Sakai : INSS 300.WB2 Sp19 :
Discussion Forums (PER
SCHEDULE)
This discussion topic counts for 15 points -- three times the usual number of
points for other single discussion topics. The expectation from you,
therefore, is that you will put in three times the effort for this discussion
topic relative to other discussion topics. You will need to provide a
thoughtful, high quality submission -- the grading of your post will reflect
this expectation.
For this discussion topic, you will explore two alternative infrastructure
options for running your organization’s business applications, and post a
discussion comment comparing and contrasting three-year total costs of
ownership (TCO) under both options.
The two options you will compare are – (a) a traditional, on-premises (in-
house) or colocated applications environment, versus (b) a newer, vendor-
hosted (i.e., cloud computing) applications environment. Assume that you
organization has always operated under option ‘a’ and that it is now
considering switching to option ‘b’ by looking into Amazon Web Services
(AWS), a leading cloud vendor.
Cu
ently, under option ‘a,’ your organization is responsible for acquiring,
configuring, installing, operating, as well as maintaining any and all
infrastructure resources required to run its applications on a day-to-day
asis. Such infrastructure components may include physical premises,
servers, server racks/cabinets, network/cabling, databases, storage memory,
edundant power sources (if any), cooling mechanisms, etc. You
organization is also responsible for any IT personnel costs incu
ed in doing
all this.
https:
searchmicroservices.techtarget.com/definition/colocation-colo
On the other hand, by switching to the hosted ‘cloud’ under option ‘b,’ you
organization would still own and maintain its own applications, but the day-
to-day running of these applications would now be accomplished on the
premises and infrastructure belonging to Amazon Web Services, i.e., the
vendor. In other words, your organization would no longer need to own any
of the physical infrastructure components described in the previous
paragraph, or need to retain nearly as many IT personnel. Instead, it would
access its vendor-hosted applications over the Internet, and be periodically
illed for amounts co
esponding only to its actual usage of each vendor-
owned infrastructure resource.
To compare the on-premises applications vs. cloud applications options, you
will utilize Amazon’s tool called “AWS Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Calculator,” available at the following URL –
http:
aws.amazon.com/tco-calculato
After reading the
ief introduction to the calculator, click the yellow
‘Launch the Calculator’ located below and to the right of the screenshots
on that page.
On the resulting screen, enter some hypothetical (fictitious) details
pertaining to your cu
ent ‘on-premises’ or ‘colocation’ applications
configuration, either of which is an example of option ‘a.’ Attached is a
screenshot of one such configuration – feel free to explore and play with
your own configurations.
After you are done describing your cu
ent applications configuration,
click the yellow ‘Calculate TCO’ button at the bottom right to view the
three-year TCO comparison for option ‘a’ vs. option ‘b.'
Finally, make a posting under this Forum topic, discussing your experience
with the calculator. What assumptions did you make while entering you
cu
ent applications configuration? Did you feel comfortable making these
http:
aws.amazon.com/tco-calculato
assumptions? Did your assumptions affect the results of the TCO
comparison? What was your overall impression of the two options, before
and after viewing these results? Do you have any new
questions/concerns/objections regarding option ‘b?’ What would be you
advice as a dispassionate observer to any organization other than your own
that may be considering switching from option ‘a’ to option ‘b?’
You must post your own observations first before reading anybody else's
comments.