Cloud Computing for Global Software Development: Opportunities and Challenges

The cloud computing paradigm offers an innovative and promising vision concerning Information and Communications Technology. Actually, it provides the possibility of improving IT systems management and is changing the way in which hardware and software are designed and purchased. This paper introduces challenges in Global Software Development (GSD) and application of cloud computing platforms as a solution to some problems. Even though cloud computing provides compelling benefits and cost-effective options for GSD, new risks and difficulties must be taken into account. Thus, the paper presents a study about the risk issues involved in cloud computing. It highlights the different types of risks and how their existence can affect GSD. It also proposes a new risk management process model. The risk model employs new processes for risk analysis and assessment. Its aim is to analyse cloud risks quantitatively and, consequently, prioritise them according to their impact on different GSD objectives.