East Asia paper 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

East Asia paper 2 - Essay Example With such economic disparity, China’s development continued to fall as Western culture continued to take its peak. Aside from these, its centralized government began to crumble as rampant corruption erupted. Decentralization in power, warfare, rebellions, overpopulation, as well as the continuing economic downscale continued to pour over China’s arms. Rebellions continued its sprout, starting with the White Lotus Sect that placed an end to the golden age of the Qing dynasty and lasted for almost nine years. Named after the White lotus Buddhist sectarianism, White lotus revolution sparked the Chinese movement to overthrow the Qing dynasty. Starting as tax protesters, this sect was able to gain support from ordinary people against serious concerns in the government. By 1840, the Opium War, armed invasion of France and Britain against China, also broke out. This war was rooted from the dispute against opium trade, as the Chinese Emperor banned opium for its harmful effects in its citizens and derogatory impact on Chinese culture. Such conflict of premise contrasted Britain’s view on opium as a profitable commodity for commercial trade. The Opium War and the series of â€Å"unequal treaties† (or unreasonable treaties which demanded China to give up territories, pay indemnities, and open trading ports) beneficial to Britain further contributed to the downfall of China. The sudden turn of events converted China into a semi-feudal and semi-colonized country. Aside from the aforementioned wars, China also suffered from the Boxer Rebellion, a rebellion of the Chinese patriots (who used acts of violence such as murder, robbery, vandalism, and arson) as a means in opposing the forces of foreign traders and troops.

Creation of Snow and Jack Frost Essay Example for Free

Creation of Snow and Jack Frost Essay Long ago, the weather was just warm and the grass was just green. Every person on earth was happy the way they were, and the way everything was. God was always trying to bring new things into Earth, to complete its perfectness. One day God had this big feeling that he needed to create something for Earth and his people. But what could it be? Everything was already so perfect. So God asked and angel named Jack to go down to Earth and figure out what was missing. Jack went down and searched and searched, he disguised himself as a human and asked many children and adults, â€Å"If you could add something to our earth, what would it be? everybody’s answers were the same. They all said that there was no needed change. Jack reported back to God and told him everything, but God still didn’t agree. He thought and thought of different ideas every day. One day, He caught a cold, and He couldn’t stop coughing or sneezing. Even when He had this cold, he still looked over Earth every single day and tried to improve it. But right when God was just about to give up and say the Earth was perfect enough, He let out the biggest strongest sneeze anyone could imagine. His sneeze was so powerful that it blew all the clouds onto the ground onto Earth and made them stay over top of the grass and cover every single thing on Earth in soft white stuff. When God seen this, He was appalled. He thought he ruined everything. But then a bright idea came into Angel Jack’s head. He said â€Å"Well since Earth has only warm weather and green grass, what if these clouds turn into cold soft ice and the weather becomes cold for half the year? † God thought this was a brilliant idea, so He did what Jack suggested. He turned the clouds and weather cold. He decided to call the clouds snow. He then told Jack to go check it out and see how the humans reacted. Jack once again went down to Earth and disguised himself. He asked all the children and adults what they thought of this snow. They all said the same thing, that they don’t know what to do or how to have fun in this snow. Jack thought to himself, â€Å"what if I think of fun games the children could play in this snow? † So he did, he lied on top of the snow, and started to move his hands up and down and his feet in and out. All the children saw what he was doing and did the same. They asked him what he was doing. Jack answered quickly, â€Å"I’m making, uh, snow angels! See these are the wings and these are their white long clothes! † The children’s faces lit up and asked Jack if he could show them any other fun stuff to do. So he thought quickly and started forming balls to throw and blocks of snow to make little forts. The children seen what he did and all said, â€Å"Let’s make snow balls and snow forts like Jack is! I love the snow! † Once Jack heard this, he was on his way back to God. He came back and when God asked how everyone liked it, he told him all this stories and God was exceeded. God then asked Jack, â€Å"Do you like this snow? † Jack answered, â€Å"I love this snow, so much! † So then God asked if he would like to become in charge of when snow falls, and in charge of making games and keeping the snow to the humans’ likings. Jack answered with a yes, so God said, â€Å"Well then Angel Jack, you are now named Jack Frost! † Jack was happy with that, he made his home at the North Pole and kept track of the snow and made sure everyone was happy ever since.

