Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing [Paperback]

Kevin T. McDonald (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 9, 2010 | ISBN-10: 1849280312 | ISBN-13: 978-1849280310 | Edition: 1st

Interested in ways to make your business more efficient? Then Cloud Computing may be just what you have been looking for. Cloud Computing can enable you to drive down the costs of your IT function and gives you the ability to focus on your core business, whilst saving energy. The concept of shifting computing to a shared service provider is not new. What is new is that the cost of Cloud Computing is falling so dramatically that considering outsourcing to the Cloud is no longer rare. And, in an era of tight budgets, the opportunity to make financial savings means that Cloud Computing looks especially attractive. "Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing" acts as a primer and strategic guide to identify Cloud Computing best practices and associated risks, and reduce the latter to acceptable levels. From software as a service (SaaP) to replacing the entire IT infrastructure, the author serves as an educator, guide and strategist, from runway to getting the organization above the clouds. Valuable tips on how to choose your provider of Cloud Services are also offered. The author, Kevin T. McDonald is a Senior Information Technology Analyst and Cloud Strategist for ICF International Inc, a consulting firm in Washington, DC. A member of the Tech America Cloud Computing Committee and the Cloud Security Alliance, Kevin has over 25 years' experience in IT, choosing to specialize in cyber security, infrastructure protection and business continuity. Buy this book and take your business on a journey above the Clouds!

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Above the Clouds is meant as a guidebook to help managers understand the path to Cloud Computing and how to approach the journey.  The promise of Cloud Computing is that organizations can finally stop worrying about the care and feeding of Information Technology infrastructure by transferring to a managed shared service model.  Moving to this new paradigm takes courage and a degree of care, but the transformation of the organization into a cloud ready enterprise can improve productivity, reduce risk and at the same time, cut costs.  --From the Author

About the Author

Kevin T. McDonald is a Senior Information Technology Analyst and Cloud Strategist for ICF International, Inc, a global consultancy based in Washington, DC. Mr. McDonald is an imaginative IT security and project leader with over twenty five years of industry and government experience. He specializes in Infrastructure Protection, Cyber Security and Business Continuity Planning and has published and spoken in a variety of venues. He is a member of the Tech America Cloud Computing Committee and the IAC-ACT Cross-SIG Cloud Computing in Government committee and the Cloud Security Alliance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis degree from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursing graduate studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. McDonald holds Certifications from ISCA as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), from ISACA as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), from the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) from Disaster Recovery Institute International.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: IT Governance Publishing; 1st edition (February 9, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1849280312
• ISBN-13: 978-1849280310
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,209,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kevin T. McDonald is Senior Information Technology Analyst and Cloud Strategist for ICF International, Inc, a global consultancy based in Washington, DC. Mr. McDonald is an imaginative IT security and project leader with over twenty five years of industry and government experience. He specializes in Infrastructure Protection, Cyber Security and Business Continuity Planning and has published and spoken in a variety of venues.

He is a member of the Tech America Cloud Computing Committee and the IAC-ACT Cross-SIG Cloud Computing in Government committee and the Cloud Security Alliance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis degree from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursing graduate studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

McDonald holds Certifications from ISC² as a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), from ISACA as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), from the Project Management Institute as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) from Disaster Recovery Institute International.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good Overview of the Cloud Environment, October 1, 2010

By 

HH, Chevy Chase, MD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing (Paperback)

For a book entitled Above the Clouds, Kevin McDonald had written a very down to earth and practical introduction to cloud computing. This book is well organized and offers a quick way to get up to speed on a very expansive topic. I found this book very helpful in dispelling a few misconceptions I had about cloud computing. My organization is moving toward a Cloud environment and I have recommended this book to work collogues who would like to learn more about it.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Overview, September 15, 2010

By 

Ruth Fisher (Mountian View, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing (Paperback)

Above the Clouds provides a comprehensive introduction to the benefits and risks associated with transitioning to cloud computing. The text is written in a clear, easy-to-read manner and is perfect for anyone interested in gaining a basic, relatively non-technical understanding of the issues. An important feature of the book is that it provides readers with specific issues to consider and questions to ask when considering transitioning their businesses to the clouds.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for your C-level team, September 1, 2010

By 

dacwdc - See all my reviews

This review is from: Above the Clouds: Managing Risk in the World of Cloud Computing (Paperback)

I will be giving copies of Above the Clouds to my clients that need a baseline understanding of all-things-cloud. The book is a good source for executives who are not 'into' the technology but need to understand it so they can be part of the discussions and decision making process as cloud issues relate to business objectives.