Validation of Architectural Requirements for Tackling Cloud Computing Barriers: Cloud Provider Perspective
Bader Alghamdi, Leigh Ellen Potter, Steve Drew
Abstract
Although researchers and organisations have recognised cloud computing obstacles in the prior cloud adoption stage, few efforts have been made to investigate and address cloud barriers in depth during cloud implementation projects. The current technical cloud barriers faced by governments, such as a lack of cloud service availability and flexibility, a lack of application of service-level agreements (SLAs), and deficiencies in data security and privacy, require a proper strategic solution to elevate the role of enterprise architecture. This research designed and measured architectural requirements to overcome common technical cloud barriers. The architectural requirements were guided through The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) Architecture Development Method (ADM). The research employed a qualitative approach through three case studies to address the role of cloud providers. The findings of this research provide validation and overall support of the proposed value propositions with 12 identification-confirmed, newly emerged and designed architectural requirements, each of which can successfully contribute to overcoming barriers to government cloud projects. The elicited architectural requirements presented in the matrix are focused on the most important cloud constructs with different levels of emphasis.