Background: For a business to expand and grow, the IT infrastructure must support changing service demand. Businesses may grow by expanding the existing business, or they may grow through mergers and acquisitions. When companies merge, the newly combined company needs systems to support it.
Virtualization enables multiple simulated computing environments to run on the same hardware within a company. Cloud computing can involve external computing resources. There are various types of virtualization and different options for cloud computing.
Assignment: This assignment aims to demonstrate how virtualization and the “cloud” environment can enhance or inhibit operational flexibility regarding expansion and growth opportunities.
Research different ways companies use computer virtualization for their internal infrastructure. Describe each kind of virtualization and how they differ from other virtualization alternatives. Cite your sources.
Research various types of cloud computing. Describe each “cloud” option and how they differ. Cite your sources.
Explain how virtualization and cloud computing alternatives might affect a company’s ability to expand and grow naturally. Determine if any of the options enhance or inhibit a company’s ability to merge with other businesses and combine business systems. Clarify any risks or constraints associated with a particular option.
Analyze the options from a cybersecurity perspective. Discuss whether certain virtualization and “cloud” environment alternatives are better than others from a cybersecurity point of view. Cite your sources.
Based on the company you chose in Week 1, determine whether some virtualization and cloud computing options would be a better fit than others to enable your business to grow. Describe how the alternatives might enable expansion of the current operation or potentially impact mergers and acquisitions.
This paper must follow the formatting guidelines in The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association [APA Manual] (2020), (7th ed.) using Times New Roman 12-point font. Remember to support your statements, including opinions, with factual material (e.g., citations/attribution). This research-driven paper, as a minimum, must contain:
A title page as described here: https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/paper-format/title-pageLinks to an external site.
Four to five pages of text-based content with in-text citations, including at least three sources
One or more reference pages in APA format. (Only sources cited in the paper should appear on the reference page.)
