Cloud Computing: Storage & Apps Dr. Vesta R. Whisler Online Lifeline Conference February 20, 2014

Preview Why is this Important? Cloud Computing Skydrive or iCloud or Google? Google Docs or Office 365? Office 365 or 2013? Buying or Subscribing?

Why is this Important? Textbook prices up 82% in the last 10 years (Bidwell, 2014) Students sometimes choose NOT to buy textbooks Students (especially online) need software too, adding to this cost Cloud computing may provide a lower-cost alternative

Cloud ComputingCloud Computing (video) 36 different definitions of cloud computing were analyzed to arrive at this definition: – An information technology-based business model, – provided as a service over the Internet, – where both hardware and software computing services are delivered on-demand to customers in a self-service fashion, – independent of device and location within high levels of quality, – in a dynamically scalable, rapidly provisional, shared and virtualized way and with minimal service provider interaction. (Madhavaiah, Bashir, & Shafi, 2012, p. 171)

Cloud Computing The user connects to software via the Internet The software is not installed on the computer station’s hard drive or network Examples: – Facebook – Flickr – Twitter – Gmail – Google Docs – Office 365

Cloud Computing--Simplified A move from the historical purchase of hardware and software for storage and processing of data To the delivery of these services via subscription over the Internet

Cloud Computing--Advantages Users can access high-powered remote computers without investing in expensive equipment and support staff Programs and files can be accessed from any device over the Internet (Smith, 2012) Users can request and pay only for services they need (Hurwitz, Bloor, Kaufman, & Helper, 2010)

Cloud Computing--Disadvantages If the Internet is down, no work can be done (Smith 2012) If you quit paying for the subscription, you have no software (Thurrott, 2013) Lost username/password Accidentally deleted files Provider goes out of business (Breeding & Kroski, 2012

Cloud Storage Access to documents or files from the Web SkyDrive (video) SkyDrive Comparisons

SkyDrive or iCloud or Google? SkyDriveiCloud Google Drive Free storage7GB5GB Add 20 GB$10$40N/A Add 50 GB$25$100N/A Add 100 GB$50N/A$60 (Muchmore, 2012)

VSU’s Move to the Cloud, Phase I Now under Microsoft’s A1(E1) tier licensingA1(E1) tier – – SkyDrive (Newton, 2014) Migrated from Windows Live to Office 365 June 11, 2013 One set of login credentials (Active Directory) account is now a personal account, with technical support handled by Microsoft (VSU IT Helpdesk) (VSU IT Helpdesk)

VSU’s Move to the Cloud, Phase II Will move to A2(E2) tier later in – – SharePoint – SkyDrive Pro – Web Apps (Newton, 2014)

Demo Skydrive WebApps Or MyVSU at – Atomic Learning at

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Google Docs Office 365

Google DocsGoogle Docs (video) Announced October, 2006, as Google Docs and Spreadsheets Required a Google account, Web browser, & Internet connection Let you collaborate online and in real time Was originally free and open for sign-ups (Google News, 2006)

Google Apps for Business Word processing, spreadsheet, presentation capabilities, , file storage Starts at $5 per user per month or $50 per user when purchased annually (Winterbern, 2013)

Office 365Office 365 (video) Since June 2011, Microsoft Office users can access the suite through the cloud (Redmond, 2013) Microsoft offers home, business, and education versions

Office 365—Home Premium Includes 5 installs of Office 2013 Professional Can be shared by multiple people in the family Does not include Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, or Lync Online Users have access to Outlook.com and SkyDrive $99.99/year subscription

Office 365—Small Business The business subscribes $150/year per user Access, Excel, InfoPath, Lync, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word Includes two Home & Student Office 2013 licenses per user Shared calendar, 25GB mailbox, 10GB Cloud storage per user (“Office in a Box or in the Cloud”, 2013)

Office 365 or Google Docs? Appear very similar on the surface – Access to programs/files over the Internet – Sharing of documents/files – Synchronization of documents/files Microsoft spreadsheets are more complex Google Apps for Business costs less than Office 365 for Small Business —it’s a wash

Office 365 or Google Docs? Microsoft offers PowerPoint and Lync Microsoft seems to have the edge for major institution-wide deployment Google is more compatible with iOS and Android (PcWorld.com, 2013; Raths, 2013)

Office 365 or 2013? Student version Office $140 – License for one PC – Does not include Access, Outlook or Publisher Student version Office 365--$199 for 4 years access – Includes all programs and 27 GB cloud storage – Works on 2 PCs or Macs – Can renew if still enrolled at end of 4 years (“Office in,” 2013; “What is Office,” 2013)

Buying or Subscribing? How many PCs do you have? Which parts of the software suite do you need? When you buy, the software is yours to keep, but it will become outdated When you rent, you always have access to the latest version (Thurrott, 2013)

So.... For You to Decide Cloud Computing—Are you ready to move to the Cloud? Skydrive or iCloud? Google Docs or Office 365? (video)Office 365? Office 365 or 2013? Buying or Subscribing?

References Atomic Learning (2013). Retrieved from Bidwell, A. (2014). Reprot: High Textbook Prices Have College Students Struggling. USNews special Report. Retrieved from students-struggling. students-struggling Breeding, M. and Kroski, E. (2012). Cloud Computing for Libraries: THE TECH SET®®#11. ALA Editions: New York. OCLC: Google News (2006). Google announces Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Retrieved from Hurwitz, J., Bloor, R., Kaufman, M., and Helper, F. (2010). Cloud computing for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub. Retrieved from ebrary, Inc. Accession Number: vsu Madhavaiah, C., Bashir, I., and Shafi, S. I. (Sep 2012). Defining cloud computing in business perspective: A review of research. Vision ( ) 16(3), pp DOI: / Microsoft.com (2014). Microsoft Office 365 Subscription Plans. Retrieved from Muchmore, M. (2012). Microsoft SkyDrive. PCMag. Retrieved from Newton, J. (2014). Interview. With Director of Infrastructure Support Services & Chief Technology Officer, VSU. Office in a Box or Office in the Cloud?. (2013). PC World, 31(4), PCWorld.com (Feb. 2013). Office showdown: Microsoft Office 365 vs. Google Apps. Retrieved from Raths, D. (2013, May). Google Apps vs. Office 365. Campus Technology 26(9), Retrieved from Redmond, T. (2013). Office 365: Time to Make the Switch?. Windows IT Pro, 19(3), Smith, S. (2012). What is Cloud computing? In Cloud computing [electronic resource]: Moving IT out of the office. Retrieved from ebrary, Inc. Accession Number: vsu , pp Thurrott, P. (2013). Office 365 for Business. Windows IT Pro, 19(4), What is Office 365 University? Retrieved from university-HA aspx?CTT=1http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access-help/what-is-office-365- university-HA aspx?CTT=1 Winterberg, B. (2013). Your Office Apps in the Cloud. Journal of Financial Planning, 26(7), Retrieved from Business Source Complete