Why are US Veterans becoming Homeless?

Why are US Veterans becoming Homeless? Aubrieann Hale In this paper, I will focus on the topic of why veterans are coming back homeless. Veterans are seen as a savior of the country they are risking their lives for every day, so why is it that they are coming back from tours and service and ultimately ending up homeless? Since 2009 the United States stated that in five years they would end veteran homeless, but the United States is still facing veteran homelessness in the year 2017. Though the homeless rates of veterans have gone down since then, why are veterans still facing homelessness if so many resources are supposed to be available for them. Is there more than meets the eye when it comes to homelessness, especially with veterans, yes. Many things can attribute to this continuing issue such as lack of assistances provided, mental illnesses, PTSD, lack or loss of support from being deployed, the use of drugs and alcohol as coping strategies, and the economics. Homelessness is something that many individuals in every country face on a daily basis. The definition of homelessness can vary from what one individual to the next individuals definition of homelessness. The United States Department of Health and Human Services definition of homelessness is: An individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets, stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned building or vehicle, or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation. An individual may be considered as homeless if that person is doubled up, a term that refers to a situation where individuals are unable to maintain their housing situation and are forced to stay with a series of friends and/or extended family members. In addition, previously homeless individuals who are to be released from a prison or a hospital may be considered homeless if they do not have a stable housing situation to which they can return (U. S. D. of H. and H, n.d.). The Veterans Assistance program (VA) was originally founded in 1811 by the federal government for veteran domiciliary and medical facilities, but at the time was named the Veterans Bureau. The federal government recognized the instability of an individuals living arrangements as a critical aspect of the definition of homelessness. Later on, in the 19th century, the Veterans Administration was expanded to include benefits and or pensions not only for veterans but for their widows and dependents if something were to have happened. After the Civil War, many states began to establish veterans homes. Since domiciliary care was available at all state veterans homes, coinciding with that medical and hospital treatment were also provided for all injuries and diseases, without discrimination of service area. Veterans of the Indian Wars, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and Mexican Border, as well as regularly discharged members of the United States Armed Forces, were able to receive care at t hese veteran homes (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d). As the United States entered World War I, congress established a new system of veterans benefits, including programs for disability compensation, insurance for service personnel and veterans, and vocational rehabilitation for the disabled (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d). In 1928, admission to the national veteran homes was extended to all women who served, National Guard and militia Veterans (all able-bodied civilians eligible by law for military service) (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d). In 1930, President Herbert Hoover signed an executive order that elevated the Veterans Bureau to a federal administration creating the what is now known as the Veterans Administration. From 1944 through 1993, Veterans Administration guaranteed 13.9 million home loans valued at more than 433.1 billion dollars (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d). To assist a Veteran between discharge and reemployment, the GI Bi ll also provided unemployment benefits of 20 dollars a week, for up to a maximum of 52 weeks (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, n.d). This assistance was put in place to avoid a repetition of World War I when unemployed Veterans were reduced to relying on charities for food and shelter. The Veterans Administration was then later renamed the Department of Veterans Affairs and continued to this day be known as the VA. It was not until the early 1980s, when the United States entered a recession in 1980 with the unemployment rate remaining unchanged through the start of a second recession in 1981, that veteran homelessness began to be recognized as an important public health problem. The Veterans Administration has gone through many changes over the past 200 years since it was founded. But it still remains to be focused on offering veterans the resources in which it was founded, for domiciliary and medical needs of veterans who have served. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the different ways a veteran can manifest postwar adjustment difficulties. PTSD is a mental health problem that some individuals can develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It is normal for an individual to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after a traumatic event. It may be hard to do normal activities, such as going to work, school, or spending time with people you care about. For some individuals, PTSD symptoms may not start right away, they may come and go over time. With PTSD, veterans may find it hard to keep their support groups such as family, friends and possible significant others close due to the symptoms of PTSD. Individuals can have a difficult time trying to get back into a routine that has now changed, whether they themselves are suffering from PTSD or individuals closest to those who are sufferi ng. Personally, coming from a family where my father is a veteran and my brother-in-law has been deployed 3 times in the past 4 years I have been able to see the costs that military families have to pay that can render them in hard financial situations in the future. For instance, military uniforms have multiple parts that are required, and if an individual is not wearing them they are out of conduct. Here is a cost breakdown of one of the 4 uniforms, military personnel are required to have. For combat and training, uniforms the required coat starts at 47.51 dollars, 48.00 dollars for the trousers, 8.10 dollars for the patrol cap, 4.77 dollars for the undershirt, 4.07 dollars for the rigger belt, 350-100 dollars for boots, up to 25 dollars per insignia, and 200 dollars for the required backpack (Army Air Force Exchange Services, n.d.). For just a