Understanding the Cloud

October 11, 2012

Understanding the Cloud

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About Me

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I am the initial architect for our online “cloud” clinical data collection solutions which we have

been delivering since the late 1990s.

Personally, I am a proponent and user of online “cloud” applications.

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Goals Today

1. Define “the cloud” in simple terms

2. Provide some “cloud” benefit and risk evaluation

checklists

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Understanding the Cloud

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August 2012 Survey by Citrix

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http://www.citrix.com/lang/English/lp/lp_2328330.asp

A majority thought that cloud computing referred to a “fluffy white thing” 51% believed storms could interfere with it

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http://www.citrix.com/lang/English/lp/lp_2328330.asp

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So, what is the cloud?

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but first…

We will cover a formal definition from the

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“The Cloud” in Simple Terms

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1. You access it through the Internet

2. You don't own it (generally)

3. You don't have to do much to scale up to a bigger

footprint (except pay for what you are using)

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Adapted from:

http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/original-thinking/what-is-cloud-computing-a-simple-definition-30648

“The Cloud” in Simple Terms

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Examples

Photos

Productivity

Industry

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Technical Nuts and Bolts

(for the record)

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The National Institute of Standards and Technology

defines Cloud Computing with three main categories

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1

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2

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Let’s take a closer look at those options…

Service model options are

the most commonly discussed Cloud Category

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Platform indicates a higher-level environment for which developers

write custom applications. Generally the developer is accepting

some restrictions on the type of software they can write in

exchange for built-in application scalability.

Adapted from

http://rwandering.net/2008/07/03/cloud-services-continuum/

Infrastructure

(IaaS)

Platform

(PaaS)

Software

(SaaS)

Software (as a Service) indicates special-purpose software made

available through the Internet.

Infrastructure includes provisioning of hardware or virtual

computers on which one generally has control over the OS;

therefore allowing the execution of arbitrary software.

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http://www.saasblogs.com/saas/demystifying-the-cloud-where-do-saas-paas-and-other-acronyms-fit-in/

Common Users for Cloud Service Models

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http://www.saasblogs.com/saas/demystifying-the-cloud-where-do-saas-paas-and-other-acronyms-fit-in/

The lower you go down in the stack the more security you are

tactically responsible for implementing and managing.

For Example:

Operating system

Network security

Data encryption

System installation

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Open to the general public

Exclusively accessed by a single organization

Combination of two or more service models

Selectively accessible for users with a shared purpose

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What is the benefit of all this?

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http://www.citrix.com/lang/English/lp/lp_2328330.asp

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► Save money

• Lower IT costs

• Economies of scale

• Pay as you go

► Save time

• Eliminate install tasks associated with licensed software

► Focus on competitive advantage rather than

• Purchasing and supporting the server infrastructure

• Managing the security, reliability, and scalability

• Maintaining a labor-intensive patch and upgrade process

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Should I be concerned about the safety of my data?

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Data security is a concern whether you subscribe to SaaS

or purchase software and implement it on in-house servers.

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Here are some things to consider…

Always.

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Is the solution Secure?

Is it easily Accessible?

Does it support a Global marketplace?

Is it Sustainable?

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► Secure • Is the application 21 CFR Part 11 compliant?

• Do you have Safe Harbor certification?

• What encryption is used for data transfers?

• Is the data center SOC 2 Type II certified?

► Accessible • Which browsers are supported?

• Is it accessible on mobile and tablet browsers?

• Does the application require routine maintenance downtime? How often? How long?

► Global • Does the application support the display and storage of multiple languages and

typesets (Chinese, Japanese, etc.)?

• Can you report on multiple studies with the same application?

► Sustainable • What is the cost model?

• What is the training time for standard end users?

• How are upgrades supported?

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Some questions to ask!

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Can you audit the vendor facilities?

How are the data backed up?

What is the recovery process?

Is your production equipment housed in a state-of-the-art colocation facility?

What are the security arrangements for the facility?

Are they in place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?

On what type of infrastructure do you host data?

How often do you back up data and where are the backups stored?

Where and how do you store the backups?

What level of data encryption do you use to protect website transactions?

Can I export my data in a format that I can easily re-use?

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Adapted from:

http://www.trumba.com/connect/knowledgecenter/software_as_a_service.aspx#secure_data

Extended

SaaS Data Checklist

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In Summary

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Simply Put

“In The Cloud”

• You access it through the Internet

• You don't own it (generally)

• You don't have to do much to

scale

You Have Options

Cloud Service Models

• SaaS, PaaS, IaaS

• Most organizations leverage SaaS

• Remember the lower you go, the

more you are responsible to

manage

And finally…

When deploying a solution either in-house or as SaaS, make sure it is:

from Concept to Cure

with DATATRAK ONE

DATATRAK International Cleveland, Ohio

Bryan, Texas

Cary, North Carolina

888.677.DATA (3282) Toll Free

www.datatrak.net

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