Factors That Contribute to The Resistance to Cloud Computing Adoption by Tech Companies vs. Non-Tech Companies

Cloud computing (CC) may be the most significant development in recent history for businesses seeking to utilize technology. However, the adoption of CC hinges on many factors, and can have a greater positive impact on organizational performance. This study examined the different factors that contribute to the resistance to CC adoption. Anchored in The Theory of Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE), the study used a qualitative, grounded theory approach to develop a theoretical model for the acceptance of CC across firms. CC can have significant effects on efficiency and productivity for firms, but these effects will only be realized if IT usage becomes utilized globally. Thus, it was essential to understand the determinants of IT adoption, which was the goal of this research. The central research question involved understanding and examining the factors of resistance that contribute to cloud computing adoption across firms. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 chief information officers (CIOs) of various firms, including those considered technology companies (TCs) and those considered non-technology companies (NTCs). Data was analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis to determine what factors influence the adoption of CC systems and, moreover, to determine what factors create resistance to the adoption of CC in firms despite its well-documented advantages and benefits. Additionally, by examinging and focusing on the factors of resistance, the rsults of this study were generalized across a wider array of firms located in the Southeastern region of the US. A total of 12 categories were identified. These were organized into two groups. The core category being financial risks represented the probability of loss inherent in financing methods which may impair the ability to provide adequate return. The categories lack of knowledge, resistance to change, excessive cost to adopt, and cost saving fit under financial risks. Together these categories were indicators of the factors of resistance to adopt cloud computing technology. The core category security risks represented the overall perception of privacy in online environment. The categories process of research, accessing organization fit, perceived security risks, phased deployment, approval to adopt, and increase flexibility fit under security risks. Together these categories were direct indicators of the factors of resistance that contribute to the adoption of cloud computing technology by both TC and NTC. The result of this study showed that the predominant and critical factors of resistance that contribute to cloud computing adoption by TC were financial risks and security risks vs. security risks by NTC. A critical distinction between TC and NTC is that 86.4% of NTC’s participants did not care about cost, they only cared about data security. A model was subsequently developed based on the lived experiences of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) who have been faced with challenges regarding cloud acceptance, and cloud computing adoption. The theoretical model produced by this study may guide future researchers and enhance the understanding and implementation of cloud computing technologies. The results of this study will add to the body of literature and may guide companies attempting to implement cloud computing to do so more successfully

Cloud Security Risk Management: A Critical Review

Cloud computing has created a remarkable paradigm shift in the IT industry and brought several advantages such as on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. These advantages enabled cloud to have significant impact on different sectors of smart cites. However, cloud adoption has increased the sophistication of the ever changing security risks which frustrate enterprises on expanding their on-premises infrastructure towards cloud horizons. These risks have the potential of being a major concern for smart cities due to the increasing impact of cloud on them. Managing these security risks requires adopting effective risk management method which involve both the cloud service provider and the customer. The risk management frameworks currently applied to manage enterprise IT risks do not readily fit the cloud environment and the dynamic nature of clouds, which are characterized by on demand self-service and rapid elasticity. Therefore, researchers have proposed different cloud security risk management methods and frameworks. This paper critically reviews these risk management methods and frameworks. In addition, it conducts critical analysis on two of them using qualitative content analysis technique, and evaluates their effectiveness for assessing and mitigating cloud security risks

The Impact of Using the Cloud Computing Upon the Quality of Accounting Information and it's Reflection Upon the Development of the World Standards of Financial Reports in Jordanian Corporations