combat uniform it can cost up to 700 dollars. For their formal uniforms, it can cost up to 500 dollars, and for physical training, uniforms it can cost up to 200 dollars. While they are given a uniform allowance, the military is constantly changing their uniforms and not compensating for that change, making it stressful for some to try and find ways to pay for what they need. There is also the factor of paying for housing, while there are barracks that military personnel can live in, some chose to live in apartments off base, due to having more freedom or having a family. So, they can be paying the housing costs outside of the military, but when it comes to deployment if they are single and not living with someone else it can become an issue of trying to keep payments going to the landlord regularly and if something goes wrong there is a possibility of them losing their place to stay ultimately coming back homeless. When it comes to having a family, they usually try to stay in one area and not have to move so often due to inconveniences. But when the military personnel get stationed in a new state, it becomes a matter of is the whole family going to move only to have the military personnel deployed in a couple of months leaving the family in an unknown area with no support like they had before. Now if the family made the choice to stay, then they are paying for housing in two states, which put the family in a financial burden, but they are able to keep their support systems. A median annual income of Veterans was approximately $50,000 (Elbogen, et al., 2012). In their studies, they indicated that treatment costs for veterans were a barrier to obtaining psychiatric and proper care. The US Military released a pay grade chart for 2017 because they offer many different variations for each area I will only focus on serving for 4 years. These numbers are based on monthly pay rounded up to the nearest us dollar. As an E-1 for 4 years they would make 1592 dollars, E-2 1785 dollars, E-3 2115 dollars, E-4 2420 dollars, E-5 2656 dollars, E-6 2960 dollars, and E-7 3401 dollars (Military pay chart, 2016). These are numbers only for enlistees and not officers, seeing that enlistees are the most common within the military. Substance abuse can be a leading factor in homelessness or continuing to be homeless. From a study conducted by Robert M. Bray, Mary Ellen Marsden, and Michael R. Peterson, they found that overall military personnel are more likely to drink and drink heavily than civilians are. Military personnel are twice as likely as civilians to be heavy drinkers, about one-third of military men who are younger drink heavily (Bray, et al., 1991). Veterans that are most at risk of coming back from war homeless usually have multiple factors that lead to the problem. Most of the individuals are either single, divorced, widowed, lack of family support or support systems, rendering them unable for proper reentry into civilian life. When those in the military are deployed, they are housed at the bases in that area, if they have their own family back in the states they can find it difficult to communicate with them. The military does not offer free Wi-Fi or calling, so if they were wanting to communicate with those back home, they will have to pay a monthly fee to do so. If an individual cannot afford that fee, there is the possibility of them losing their connections and support. Veterans who were officers and those who had graduated from college are more likely to have an easier readjusting process for their post-military life than enlisted personnel and those who are high school graduates. Along with veterans who mentioned they had an emotionally traumatic experience while serving or suffered a serious injury had more problems with re-entry when other factors are held constant. Though I would like to provide a definite answer to why are United States veterans coming back homeless, there is still much research to do. There are many factors that can lead to an individual becoming homeless and that is the same for veterans. While there are many studies on veteran homelessness, my goal was to figure out why they are homeless, and while again there are many articles and studies they do not clearly focus on specifically why. I would say that I have not been able to fully answer my question of why United States veterans are coming back homeless, but I hope that in the future, I will be able to conduct my own studies on this topic and find a more concise answer. Until then I can only say that there are many factors that lead to this unfortunate event such as lack of assistances provided, mental illnesses, PTSD, lack or loss of support from being deployed, the use of drugs and alcohol as coping strategies, and the economics. References Services, U. S. D. of H. and H. (n.d.). HHS.gov Retrieved March 8, 2017, from https://www.hhs.gov/ Elbogen, E. B., Johnson, C. S. C., Wagner, H. R., Newton, V. M., Beckham, J. C. (2012). Financial Well-Being and Post-Deployment Adjustment among Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans. Military Medicine, 177(6), 669-675. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3390745/ Shop Army Air Force Exchange Service. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.shopmyexchange.com/browse/military/army-uniforms/_/N-104825 Brett Litz, S. M. O. (n.d.). The Returning Veteran of the Iraq War: Background Issues and Assessment Guidelines. https://secure.ce-credit.com/articles/101192/3_4-101192.pdf 2017 Military Pay Chart. (2016). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.usmilitary.com/2017-military-pay-chart/ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2017, from https://www.va.gov/ Alvin S. Mares, R. A. R. (2006). Attitudes Towards Employment and Employment Outcomes Among Homeless Veterans with Substance Abuse and or Psychiatric Problems. Taylor Francis Group, LLC. Stephen Metraux, L. X. C., John D. Daigh, D. P. C., Vincent Kane. (n.d.). Risk Factors for Becoming Homeless Among a Cohort of Veterans Who Served in the Era of the Iraq and Afghanistan Conà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å¡icts. Matthew Chinman, G. H., Sharon McCarthy. (2012). Lessons Learned from a Quality Improvement Intervention with Homeless Veteran Services. Johns Hopkins University Press, 23(3), 210-224. Tsai, J., Rosenheck, R. A. (2015). Risk Factors for Homelessness Among US Veterans. Epidemiologic Reviews, 37, 177-195. https://doi.org/10.1093/epirev/mxu004 Bray, R. M., Marsden, M. E., Peterson, M. R. (1991). Standardized comparisons of the use of alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes among military personnel and civilians. American Journal of Public Health, 81(7), 865-869. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1405176/

