How does use of the cloud affect the local environment?The use of cloud computing improves the environment by reducing the energy consumption (Yonatan, 2015). It inherently reduces hardware requirements that in turn reduces resource redundancy and energy consumption. The use of cloud computing also reduces the energy emissions that are generated while using hardware components. The fact that cloud computing supports remote workers also means that it contributes to environmental conservation. Remote working means that there are less traveling and even smaller offices that require energy to power up. This has provided a great course in the transition towards the use of clear energy that the world has come to embrace amidst the adverse effects of global warming (Yonatan, 2015).
Cloud computing has also offered a new communication platform that has reduced air pollution. It is also vital to note that the use of cloud computing has come at the right moment when the world is thinking about measures that could be used to address the issue of global warming. Studies have proved that industrialization is the main cause of greenhouse emissions. Hence, by reducing industrial processes through reduced hardware needs, the buildup of greenhouse gasses in the air is also reduced. Far from that, it is also evident that the use of cloud computing has reduced the use of paperwork. That means that the industrial processes that are involved in the production of papers have also been minimized. For instance, transmission and sharing of information through the cloud has reduced the use of paperwork tools such as newspapers and magazines that have also reduced the industrial processes that are involved in the productions thus providing a pathway for reducing the buildup of greenhouse gasses in the earth’s atmosphere (Yonatan, 2015).
In addition to that, less use of paperwork has also helped to improve environmental outlook because of few waste papers. Studies have also proved that the issue of global warming has been primarily because of cutting down of trees carelessly. One of the products that can be manufactured from trees is papers. Thus, the fact that the use of cloud computing has reduced the use of paperwork means that it is a great breakthrough in the conservation of forests. Less energy use means that less expenditure is redirected on energy use thereby leaving individuals, states, countries, and organizations with more resources to redirect on environmental conservation measures. As much as the use of cloud computing does not provide a lasting to the issue of global warming, it provides a foundational platform for setting the course. For instance, installing cloud servers in the arctic regions will be a great way of reducing energy needs because of a natural way of cooling the servers (Yonatan, 2015).
What are some of the issues identified by the Pluralsight module?
There are various cloud computing issues that were identified by the Pluralsight module. For instance, most cloud computing contracts are vendor friendly (Bisong & Rahman, 2011). Despite the efforts of the risk managers to try to negotiate the condition to ensure that the cloud providers are able to compensate the losses that they may cause, a rationale agreement is yet to be realized. Most cloud providers have been imperative that they should not be held accountable for inability to secure and segregate data because they do not know the kind of data that their subscribers are storing. With these kinds of unfavorable agreements, the risk for the customers is increased. The cloud providers stand the high risks of encountering security breaches that could affect customer’s data. However, they have no contractual duties that could hold them responsible for any losses. Available contracts do not have clauses that oblige the cloud providers to warn their customers about potential security breaches or even offer mitigation options. Hence, the regulatory procedures that are available to the customers are not clear enough to protect their interests (Bisong & Rahman, 2011).
- Bisong, A., & Rahman, M. (2011). An overview of the security concerns in enterprise cloud computing. arXiv preprint arXiv:1101.5613.
- Yonatan, R. (2015). The Incredible Environmental Impact of Cloud Technology: Environmental Impact of Cloud Technology. Available at https://getvoip.com/blog/2015/01/19/environmental-impact-of-cloud/