Purpose: This study seeks to examine the impact of cloud computing on the quality of accounting information and its alignment with international financial reporting standards. The researcher randomly selected a group of corporations as a representative sample of those adopting cloud computing. The study employed both theoretical and applied research methods, including file and record analysis and interviews with key personnel, to draw conclusions.   Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methodology involved the selection of a random group of corporations for analysis. The study combined theoretical exploration with practical examination of files and interviews with relevant stakeholders, such as managers and accountants. This approach allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of cloud computing on accounting information quality.   Findings: The study yielded several key findings; Cloud computing relies on multiple components, including customers, infrastructure, applications, and platforms. The adoption of cloud computing positively influences the quality and credibility of accounting information. However, there are inherent risks associated with cloud computing, including security, contractual issues, and potential human errors. These risks must be addressed.   Research, Practical & Social implications: This research carries significant implications; The accounting profession must develop a code of conduct addressing the risks associated with cloud computing. Regulations and procedures governing the relationship between service providers and users need updating, with a focus on contractual and control aspects. Training programs should be implemented to educate both service providers and users about cloud computing, mitigating associated risks. Stringent regulations should be enacted to safeguard the confidentiality of accounting information, preventing unauthorized access or disclosure.   Originality/Value: This study's originality lies in its comprehensive exploration of cloud computing's impact on accounting information quality and its practical implications for financial reporting. The research contributes valuable insights for professionals, regulators, and organizations adopting cloud technologies in the field of accounting

A study of cloud computing technology adoption by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Gauteng Province.

Master of Commerce in Information Systems and Technology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2015.This study investigates small and medium enterprises in the IT sector located within the province of Gauteng, to ascertain their perceptions on the benefits and risks associated with cloud computing, and to assess the extent of usage of cloud computing services. Fifty-two IT SMEs took part into this research and the findings revealed that respondents were IT consultants, IT managers, executive managers, middle managers, company owners, employees with IT expertise or knowledge, as well as IT specialists from each selected IT SME. IT SMEs that took part into the research had between 1-200 employees with primary users of computing devices being employees followed by clients. The findings revealed that IT SMEs operated in the following three sectors: computer/IT, mobile business, as well as digital solution. These organisations were in existence between one month and twenty years. The research findings indicated that 71.4% of respondents used cloud computing and 28.6% of respondents did not use cloud computing. The findings also indicated that 75% of non-users were planning to use cloud computing as compared to 25% of non-users, who were not planning to use cloud computing. The findings revealed that non-users were likely to use SaaS as compared to other cloud services. Among the challenges faced by non-users in the usage of cloud computing, the following were identified as very important ones: awareness, implementation, complexities, as well as risks. The findings revealed that the following services were highly likely to be used by users: SaaS, IaaS, as well as PaaS. The following factors were identified by users as highly influential in their decision to adopt cloud computing: improved service level management, cost-efficiency, standard-based security, as well as risks. The following factors were identified as important benefits in cloud computing by users: cost-efficiency, lower-implementation, scalability, saving time and cost, sustainability, customisation, as well as virtualisation. The findings revealed the following factors as important concerns and limitations in cloud computing: risks, availability, security issues, regulatory requirements, awareness, performance, impact of security, impact of challenges, impact of availability, trust and transparency, shared technology issues, disaster recovery, service level agreement, virtualisation, as well as policy integration. The findings also revealed that service level agreement should be the foundation for cloud computing adoption

Risk Managed Cloud Adoption: An ANP Approach

To meet the ever-increasing demand for offering a sustainable environment, organizations are beginning to aim for cloud adoption and the migration of their IT infrastructure and operations to the cloud, utilizing various cloud-based technologies. However, cloud adoption has been impeded by the risk of being exposed as a result of a variety of concerns, including performance, security, and privacy concerns, as well as vulnerabilities and data portability. As a result, this study was carried out to investigate and analyse a variety of risks that come with cloud computing adoption by estimating the impact and frequency of these hazards. In this study, the Analytical Network Process (ANP) is used to prioritise these hazards. Prioritization of these risks based on their influence on cloud adoption may be useful for organizations in building a corrective action plan. According to their negative influence on cloud adoption, "business continuity and recovery planning" and "poor availability of services" are shown to be the most prominent hazards. This research also found that the two most common dangers encountered by cloud adopters in India are "poor availability of services" and "slow response rate.