Essay --

The Vietnam War was fought from December 1956 to April 1975 in the Indohchina region that encompasses Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. At its most basic level, it can be described as a war between the communist regime in North Vietnam, headed by Ho Chi Minh, with its sympathizers in the South and the Southern non-communist Vietnamese regime. Its roots can be traced back to the end of the Second World War, when Ho Chi Minh and the Vietminh (nationalist communist party) seized power in formally French-controlled Vietnam after the Japanese occupants withdrew. France, unwilling to relinquish their power, sent troops into Indochina in order to regain their control. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh continued to consolidate his power through his Soviet and Chinese communist allies—employing tactics such as imprisonment, exile, and sometimes even murder to be rid of any political opposition or threats to his Communist regime. The struggle continued until the Vietnimh—with Chinese support in weapons and advising—took siege of the village Dien Bein Phu, where French troops were located. In May 1954, the Vietnamese successfully took the village, and soon after that the French left Indochina all together acknowledging their defeat. In the late 50s, South Vietnam was under control of Ngo Dinh Diem, who implemented a severe and brutal anti-Communist regime, leading to small collectives of communist revolutionaries, who eventually in 1959 were supported and aided materially by the North. Thus the Vietnam War as we know it today began. The Communist North, aided by Chinese and Soviet allies, fought battles with the anti-communist South, aided primarily by the U.S. Yet, how did the U.S. become involved so heavily in a war that seemed to have nothing to do with... ...relenting. It is argued that a fundamental difference between the experiences of Vietnam vets as opposed to veterans of other wars is that veterans of a war such as World War II, though still had a difficult time with what they did and witnessed, had a feeling that what they did in the war was significant and important beyond what they individually may have seen or done—there was a greater purpose to all of it (i.e. WWII stopping the Nazi invasion and terror). However, considering the turn the war in Vietnam took—how the U.S. public eventually protested strongly against it and its goals—that feeling was not always present for the surviving soldiers. This fact among the various other factors like the horrors and gruesomeness of the war contributes to the widespread psychological problems that plagued the veterans of the war long after they returned home to the U.S.

