Cover the potential uses of security and LSEP issues associated with, cloud computing services in the education, infrastructure sector.

Assignment Brief

Write a well-researched and referenced business report of 2,500 words (excluding references and appendixes) covering the potential use of, and security and LSEP issues associated with, cloud computing services in the education, infrastructure sector.

Introduction

Describe CATS College boarding school, what it does, type and size of user base, what kind of data it generates, what Education IT applications it requires, what its current network infrastructure likely consists of, how mobile its employees and users are, etc

Research Methodology

In this section, you need to discuss your approach to research. A research method is a systematic approach plan for conducting research. This can be qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, including experiments, survey research, participant observation, and secondary data.

Current status of Cloud Computing

Research the current usage of cloud computing in your selected education sector. Describe the typical level of a school’s involvement in cloud computing. If most appear not to have tried cloud computing services, what are the obstacles, perceived or otherwise, of them doing so? If they have already started using cloud computing services, what appear to be the current limitations if any? Critically examine the adoption of cloud computing by such education sectors, and outline the corresponding technical, legal, organisational, ethical, and individual employee/user impact of such usage.

Potential benefits of Cloud Computing

Analyse the information system requirements of the education sector carefully and identify the benefits (in terms of cost saving, profit making, agility, efficiency, etc.) that could potentially be obtained from more, or better, usage of cloud computing technologies. Detail which areas of the sector’s business you believe could benefit the most from such technologies and justify through appropriate references these likely benefits.

Potential security issues associated with Cloud Computing

Analyse the specific security concerns associated with the education sector of your choice and identify the potential security issues that will need to be addressed for its successful use of cloud computing technologies. Detail which aspects of the sector’s education you believe would be most at risk from such cloud security concerns.

Proposals for the secure implementation of Cloud Computing (Discussion of Findings)

Provide proposals that will best help your selected company to achieve the potential benefits of cloud computing technologies. Explain the possibilities offered by your proposals, and the best way to mitigate against any security risks involved in implementing them. In addition, outline any technical issues associated with your proposals – i.e., system integrity, reliability, usability, and scalability, as well as any social and/or ethical considerations that may need to be made. Provide researched justifications (rationale) for the technical choices you recommend. Explain how best to measure the performance and impact of the application of such new technologies. Describe in detail the critical success factors for your overall plan to work in practice. Produce report conclusions that summarises the main results, assess the key findings, and draw conclusions from your study that suggest potential future developments in the use of cloud computing in the education sector.

Critical Reflection, Project Management and Professional Issues

Project Evaluation

This section sits outside of the main report and is where you reflect on the overall success of the project and can be more subjective or personal in tone. You should also review the success of your project management here as well.

Project Management

Describe the project management process followed in the current project. Provide evidence of methods, templates and frameworks that you employed (provide evidence in the Appendix).

Ethical Issues

In this section, you need to discuss all ethical, social, legal and security issues related to your product (following BCS terms and regulations).

Sample Answer

Exploring Cloud Computing for CATS College: Benefits, Risks, and Secure Implementation

1. Introduction

CATS College is a well-known boarding school in the UK that offers pre-university courses to international and domestic students. It provides GCSE, A-levels, University Foundation Programmes, and English language preparation. With campuses in Cambridge, Canterbury, and London, the college caters to hundreds of students and employs a large number of teaching and administrative staff.

The school generates various types of data, including student records, academic performance, medical information, attendance logs, library usage, and communication logs. Its education IT applications include learning management systems (e.g., Moodle), student information systems, virtual learning environments, and administrative platforms.

CATS College likely operates on a traditional client-server infrastructure with in-house servers supporting campus networks. However, due to its growing mobile user base, including remote teachers and international students accessing online resources, it needs scalable, secure, and efficient cloud solutions.

2. Research Methodology

This report uses a mixed-methods approach. Secondary research was conducted using academic articles, education sector reports, and cloud technology whitepapers. Qualitative methods include reviewing user feedback and policy documents from educational institutions using cloud services. Quantitative data includes statistical insights on adoption rates, performance improvements, and cost analysis from credible sources such as Jisc, Ofsted, and Gartner.

3. Current Status of Cloud Computing in Education

In the UK education sector, cloud computing adoption has steadily increased but varies across institutions. While many schools have embraced services like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, full cloud infrastructure adoption is still limited due to concerns about cost, security, and data compliance.

Obstacles include:

• Perceived high cost of migration and training.

• Data security concerns (especially GDPR compliance).

• Limited IT expertise in managing cloud infrastructure.

• Dependence on reliable internet connectivity.

Some institutions using cloud services have experienced:

• Benefits: Easier collaboration, reduced hardware maintenance, and better access for remote users.

• Limitations: Internet downtime, concerns over data sovereignty, and staff resistance to change.

A critical analysis reveals that successful adoption requires both technical readiness and organisational willingness. Legal frameworks like GDPR also play a crucial role in cloud data handling.

4. Potential Benefits of Cloud Computing

Implementing cloud computing at CATS College could bring several advantages:

4.1 Cost Efficiency

• Reduced investment in physical servers and maintenance.

• Lower electricity and cooling costs.

• Pay-as-you-go models allow better financial planning.

4.2 Agility and Flexibility

• Access to academic and administrative tools from any device/location.

• Enables hybrid and distance learning models.

• Faster system updates and software deployment.

4.3 Collaboration and Productivity

• Real-time document sharing and editing (Google Docs, Teams).

• Improved teacher-student interaction via virtual learning environments.

4.4 Scalability

• Easily adjust resources based on student enrolment and programme expansion.

• Can support international campuses through centralised systems.

The most beneficial areas include:

• Remote learning delivery.

• Administrative data storage.

• Student tracking and performance analytics.

Sources such as Jisc and EDUCAUSE highlight successful cloud integration in institutions like the Open University, showing clear improvements in learning outcomes and cost savings.

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