Cloud computing is the method of operating a network of distant servers hosted on the internet to manage, store and process the required data. Cloud computing is the most flexible,
cost-effective, precise, and secure means of executing the latest software applications.

It has given rise to a drastic change in the way the software is built, sold, executed, marketed, and benefited. It has also improved organisational computer power, advanced the replacement
of legacy strategies, and enhanced the viability of projects related to shadow IT.

Cloud computing has created a profound effect on IT organisations and the computer industry. Business Analysts and Project Managers are profited from clouding computing in the following
ways.

  • The projects in the IT organisations have increased in number, all of which require PMs and BAs.
  • Compared to the percentage of testers and programmers, the number of BAs and PMs have increased within the IT companies.
  • Demand for BAs and PMs have been increased within non-IT companies which resulted in the effect of “Shadow IT”.
  • BAs are now viewable to senior management in non-IT and IT industries as they configure features of cloud computing.

Generally, cloud computing is divided into three groups. Each one has a varied effect on the profession of BAs and PMs.
1. PaaS ( Platform as a Service): Here, the vendor puts on the platform for computing, based on which software is improved and operated by IT. Cloud vendors provide secure connectivity, operating system, and software development platforms which are used to assemble, rollout and operate software by the IT industries dealing with it as their computer hardware. The major role played by BA and PM while generating applications on an infrastructure based on PaaS is to reside on the internal data centre of the company.
2. SaaS (Software as a Service): SaaS Software is deployed through the cloud. MS office 365, SalesForce.com and much other software are updated and controlled by the vendor. This is done on the vendor’s hardware platform. PMs and BAs who work on the functionality-based software largely work on SaaS kind implementations.
3. IaaS ( Infrastructure as a Service): In IaaS, data communications and hardware are provided in the data centre but everything else is done by IT. IaaS also affects the roles
played by BAs and PMs.

Cloud computing is partly good and partly bad for those who are working with data. If your organisation has more SaaS type systems, then a huge part of production data is controlled and stored beyond your reach. It affects the data model of the company. From the view of BAs and PMs, this loss is intensifying the significance of warehouses for internal data which is required for internal reporting, cross-system integrating and analysing. As a solution for this issue,  DBaaS (Database as a Service) is used to provide data warehouses, which in turn gives analytical, storage, collection, and reporting type functionality.

SECaaS (Security as a Service) is used in projects related to cyber security which is the collection of security monitoring, managing, reporting, and other relevant tasks.

All PMs can work with cloud computing as it provides a wide range of tools to lead you with portfolio management and project management activities at a limited cost.

Cloud computing has promoted a platform from machine learning to a huge collection of data. Cloud computing is widening its reach, implication, and functionality to businesses of various sizes and structures. Opting for cloud computing as a career reinforces your professional marketability.