Ethics Essay Essay

The theories of virtue, utilitarianism, and deontology are similar in some aspects but for the most part are very different. Each of the theories will be explained to show their differences and the type of person that would gravitate towards that theory. Through the explanations one would also be able to consider where there morals or ethics may lie but can also see themselves in each theory. The Virtue Theory, also know as Virtue Ethics, refers to the character of each person. This theory states that every person should try for excellence. The characteristics of each individual are made up from their environment that they are a part of. The theory would further suggest that it is not defined as a single moment in each individual’s life but their entire life as a whole. In thinking about the Virtue Theory, it can be explained by stating that each person needs to be the best they can and avoid the need or ability to hurt others. In Basic ethics: Basic ethics in action it talks about Aristotle and his view on virtue ethics to include characteristics or virtues of an individual. There are some that Aristotle would suggest to be the median or virtues such as courage, self-control, proper emotion, and friendliness to name a few. Reviewing these ideals of what characteristics a person should posses would or could be considered common traits of most individuals in the world today. In the simplistic form the virtue theory is about better one self and the other individuals that are around them. Deontology Theory states that there is a moral duty for one to act no matter the circumstances. This theory is furthered by the thought process of not thinking through any actions or the consequences but because it is action that is taken is right. â€Å"The word â€Å"deontology† comes from two Greek words, deion+ logos. Deion comes from the particle dei which means â€Å"must. † Logos (in this context) means â€Å"the account of† (Boylan, 2009). In breaking this down, it shows that is the account of the musts. In meaning one must act on the account of others or for themselves. Deontology theory can be seen within those persons that provide protection for another without question no matter the inherent danger. The will to act is shown through this theory such as that would be considered of the Spartan Army. The Spartan Army would not ask how many strong are the enemy but where the enemy is. Utilitarianism Theory is one that embodies the thought of taking care of the whole group and not the individual. This theory is a moral theory as we see wanting to make the group better. It can only be our morals to drive us to want what is best for a group. If one person is stronger in writing than another during the course of the project, then the weaker writer may ask the stronger one to take over. It is knowing your personal weakness and asking or foregoing your own glory to better the group that you are part of. One that can set aside their pride is a far better person and shows their true sense of morals. In thinking about a personal experience to be discussed in combination with one of these theories, I keep coming back to the theory of utilitarianism. The reason being that I know I have an alpha personality, meaning that I like to be in control and have the control. I tend to leave this part of me outside the classroom to have a clear head and to allow the learning teams to work more cohesive with the other members. It has been my experience that issues have arisen in each of the groups that I have been a part of. This is either due to lack of participation, inability to communicate or the plain fact of laziness. I have stopped from confronting the team member numerous times in order to keep the team moving in the right direction. Later in the class the issues continue to build and that is when I will confront the person and attempt to deal with the issue. I feel that in setting aside my alpha mentality and waiting to confront the individual is a way for the betterment of the learning team as whole.

Differences Between Veterans and Social Security Benefits

Differences Between Veterans and Social Security Benefits Social Security and Veterans Benefits: Understanding the Differences While both the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) provide assistance to American citizens in need, the two agencies differ greatly in scope, intent and procedure. Understanding the differences between the SSA and VBA can save claimants time- and prevent potential headaches. An article on these differences appears here.Understanding Social Security DisabilityThe Social Security Administration (SSA) provides benefits for Americans who have worked, paid into the system and have encountered a disability that now leaves them unable to work. Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits carry over until the recipient reaches retirement age.SSD is a simple, all-or-nothing benefit. Under the administration’s rules, the claimant is either disabled or they are not. Adjudicators simply need to determine if the claimant is able to work. These cases typically take two to three years to resolve. SSA will terminate disability benefits once a recip ient reaches retirement age.Understanding Veterans Disability BenefitsUnder the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Disability Benefits provide compensation to veterans for their service-connected disabilities. VA Disability- in a marked difference from SSD- has no age limit. A successful claim can provide benefits for life.In contrast to SSD, the VA assesses each illness or injury as a separate claim- assigning each its own rating. At the VA, each ailment is considered a distinct claim and each claim is rated separately. A veteran must submit evidence for each claim- which the VA will evaluate under separate criteria. A Veterans Disability case could potentially take five, ten, perhaps as long as 20 years to resolve.We Can HelpIf you are disabled and unable to work, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan for a free confidential consultation. We’ll let you know if we can help you get a monthly check and help you determine if any money or assets you receive could impact your eligibility for disability benefits.Disability Attorneys of Michigan works hard every day helping the disabled of Michigan seek the Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability benefits they need. If you are unable to work due to a physical, mental or cognitive impairment, call Disability Attorneys of Michigan now for a free consultation at 800-949- 2900.Let Michigan’s experienced disability law firm help you get the benefits you deserve.Disability Attorneys of Michigan, Compassionate Excellence. Michigan Social Security Disability Lawyer, Michigan Veteran Disability Attorney

