(MC²)²: A Generic Decision-Making Framework and its Application to Cloud Computing

(MC²)²: A Generic Decision-Making Framework and its Application to Cloud

Computing

Michael Menzel1, Marten Schönherr2, Jens Nimis1, Stefan Tai3

1FZI Karslruhe, 2T-Labs Berlin, 3KIT Karslruhe

“Which IT infrastructure?“ is complex

Existing approaches only consider cost aspects!• Operations research: Ngwenyama/Bryson[1] propose transaction costs

• Cloud specific Armbrust2: cpu hour costs of cloud vs. Datacenter

• Cloud specific Walker3: net present value of leasing or buying CPU

Considering also non-cost factors requires extension of existing approaches => multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM):

Multi-criteria decision-making alone is not sufficient !=> support and customization

of multi-criteria decision-making in a framework

Motivation of (MC²)²

[1] Ngwenyama, O. & Bryson, N. (1999), 'Making the information systems outsourcing decision: A transaction cost approach to analyzing outsourcing decision problems', European Journal of Operational Research 115(2), 351-367. [2] Armbrust, M.; Fox, A.; Griffith, R.; Joseph, A.; Katz, R.; Konwinski, A.; Lee, G.; Patterson, D.; Rabkin, A.; Stoica, I. & others (2009), 'Above the clouds: A berkeley view of cloud computing', EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley, Tech. Rep. UCB/EECS-2009-28.[3] Walker, E. (2009), 'The Real Cost of a CPU Hour', Computer 42, 35-41.

(MC²)² FRAMEWORK

Process described by (MC²)² Write a detailed scenario

description

Use information resources to find alternatives, criteria, and requirements

Choose an appropriate multi-criteria decision-making method

Configure method by e.g. defining weights, dependencies of criteria

Apply Method

APPLICATION TO CLOUD COMPUTINGEXAMPLE

Summary: • New CRM software for ExamChoc company

• Must be cost efficient

• Must be very secure

• Load profile known (roughly)

• Support green IT

Example – scenario

The scenario of this example shall address the widely articulated IT infrastructure decision-making problem. Consider a chocolate producing company called ―ExamChoc‖, which needs to make an IT infrastructure decision on the deployment of a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software system. After a long analysis by the company’s chair it is decided that the solution has to be cost efficient and very secure at the same time. The chair based the decision on the current economic situation the organization has to cope with and on the company’s regulations that require a high security level for customer data. Due to the nature of ExamChoc’s business the usage statistics of the CRM software are forecasted to be very seasonally varying. Also, the software will not be in use between 6 pm and 8 am as very strict policies for working hours are set upon the employees. Additionally, the company cares about its corporate responsibility strongly and, thus, is supporting green IT approaches whenever possible.

A1. In-house datacenter installation

A2. 3rd-party provider

A3. IaaS provider

Example – alternatives

C1. Security & Reliability • C1.1. Data safety level of the infrastructure

• C1.2. Reliability of the infrastructure

• C1.3. Data security level in the infrastructure

• C1.4. Security level of data transmissions from and to the infrastructure C2. Benefits

• C2.1. Number of resources available

• C2.2. Green IT: power consumption during usage C3. CloudTCO criteria

• C3.1. Uptime costs for dynamic usage

• C3.2. Costs for security

• C3.3. Initial upfront costs

• C3.4. Administration costs

• C3.5. Costs for internet connection

• C3.6. Research costs for hardware

Example – criteria

R1. Trustworthiness of the provider

R2. Green IT: minimum power consumption per hour per server

Example - requirements

We choose:

ANP – Analytic Network Process• Supports complex criteria dependencies

• Considers qualitative criteria

• Results on absolute scale (0-1)

in other cases other methods might fit better• MAUT

• Promethée

• …

Example – choose multi-criteria decision-making method

Example – configure multi-criteria decision-making method

Example – evaluation method

Requirements fulfilled by in-house, IaaS

Apply ANP• Pairwise comparisons of

in-house, IaaS regarding criteria

• Calculate results for criteria networks

Apply indices

Example – evaluation method

Example – evaluation method

A1 A3v1 0.9869 1.0212v2 -0.0081 0.0081

Example - results

Indices formulas:

Indices results:

ANP results:A1 A3

benefit goal: vbenefits 0.6092 0.3908costs goal: vcosts 0.6173 0.3827

A3. IaaS > A1. in-house

But, by benefits only: A1 > A3 !

By costs: A3 < A1 (smaller means better)

Example – results – ctd.

IaaS

(MC²)² can be improved and extended in many aspects:

More IT support within the framework• List of suitable information systems that can support the definition of

alternatives, criteria, and requirements

• Prototype of a system that offers (MC²)² decision making and integration with information resources

Inclusion of sensitivity analysis and group decision aspects

Support with the choice of MCDM methods

…

Future work

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!Discussion