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The Effect of Using Cloud Computing to Enhance
the Learning Process: Challenges and Opportunities

Kawther A. AlDhlan

Introduction

Cloud Computing has recently emerged as a compelling paradigm for managing
and delivering services. Cloud Computing Services and resources [1, 2] are available to
the users through net connections, frequently the Internet. It is a model of provision
of IT services offered through a catalog that answers to the necessities of the user in
a flexible and adaptive way, only billing for the actual usage that is made. Therefore,
two of the distinctive features of this paradigm are, on the one hand, the use of
resources under demand and, on the other hand, the transparent scalability in such a
way that the computational resources are assigned in a dynamical and accurate
manner when they are strictly necessary, without the requirement of a detailed
understanding of the infrastructure from the user’s point of view. With these
characteristics, the Cloud platforms arise as accurate alternatives to traditional
computer centers. They represent a significant alternative versus the acquisition and
maintenance of the computer centers.

Characteristics of cloud computing

Cloud computing has many advanced computing features that would benefit
users. Some of these features are;

• A user buys and uses the services by the cloud computing model via the
Internet. Therefore, connectivity and network access are an integral part of using
cloud computing.

• The services offered by the cloud include data processing, storage, software,
technical components, or a complete platform. A user can choose the type of service
he needs.

• The cloud service provider will provide, and manage the cloud such as data
centers, virtualization methods, hardware and storage. There is no maintenance on
the user part.

• A user will be charged the cost of the services based on usage. This is similar
to a utility service like electricity or water where a user only pays for what he used.

• A user can combine multiple services from multiple cloud service providers to
create a combination of services to fill his requirements. A user is not restricted to only
one cloud service provider

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