Using Cloud Computing for Research
Cloud computing is a relatively recent concept that has arisen out of developments in grid computing, virtualisation and web technologies. The term covers an entire stack from infrastructure through storage, platforms, and applications. Of these, Software-as-a-Service has so far been the most successful in universities through outsourcing of email and collaborative functionality. However, it is cloud infrastructure and storage that are most relevant to this project. Clouds are characterised by on-demand deployment of virtual, flexible, highly scalable resources with a pay per use charging model.
The objectives of the project are to:
- document use cases for cloud computing in research for data storage and computing;
- develop guidance on the governance, legal and economic issues around using cloud services for storage and computing in academic research;
- make recommendations to JISC on possible further work in the area for data storage and computing.