Using Obstacles for Systematically Modeling, Analysing, and Mitigating Risks in Cloud Adoption

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors motivate the need for a systematic approach to cloud adoption from the risk perspective. The enormous potential of cloud computing for improved and cost-effective service delivery for commercial and academic purposes has generated unprecedented interest in its adoption. However, a potential cloud user faces numerous risks regarding service requirements, cost implications of failure, and uncertainty about cloud providers’ ability to meet service level agreements. Hence, the authors consider two perspectives of a case study to identify risks associated with cloud adoption. They propose a risk management framework based on the principle of GORE (Goal-Oriented Requirements Engineering). In this approach, they liken risks to obstacles encountered while realising cloud user goals, therefore proposing cloud-specific obstacle resolution tactics for mitigating identified risks. The proposed framework shows benefits by providing a principled engineering approach to cloud adoption and empowering stakeholders with tactics for resolving risks when adopting the cloud.