JISC

Cloud computing – where computing resources are delivered over the Internet by external service providers – is becoming increasingly prominent. In the cloud computing business model, organisations or individuals contract with a cloud computing service provider to access data centres, application software or web services from any location.

While cloud computing offers many potential advantages, the impact for HE Institutions is yet to be investigated. Like the current move towards Web 2.0, the introduction of such ‘utility-based’ computing will have significant impact on the existing ICT service provision and support within institutions, however, new support implications will emerge.

This project involves a review of the environmental and organisational implications of using cloud computing models in higher and further education.

Aims and objectives:

• To review the current evidence for the environmental costs and benefits of cloud computing; 
• To review the implications of cloud computing for institutional activities (excluding research); 
• To review the changes to institutional governance, policies, procedures and skills required by adoption of cloud computing; 
• To make recommendations to the JISC for further areas for development.

Project Methodology

The project will begin with an orientation phase consisting of desk research, establishing contact with key stakeholders and stakeholder interviews. A survey will then be conducted in order to identify the range of cloud computing activities already used within HE and FE, the institutional implications of these activities, how environmental and institutional impact is assessed and areas where further advice and guidance is required.

The project team will undertake two facilitated workshops to explore the PESL implications of cloud computing. A scenario development workshop will be held to identify potential applications of cloud computing to support the administrative needs of institutions and explore their implications, barriers and enablers.

Areas where high-level guidance is required will be primarily identified from the stakeholder interviews and survey, although the workshops will also inform this process. Drawing on the issues identified in the course of all project work, up to five recommendations that advise JISC on potential further work in this area will be scoped.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• D1: A review of the environmental implications for institutional Green ICT practices of any move into cloud computing.
• D2: A review of the political, economic, social and legal (PESL) implications of cloud computing for institutions.
• D3: Scenarios for the development of administrative computing designed to aid planning for and managing institutional cloud relationships..
• D4: Guidance for senior managers within institutions designed to aid planning for and managing institutional cloud relationships.
• D5: Up to five scoped recommendations that advise JISC on further work that can be done within this area.
• D6: A final report on the project. Overall outcomes will be awareness of cloud computing in the HE and FE sector and its implications, a starting point for decision makers in the sector should they wish to adopt or increase use of cloud computing models and direction for JISC’s future funding streams should future work be warranted and recommended.