Robust access control framework for mobile cloud computing network

Unified communications has enabled seamless data sharing between multiple devices running on various platforms. Traditionally, organizations use local servers to store data and employees access the data using desktops with predefined security policies. In the era of unified communications, employees exploit the advantages of smart devices and 4G wireless technology to access the data from anywhere and anytime. Security protocols such as access control designed for traditional setup are not sufficient when integrating mobile devices with organization’s internal network. Within this context, we exploit the features of smart devices to enhance the security of the traditional access control technique. Dynamic attributes in smart devices such as unlock failures, application usage, location and proximity of devices can be used to determine the risk level of an end-user. In this paper, we seamlessly incorporate the dynamic attributes to the conventional access control scheme. Inclusion of dynamic attributes provides an additional layer of security to the conventional access control. We demonstrate that the efficiency of the proposed algorithm is comparable to the efficiency of the conventional schemes

The silver lining: cloud computing and small and medium enterprises

This paper shows how Australian businesses can get the most out of one of the biggest global innovations: information communications technology. Overview: Innovation – the successful application of new ideas – drives Australia’s productivity. Australia’s biggest innovation opportunity lies in creatively exploiting global innovations. One of the biggest of these is information and communications technology. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are an engine of the Australian economy. They employ two-thirds of Australian private sector workers and contribute half of Australia’s private sector GDP. Yet many SMEs have low productivity. Innovations may spread slowly to many smaller firms because they lack the capital or market intelligence that large firms can access. Online innovations – including mobile devices, e-commerce, and cloud computing – offer opportunities for firms of all sizes to become far more productive. This paper explores issues raised at a workshop run by Grattan Institute and Google on how policymakers and business can accelerate the spread of cloud computing among SMEs. It uses cloud computing – the delivery of on-demand information technology services over the Internet – as a case study for how online technologies can benefit smaller firms. Cloud computing can help level the playing field for smaller firms. It allows them to access sophisticated IT services that were previously out of reach. For example, it can allow them to manage and monitor their sales, operations and finances in real time. The cloud also offers capabilities that were previously unavailable to firms of any scale. For example, it allows multiple users to access applications or update documents at the same time from mobile devices. Cloud computing makes it easier for small firms to take new ideas to market. Firms that use cloud computing report more growth in revenue and profit than others do. But many Australian SMEs say they do not use cloud services. Many are not aware of the benefits or believe they do not have skills to capture them. Some are concerned about transition costs, data security and privacy. Networks are too slow or unreliable for cloud services in some areas of the country. Workshop participants agreed that government and industry can remove obstacles to the use of cloud computing and help SMEs capture its benefits. The industry itself should lead the education of SMEs on the case for cloud computing. Yet government can:  Choose policy settings that promote broader productivity growth and innovation;  Ensure interaction with government over the internet is the default for all businesses;  Provide an appropriate policy environment for investment in broadband networks that meet the needs of small business. Information technology’s contribution to productivity is just getting started. Small and medium enterprises should get on board

Mobile Cloud Computing Based Technologies for Enhancing E-learning Content Delivery and Sharing in Higher Learning Institutions in Tanzania using Learner-Centered Approach

Electronic learning (E-learning) in Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) offers a cost-effective teaching and learning that support social interactivity, flexibility, context sensitivity, and active participation of learners in learning activities. The objective of this study was to investigate the challenges facing the traditional E-learning tools and leverage the advanced capacity of Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) to enhance E-learning service delivery and sharing of learning resources focusing in learner-centered approach. Also, the evolvement of mobile computing devices such as smartphones, Personal Digital Assistance (PDA), and laptops owned by learners bring prospects in overcoming the inherent challenges facing HLIs in developing countries such as shortage of computer laboratories and network resources.Consequently, this study proposes MCC-based E-learning content delivery and sharing to augment higher learning institutions with limited resource setting in developing countries. The main benefits of MCC-based E-learning include, first, augment traditional LMS by provisioning abundant processing capacity and storage in the cloud that guarantee unlimited learning materials available for learners and instructors; Second, improves performance in local Learning Management System (LMS) servers by outsourcing execution and storage into the cloud especially when resource-intensive E-learning contents such as games, Virtual Reality (VR), and video streaming are used for learning; third, supports multi-platforms to execute the workload of various E-learning applications in the cloud which is potential for E-learning resource sharing; and fourth, guarantee cost-effective E-learning content delivery and sharing. Keywords: Mobile cloud computing, E-learning, content delivery, Learner-centered learning DOI: 10.7176/JIEA/13-2-03 Publication date:March 31st 202