Towards a framework for enhancing user trust in cloud computing

Cloud computing is one of the latest appealing technological trends to emerge in the Information Technology (IT) industry. However, despite the surge in activity and interest, there are significant and persistent concerns about cloud computing, particularly with regard to trusting the platform in terms of confidentiality, integrity and availability of user data stored through these applications. These factors are significant in determining trust in cloud computing and thus provide the foundation for this study. The significant role that trust plays in the use of cloud computing was considered in relation to various trust models, theories and frameworks. Cloud computing is still considered to be a new technology in the business world, therefore minimal work and academic research has been done on enhancing trust in cloud computing. Academic research which focuses on the adoption of cloud computing and, in particular, the building of user trust has been minimal. The available trust models, frameworks and cloud computing adoption strategies that exist mainly focus on cost reduction and the various benefits that are associated with migrating to a cloud computing platform. Available work on cloud computing does not provide clear guidelines for establishing user trust in a cloud computing application. The issue of establishing a reliable trust context for data and security within cloud computing is, up to this point, not well defined. This study investigates the impact that a lack of user trust has on the use of cloud computing. Strategies for enhancing user trust in cloud computing are required to overcome the data security concerns. This study focused on establishing methods to enhance user trust in cloud computing applications through the theoretical contributions of the Proposed Trust Model by Mayer, Davis, and Schoorman (1995) and the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability (CIA) Triad by Steichen (2010). A questionnaire was used as a means of gathering data on trust-related perceptions of the use of cloud computing. The findings of this questionnaire administered to users and potential users of cloud computing applications are reported in this study. The questionnaire primarily investigates key concerns which result in self-moderation of cloud computing use and factors which would improve trust in cloud computing. Additionally, results relating to user awareness of potential confidentiality, integrity and availability risks are described. An initial cloud computing adoption model was proposed based on a content analysis of existing cloud computing literature. This initial model, empirically tested through the questionnaire, was an important foundation for the establishment of the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) and therefore the framework to enhance user trust in cloud computing applications. The framework proposed by this study aims to assist new cloud computing users to determine the appropriateness of a cloud computing service, thereby enhancing their trust in cloud computing applications

Review of the environmental and organisational implications of cloud computing: final report.

Cloud computing – where elastic computing resources are delivered over the Internet by external service providers – is generating significant interest within HE and FE. In the cloud computing business model, organisations or individuals contract with a cloud computing service provider on a pay-per-use basis to access data centres, application software or web services from any location. This provides an elasticity of provision which the customer can scale up or down to meet demand. This form of utility computing potentially opens up a new paradigm in the provision of IT to support administrative and educational functions within HE and FE. Further, the economies of scale and increasingly energy efficient data centre technologies which underpin cloud services means that cloud solutions may also have a positive impact on carbon footprints. In response to the growing interest in cloud computing within UK HE and FE, JISC commissioned the University of Strathclyde to undertake a Review of the Environmental and Organisational Implications of Cloud Computing in Higher and Further Education [19]

A Case Study for Business Integration as a Service

This paper presents Business Integration as a Service (BIaaS) to allow two services to work together in the Cloud to achieve a streamline process. We illustrate this integration using two services; Return on Investment (ROI) Measurement as a Service (RMaaS) and Risk Analysis as a Service (RAaaS) in the case study at the University of Southampton. The case study demonstrates the cost-savings and the risk analysis achieved, so two services can work as a single service. Advanced techniques are used to demonstrate statistical services and 3D Visualisation services under the remit of RMaaS and Monte Carlo Simulation as a Service behind the design of RAaaS. Computational results are presented with their implications discussed. Different types of risks associated with Cloud adoption can be calculated easily, rapidly and accurately with the use of BIaaS. This case study confirms the benefits of BIaaS adoption, including cost reduction and improvements in efficiency and risk analysis. Implementation of BIaaS in other organisations is also discussed. Important data arising from the integration of RMaaS and RAaaS are useful for management and stakeholders of University of Southampton