Cloud computing in the Middle East, Reality or Myth?

by

Abstract

Cloud computing has gained significant attention from the business organizations due to its flexibility and ease of use as well as providing access to resources in a cost effective manner. The services provided by the clouds include resources like data storage or software and hardware services. The data owners can save the cost of installing and maintaining their own new software or hardware by moving their businesses into the clouds.

However, there is growing concern over the data loss in case of failure of the cloud computing systems. This significantly impacts the new technology acceptance behaviours of the end users and the business management. In this context it is reasonable to examine and investigate the behaviour of the management of business organizations, especially in the Middle East where use of the new technology is still limited as compared to the western countries. For this purpose, the author conducted an online quantitative study using the survey questionnaires to collect data from the IT personnel and the business management from different organizations in the Middle East. The survey was hosted at surveymonkey.com and 262 participants filled the survey questionnaires online. The researcher analyzed factors related to technology acceptance behaviour such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, behaviour intention, security, and reliability in order to find out if the management in the Middle East is ready to adopt cloud computing in their organization.

The results of this study offer significant insight into the acceptance behaviour of these participants. The results of this study indicate that there are a number of factors that affect the adoption rate. Experience, education and sector of a company impacts the rate of adoption of cloud computing. Moreover, the TAM variables were tested by developing hypotheses and regression technique was employed. The results of the study prove that TAM variable so impact the decision of the adoption of cloud computing. The final results of the study state that the potential of cloud computing adoption in Middle East is bright.

Abbreviations

TAM: Technology Acceptance Model

SaaS: Software as a service

PaaS: Platform as a service

IaaS:Infrastructure as a service

Abstractii

Abbreviationsiv

1.1 Brief introduction to the study1

1.2 Statement of the problem3

1.3 Significance of the Study3

1.4 Aims and Objectives4

1.5 Research questions5

1.6 Rationale for the study5

1.7 Research Methodology Overview7

1.8 Hypotheses7

1.9 Study Outline8

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE9

2.1 Introduction9

2.2 Cloud Computing: Exploring its Definitions11

2.2.1Fundamental Characteristics14

2.2.2The Enabling role of Web 2.015

2.3 Deployment Models and Associated Characteristics17

2.4 Service Models: Functions20

2.4.1 Software as a Service20

2.4.2 Platform as a Service21

2.4.3 Infrastructure as a Service21

2.5 Cloud Concerns22

2.5.1 Cyber Crimes23

2.5.2 Encryption: the Complexities24

2.5.3 The Case of Third Party Auditing24

2.5.4 Distributed Denial of Service Attacks25

2.5.5 Cloud Concerns by ENISA26

2.6 TAM and Cloud Computing27

2.7 Chapter Summary32

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY33

3.1 Introduction33

3.2 Research Design33

3.3 Research Method35

3.3.1 Research Instrument: Survey Technique36

3.3.2 Sample38

3.4 Data Analysis39

3.4.1 First set of Variables (Section A of Questionnaire)39

3.4.1.1 Independent variable39

3.4.1.2 Dependent variable39

3.4.2 Second set of Variables (Section B of Questionnaire)40

3.4.2.1 Independent variable40

3.4.2.2 Dependent variable42

3.4.3 Data Analysis Procedure42

3.5 Ethical Considerations43

3.6 Chapter Summary43

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ...