and Challenges

Correction: The spelling of the author's name on this paper was changed from Sabiha to Sabahi on 15/02/2013. Cloud computing is one of today’s most exciting technologies because of its capacity to lessen costs associated with computing while increasing flexibility and scalability for computer processes. During the past few years, cloud computing has grown from being a promising business idea to one of the fastest growing sectors of the IT industry. But on the other hand, IT organizations have expressed concerns about critical issues such as security that accompany the widespread implementation of cloud computing. Security, in particular, is one of the most debated issues in the field of cloud computing and several enterprises look at cloud computing warily due to projected security risks. Also, there are two other issues. They are the reliability and availability of the cloud which are as important as security. Although each of those three issues is associated with usage of the cloud, they will have different degrees of importance. Examination of the benefits and risks of cloud computing is necessary for a full evaluation of the viability of cloud computing. This article reviews issues and challenges of cloud computing’s reliability, availability and security (RAS). Beginning with a brief discussion on virtualization technology, a key element of cloud infrastructure, it examines issues facing in cloud RAS fields. Then, it addresses the challenges and problems in cloud computing RAS. It also examines intrusion detection methods and outlines counter measures to improve cloud RAS. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/icter.v4i2.4673 International Journal on Advances in ICT for Emerging Regions 2011 04 (02) : 12 – 2