Cloud computing is an idea that is currently receiving attention from all corners of the society. Government institutions, private enterprises, and individuals are rapidly joining the cloud society in large numbers. The movement has been termed by some professional as ‘’digital migration’’ (Buyya et al., 2013). The digital migration, as some people call it is transforming the business society in terms of risk and disaster management in myriad ways. People, private enterprises, and governmental organizations are spreading their resources in research and training to leverage the internet through cloud service in different ways.

Decades ago, disaster management faced myriad challenges, especially for organizations that maintained physical data storage and backup systems. In case of incidence attacks, organizations invested many resources, time, and money to access backup files in the storage facilities. Data handling in the pre-cloud computing age was tedious and expensive, as organizations wasted a hoard of resources in the acquisition of physical storage and data handling facilities (Buyya et al., 2013). They invested heavily in acquiring floor spaces to house the enormously gigantic storage hardware components. The physical data handling tools could not offer timely recovery from disaster because of the complex process involved when retrieving lost data. This ensured that businesses stopped productivity for longer periods to restore normalcy after incidence occurrence.

Today, cloud computing has completely changed the way people and organizations handle their critical data and information. Unlike in the past, individuals, and enterprises do not need to acquire large physical spaces to warehouse or store data. All they need is to subscribe to the best cloud service that fits their organizational needs and move their systems into the cloud. Cloud service offer cheaper, reliable and effective data storage facility for use during disaster recovery (Rountree & Castrillo, 2014). Cloud computing gives organizations a virtual platform to back data, retrieve, and use it to recover quickly after incidences. This system has helped many organizations, including reputable government institutions keep their heads high after system attacks that led to massive data loss.

Cloud computing offers cheap data storage and backup facilities for organizations. Services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) offer organizations access to tailored cloud computing services (Marinescu, 2013). An organization does not need to purchase both the software and hardware components when seeking cloud service. Irrespective of the service chosen, the enterprises incurs reduced cost of handling and managing data, because service providers contribute partly to building a formidable data handling facility. The three cloud services mentioned above are transforming data management and disaster recovery in many organizations that moved their systems to the cloud.

System virtualization and information technology offers a simplified data analysis platform to improve business intelligence and wisdom. Virtualization gives organization access to a pool of data, information, up to date research. Web searches and big data analytics allow organizations to learn about market dynamics, inventions, and useful research resources to develop business wisdom for improved decision-making (Marinescu, 2013). Information resources such as social networks such as Facebook, twitter, and Instagram give organizations access to latest changes in customer taste and preferences. This makes it easier for business enterprises to make effective market forecasts, change their production lines to march the changes, and prepare well for anticipated market turbulences.

Virtualization creates order, tidiness, and orderliness in offices. Cloud computing depends largely on paperless office work, where work, and processes involving data storage and information sharing is handled using the computer. Once the data has been entered into the system, the physical paper used to collect it from the ground becomes redundant. The system management uses the computer to organize the data, analyze, and store it for future references (Rountree & Castrillo, 2014). The information is stored in a virtual platform for easy access from anywhere, provided the user has the right access root. Computers replace the physical shelves used to keep volumes of files, making the working desk clean and orderly.

Virtualization also allows organization to have integrated systems that bring different systems together for effective management and decision-making. Integrated systems leveraging ERP platform are designed to give organizations organized systems for big and small data handing to allow effective business forecast and timely decision making. ERP platforms allow for interlinking several departments, sales, marketing, and HR among others with view of having organized systems for easy access to data and information (Marinescu, 2013). ERP software are less costly compared to traditional data storage facilities. Companies that have integrated systems enjoy fast access to data when seeking to make urgent decisions when dealing with emergencies.

Even though virtualization is an attractive idea, if faces many challenges including vulnerability to cyber-attacks. Malevolent activities are widespread across the world and they have skillfully found ways of spreading their niche over the internet and cloud services. Attackers target vulnerable systems that lack proper security tools, break into them, and steal data and information for myriad vicious reasons. At times, attackers paralyze the systems with superior malware such as Trojans, viruses, and worms to solicit ransom from the victims. For this reason, organizations that use cloud services and the internet should keep their systems’ security intact to avoid data lose through cyber-attacks are now prevalent across the world. They should take advantage of vulnerability resources and risk assessment tools to shield their systems against attacks from hackers and malware. Losing data is costly, even if the organization has a good cloud backup because of the data held is highly sensitive and extremely confidential to get into unauthorized hands.