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Foundations of Information Systems

Introduction

Foundations of Information SystemsIntroduction
Figure 7.1 Cloud computing and the development of cloud infrastructure are critical to delivering software applications securely, more rapidly, and continuously. (credit: modification of work "Cloud" by James Cridland/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Chapter Outline

Introduction

Organizations are facing more pressure today to retain customers who depend on updated or new business capabilities. This requires organizations to deliver software applications securely, more rapidly, and continuously. For organizations to adapt existing applications or build new applications using the cloud, they must abide by a different set of constraints to leverage cloud infrastructure in comparison to traditional on-premise infrastructure.

Cloud computing offers the ability to access information via the internet at any time of day, from any device, and from any location. Before the cloud existed, transferring large amounts of data required physical external storage devices. The limitation of carrying data on a physical drive meant that employees could not work remotely and maintain access to all necessary information when away from the office. There was also not yet a means for customers to access banking information from an app, to shop online from a laptop, or to write an essay using Google Docs from a desktop computer. Cloud computing changed all of that, and it enriched the depth and breadth of information systems (IS) development and efficacy in the modern business world.

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