Cloud Computing Security Issues in Enterprise Organizations

Cloud Computing Security Issues in Enterprise Organizations Introduction Cloud computing has started to move beyond hype and into the fabric of businesses today. Small and Medium Businesses have discovered by utilizing cloud services, they can gain significant benefits including access to novel business application and state of the art infrastructure resources.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on Cloud Computing Security Issues in Enterprise Organizations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although Enterprise Organizations are gaining valuable insight into the potential benefits of cloud, IT directors still have concerns about the security of their corporate data in the cloud. There are three major security issues inherent in cloud computing that make implementation in Enterprise Organizations a challenge. These issues are: Loss of control over data and Dependence on the Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Spying These three issues can lead to a number of legal and security concerns re lated to infrastructure, identity management, access control, risk management, regulatory and legislative compliance, auditing and logging, integrity control as well as Cloud Computing provider dependent risks (CEPIS, 2011). This paper will set out to show that while there are significant security threats that an enterprise faces when it migrates to the cloud, there are solutions that can be implemented to mitigate these threats and ensure that the enterprise is able to benefit from the numerous advantages of the cloud without exposing itself to unnecessary risks. Defining Cloud Computing The concepts behind cloud computing have been applied for over two decades (CEPIS, 2011). However, the widespread implementation of cloud computing services has only become prevalent over the last 7 years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines cloud computing as a model for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing reso urces that can be rapidly provisioned and delivered with minimal management effort or service provider interaction (Chirag et al., 2013, p.562). Cloud computing offers a number of significant benefits, therefore making it attractive to many enterprises. To begin with, cloud computing utilizes a pay-per-use model, meaning that the organization only gets to pay for the services that it uses. Chirag et al. (2012) document that cloud computing present businesses with the ability to increase their IT capabilities on demand and without having to invest much in new infrastructure or training of personnel.Advertising Looking for thesis on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The enterprise is therefore allowed to focus on its core business concerns instead of dealing with technical IT issues. According to Chirag et al. (2013), many of the organizations in the US and Europe that have migrated to the Cloud en vironment have done so in order to exploit the advantages or cost reduction. Skendrovic (2013) reaffirms this observation by noting that most enterprises acknowledge that using a cloud solution is integral to maintaining future organizational growth and productivity. Concerns In spite of the widespread enthusiasm for cloud computing, there still exists significant apprehension about migrating to the cloud. Cloud computing brings about risks that an organization would not be forced to face if its applications were run in-house. A number of significant and valid security concerns have caused this apprehension. Loss of Control over Data When an enterprise makes use of cloud services it, in essence, relegates the control of data and applications to third parties. An enterprise that migrates from the traditional in-house environment to a cloud environment immediately relinquishes its control over the networking infrastructure. The cloud service provider (CSP) is in control of infrastruct ure including servers, log files, and incident reports. The first issue that arises is that the enterprise does not have control over the physical infrastructure where its data is stored. Chirag et al. (2013) assert that a reality for organizations that choose to make use of cloud computing is that their data will be stored off-site. Since the servers, storage space, and application programs are provided by external service providers, the organization will have a loss of control over the infrastructure. Enterprises expose themselves to a higher risk of facing unauthorized access when they use a cloud system as opposed to the traditional network system. Cloud service providers store data for various organizations at the same location. This stored data (data at rest) needs to be protected from physical and electronic compromise. A non-authorized user who is able to access the shared environment has access to the private data of the organizations that use the particular cloud computing service provider. The distributed nature of cloud system resources makes it hard to ensure data security and privacy (Qaisar Khawaja, 2012).Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on Cloud Computing Security Issues in Enterprise Organizations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This risk is high since the cloud system typically has a high number of administrators and users. Malicious users can successfully attack a cloud control interface and gain control of an enterprise’s account. When this happens, the intruder will have access to the data stored in the account. Enterprises are likely to be co-tenants with attackers on the Cloud (Juels Oprea, 2013). This jeopardizes the enterprises data since the malicious co-tenant is well placed to carry out a successful attack. Since the enterprise does not own or control where the data is stored and processed, there is a threat of theft or misuse. If the cloud provider does not provide solid physical or logical security, the organizations data might be stolen. The organizations data may also be used in a way that the client has not agreed to. Cloud providers might use the data for different purposes from those originally notified to and agreed with the consumer. Pearson and Yee (2012) document that cloud