Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
infringements on the Internet and in the cloud. Part IV (Conclusion) answers the
question about the adequacy of current law to resolve copyright issues arising from
cloud computing.
2
Cloud Computing: Technical Basis and Legal Issues
In order to get a better comprehension of copyright issues in cloud computing, it is
necessary to explore the technical foundations of this new technology. According to
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access
to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g. networks, servers,
storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released
with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud
model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics,
three service models, and four deployments models [1].
2.1
Essential Characteristics
According to NIST [1], the essential characteristics of the cloud are the following:
On-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and
measured service. Regarding copyright issues in cloud computing, on-demand self-
service and broad network access are the most important.
On-demand self-service allows users to unilaterally provision computing
capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without
requiring human interaction with each service provider.
Broad network access means that capabilities are available over the network and
accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or
thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).
Resource pooling allows multiple consumers to use a multi-tenant model, with
different physical and virtual resources assigned and reassigned according to
consumer demand.
Rapid elasticity means that capabilities can be provisioned and released to scale
rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. This feature is important to
consumers because the capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be
unlimited and can be appropriate in any quantity and in any time.
Measured service means that cloud systems automatically control and optimize
resource use by levering a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate
to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts).
Resource usage can be monitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency
for both the provider and consumer of the utilized service.
2.2
Deployment Models
NIST defines four “deployment models”: private cloud, community cloud, public
cloud, and hybrid cloud. The differences between these models are important in
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