The cloud computing paradigm introduces an efficient utilisation of huge computing resources by multiple users with minimal expense and deployment effort compared to traditional computing facilities. Although cloud computing has incredible benefits, some governments and enterprises remain hesitant to transfer their computing technology to the cloud as a consequence of the associated security challenges. Security is, therefore, a significant factor in cloud computing adoption. Cloud services consist of three layers: Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Cloud computing services are accessed through network connections and utilised by multi-users who can share the resources through virtualisation technology. Accordingly, an efficient access control system is crucial to prevent unauthorised access. This thesis mainly investigates the IaaS security enhancement from an access control point of view.

As virtualization platforms or cloud computing have become more of a commodity, many more organizations have been utilizing them. Many organizations and technologies have emerged to fulfill those cloud needs. Cloud vendors provide similar services, but the differences can have significant impact on specific applications. Selecting the right provider is difficult and confusing because of the number of options. It can be difficult to determine which application characteristics will impact the choice of implementation. There has not been a concise process to select which cloud vendor and characteristics are best suited for the application requirements and organization requirements. This thesis provides a model that identifies crucial application characteristics, organization requirements and also characteristics of a cloud. The model is used to analyze the interaction of the application with multiple cloud platforms and select the best option based on a suitability score. Case studies utilize this model to test three applications against three cloud implementations to identify the best fit cloud implementation. The model is further validated by a small group of peers through a survey. The studies show that the model is useful in identifying and comparing cloud implementations with regard to application requirements.

Information technology (IT) managers worldwide have adopted cloud computing because of its potential to improve reliability, scalability, security, business agility, and cost savings; however, the rapid adoption of cloud computing has created challenges for IT managers, who have reported an estimated 30% wastage of cloud resources. The purpose of this single case study was to explore successful strategies and processes for managing infrastructure operations costs in cloud computing. The sociotechnical systems (STS) approach was the conceptual framework for the study. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 6 IT managers directly involved in cloud cost management. The data were analyzed using a qualitative data-analysis software to identify initial categories and emerging themes, which were refined in alignment with the STS framework. The key themes from the analysis indicated that successful cloud cost management began with assessing the current environment and architecting applications and systems to fit cloud services, using tools for monitoring and reporting, and actively managing costs in alignment with medium- and long-term goals. Findings also indicated that social considerations such as fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, employee training, and skills development were critical for success. The implications for positive social change that derive from effectively managing operational costs include improved financial posture, job stability, and environmental sustainability.

The evolution of cloud technologies which allows the provisioning of IT resources over the Internet promises many benefits for the individuals and enterprises alike. However, this new resource provisioning model comes with the security challenges which did not exist in the traditional resource procurement mechanisms. We focus on the possible security concerns of a cloud user (e.g. an organization, government department, etc.) to lease cloud services such as resources in the form of Virtual Machines (VM) from a public Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) provider. There are many security critical areas in the cloud systems, such as data confidentiality, resource integrity, service compliance, security audits etc. In this thesis, we focus on the security aspects which result in the trust deficit among the cloud stakeholders and hence hinder a security sensitive user to benefit from the opportunities offered by the cloud computing. Based upon our findings from the security requirements analysis,we propose solutions that enable user trust in the public IaaS clouds. Our solutions mainly deal with the secure life cycle management of the user VM which include mechanisms for VM launch and migration. The VM launch and migration solutions ensure that the user VM is always protected in the cloud by only allowing it to run on the user trusted platforms. This is done by using trusted computing techniques that allow the users to remotely attest and hence rate the cloud platforms trusted or untrusted. We also provide a prototype implementation to prove the implementation feasibility of the proposed trust enabling principles used in the VM launch and migration solutions.

My master thesis has the main objective to implement into the sector of small and medium sized enterprises a cloud computing solution as required the customer company. Subsidiary targets of my literary part are a definition of small and medium-sized enterprises, explanation of terms corresponding to cloud computing, explaining the very concept of cloud computing and its distribution models, analysis of cloud services and what is involved in the transition to a cloud environment for companies, including migration contract. The first part summarizes information on cloud computing. The second part provides specific implementation of a cloud computing solutions into corporate environments based on empirical research and requirements of the company.

This thesis investigates possible future IT solutions for increased mobility of CAD-intensive multi-disciplinary consulting companies. The development of new IT solutions is quickly moving forward, and new ways to implement IT in businesses are constantly being launched onto the market. In the wake of new IT solutions with focus on increased mobility making themselves known, the interest from companies to implement these into their businesses has increased. By investigating the engineering consultant company Bjerking AB and how it operates from an IT point-of-view, this thesis presents possible IT solutions for increased mobility for an engineering consulting company operating in the AEC-sector. By conducting interviews with key users, observing meetings and researching the current state of Cloud Computing and hardware virtualization this thesis shows that and implementation of an IT solutions based on Cloud Computing and hardware virtualization is possible. By implementing a cloud-based IT solution using a private cloud distribution model and hardware-assisted GPU virtualization, a CAD-intensive consulting company can achieve increased mobility without lowered performance and at the same time maintain a high level of data of security.

Det finns många fördelar med att använda molntjänster och molnmarknaden har växt fort de senaste åren. Men när molnleverantörsmarknaden är så pass konkurrens utsatt är det inte lätt att välja vem man vill vända sig till, och det finns ofta anledningar till att vilja byta leverantör. Det finns många saker som kan låsa in en kund hos en leverantör, ofta på grund av att det skulle bli alldeles för dyrt att flytta, kanske för att ditt system inte är kompatibelt med någon annan leverantör, eller för att ett avtal hindrar dig från att flytta delar av systemet. Detta är vad man brukar kalla för leverantörsinlåsningar (vendor lock-ins). Många vill idag flytta system till molnet, men få är tillräckligt kunniga i vad det innebär och vad som kommer krävas från kunden. I den här studien vill vi belysa problemet och erbjuda vägledning till hur man kan minimera leverantörsinlåsningar.

This thesis is concerned with the analysis of Cloud Computing as a solution for corporate information system and also its component for customer relationship management as a separate application in small and medium-sized companies. This thesis is also engaged in the research of small and medium-sized companies on the Czech market and finds the attitude of companies to applications run due to Cloud Computing solutions and what they think about Cloud Computing as such. The main objective of this work is to analyze the possibilities of this relatively new platform and highlight the the benefits and potential risks of their use. The work is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the theoretical plane of Cloud Computing, where the basic concepts and limitations are defined and from which I will result my thesis. The second part is divided into four chapters. In the first subsection the ERP systems are compared, which are offered as a free version or as an Open Source suitable for use on Cloud Computing platform. In the second subsection the CRM systems are compared as a separate applications offered online as SaaS . The third section is devoted to the market research, which is focused on attitude and use of Cloud Computing applications in small and medium-sized companies . The final section offers the recommendations for MSP in the transition to Cloud Computing.

The main goal of master thesis is to analyze and propose possible low cost Business Intelligence solution with open source technologies and comparison of available tools for implementation in middle size company. We compare Pentaho and Jaspersoft tools implemented on local hardware and cloud environment with Microsoft Azure services. The theoretical part focuses mainly on understanding the business intelligence and its architecture, because architecture is an important part of the work. Actual tools are designed as stand alone modules for specific activities in the business intelligence lifecycle. Low cost tools are often connected with open source technologies and cloud computing. This part of the work contains explanation of these terms and their advantages and disadvantages for our chosen target group of companies. The analytical part includes defined parameters by which it is conducted analysis of tools and their comparison. Business Intelligence solutions are divided according to arcitectural layers. The evaluation criteria are divided into financial, technical and user category. In conclusion, chosen tools are compared and evaluated. The main contribution of this thesis is comparison of open source business intelligence tools for implementation in middle size company. According to the EU directive, middle size company does not exceed 250 employees or profit is less than 50 million euros. The reader can compare the different solutions and their pitfalls or shortcomings that could be critical for the implementation.

This master thesis deals with the analysis of the possibilities of Cloud Computing for information system solutions in small and medium businesses. The main objective is to analyze these options, identify key areas for the transition to the cloud and propose an approach to develop Information system in this direction. The main contribution of this work is the practical experience which is involved in a view of the problems being solved and an emphasis on aspects that have been verified in practices. The main text of the work is divided into five chapters. The first chapter defines the basic concepts and limitations on which further work is based. The second chapter deals with the current form of IS in SMEs, its description and identifying problems. The third chapter analyzes the Cloud Computing from the perspective of the suitability of various models for SMEs, identifies the major trends that affect the Cloud Computing and describes some basic elements on which Cloud Computing is based. It also analyzes the issue of security. The fourth chapter deals with the state of Cloud Computing market and identification of key problem areas which need to be solved in various stages of market development. The last chapter uses several case studies to show a meaningfulness and readiness of Cloud Computing for running information system. In the end the recommended approach to the adoption of cloud services is defined.