Cloud Computing
MODULE CODE
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Module Aims
Aim 1
Cloud computing has become a critical area of IT for both businesses and users. Commercial Cloud vendors provide access to an enormous pool of resources and services using different Cloud models in a pay-as-you-go fashion. These resources offer opportunities for rapid development and deployment of new applications in the areas of health-care management, malware analysis, smart homes, smart cities, etc. Popular applications such as Dropbox, Google Drive, and Amazon are developing more and more services that will play an increasing role in people’s lives.This module aims to introduce the fundamental concept of Cloud storage and computing services. In addition, the module will cover different models and architecture of Cloud services, as well as the security, privacy and accountability problems in this context. Specifically:
Aim 2
To engage with current trends and the need for Cloud computing.
Aim 3
To develop an appreciation of different Cloud models and architectures.
Aim 4
To critically evaluate the security, privacy and accountability problems in the Cloud.
Aim 5
To explore the most recent R&D directions/topics in Cloud computing and discuss their limitations and advantages.
Aim 6
To review important research papers, extract and present their ideas and limitations, and make suggestions for improvements.
Module Content
Legal and Ethical aspects of Cloud services
Data Protection laws
Laws related to data controller and processor
Laws related to privacy problems
Laws related to accountability problems
Jurisdiction/cross-border issues
Different Cloud service models
IaaS (Infrastructure – as – a – service)
PaaS (Platform – as – a – service)
SaaS (Software – as – a – service)
EaaS (Enterprise – as – a – service)
Different Cloud architectures
Software and Hardware architectures
Private Clouds
Virtualisation for Clouds
Overview of virtualisation technologies (i.e., full and partial virtualization, hardware-assisted virtualisation);
Virtual machines.
Study of example technologies such as VMware’s ESXi hypervisor, Xen.
Security and Privacy problems related to the Cloud
Encryption modes
End-to-end encryption
Server side encryption
Homomorphic encryption
Authentication modes
End-to-end accountability
Virtualisation security
Applications areas/Research topics. Big data analysis e.g. use of technology such as Hadoop
Health-care management in the Cloud
Malware analysis in the Cloud
Mobile Cloud computing
Internet of things and Cloud computing
Vehicular Cloud computing
Business perspective of Cloud services
Cloud economics
Business continuity
Syllabus content may vary according to current knowledge and practices.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
Lectures – to analyse material and to present an overview of key concepts. These will be interactive in nature. If possible, there will be some guest lectures undertaken by academic and industry practitioners.
Tutorials – to apply techniques to case study material, e.g. assessing the appropriateness of the cloud for a given scenario. Work in tutorials will vary. Sometimes students will be asked to work in groups, at other times they will work individually, and then discuss their work in pairs or with the whole group.
Example practical work includes investigating security, cloud functionality and performance.
Assessment will include literature-based research and may involve the evaluation of Cloud technologies or the analysis of a case-study and the recommendation of appropriate technologies. The poster will assess the ability to identify and discuss key aspects of Cloud technologies.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through a research paper and a poster.
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Compulsory
Optional