service providers may gain revenue from unauthorized uses of client data such as resale of detailed sales data to competitors. Enterprises that make use of cloud services do not have control over the lifecycle of their data. Organizations that maintain data onsite have data lifecycle plans that determine how long the data will be retained and when it will be destroyed. When using a cloud service provider, the enterprise cannot be guaranteed that its request for data deletion will be honored. The organization might issue a command to delete data using its application program, but the service provider might continue to store the data without the knowledge o f the organization. Dependence on the Cloud Computing provider As previously noted, employing cloud computing services means that the enterprise will be using the computing resources of a third party; the Cloud Service Provider. This reliance on a third party to provide critical services might lead to a number of problems. To begin with, the organization is not in control of the availability of the computing services it requires. Since the services are provided through the internet, there is a possibility that temporary or permanent loss of services might be caused by Denial of Service attacks. Vulnerabilities in the network have a direct negative effect on the security of the Cloud. Chirag et al. (2013) declare that the network is the backbone of Cloud computing since it is the most crucial component of Cloud services.Advertising Looking for thesis on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Enterprises that make use of the cloud might suffer from access limitations. Since data and information flow occurs through the service provider, it is not possible to ensure that an organization can access its data at all times. The power to limit access control lies with the service provider who has overall control of the communication infrastructure. The enterprise is therefore at risk of having its data locked in by the CSP for a number of reasons including orders from the government. In addition to this, use of cloud services presents a transparency issue. Users are often abstracted from the details of how the applications run on the Cloud and in most cases, the organization is kept in the dark concerning issues such as the exact location where the data is stored and who owns it or what will be done with it. This lack of transparency means that organizations are at risk of having their data used in ways that they did not authorize. In addition to relying on the Cloud service pr ovider to make the computing resources available, enterprises have to rely on the cloud provider to provide adequate security for the data at rest. The enterprise has to depend on the CSP to notify it of any security breaches that might occur on its data or applications. Since the enterprise does not control the data, it might be unaware of any security breaches that occur. Pearson and Yee (2012) state that there are uncertainties about notification, including of any privacy breaches that occur in the cloud. The organization will find it difficult to know if any breach has occurred since the cloud service provider might be reluctant to reveal such information since it will damage the image of the provider. It is also hard to determine whose fault it is in case of a security breach since the comprehensive security logs are maintained by the cloud service provider. Spying Spying has become an issue of significant concern over the last two years. The issue of electronic surveillance ha s gained a lot of interest following the revelations that the US National Security Agency is engaged in rampant data collection. Use of CSP increases the risk that an organization might be spied on. To begin with, cloud services are provided through the internet creating an opportunity for government agencies to intercept data as it is transferred from one location to the other. Saroj (2014) suggests that this risk would not be there is an organization made use of an intranet where all the data was processed in-house. The relationship between the major technology companies that serve as CSPs and intelligence agencies increases the level of spying that enterprises face. Hamilton (2013) reveals that in the US, there is cooperation between technology companies such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon and intelligence agencies. There have been reports of the NSA and the FBI being provided access to data from the cloud storages of these companies. When the CSP provides government agencies w ith access to its data, the organization’s information is open to illegal scrutiny by the government entities. The risk of spying increases when the data has to cross over geographical boundaries that are subject to different laws. Different countries have varying data protection laws. An organization that is storing personal data with a CSP operating in a different country might find itself subjected to different data protection laws in the host country. Saroj (2014) confirms that due to the exposure of the high level of espionage activities conducted by the NSA, most enterprises are likely to invest more to on-premise solutions for their technology needs. Solutions Coming up with solutions to the security issues inherent in cloud computing is integral to the future success of cloud computing. Undoubtedly, the pooled computing resources and multi-tenancy model utilized by cloud computing introduces new security challenges that call for novel techniques to address them. Witho ut feasible solutions to the challenges, organizations will continue to demonstrate reluctance to migrating to cloud computing. Solutions to Loss of Control Most organizations would like to ensure that they do not lose control of their data. This outcome can be achieved in a number of ways. Enterprises can enter into contracts to ensure that their data and especially intellectual property rights are protected even in the cloud (KPMG, 2013). Ownership of intellectual property should remain with the organization at all times. As such, intellectual property attached to the data or generated by applications that is hosted in the cloud should belong to the user of the cloud. The enterprise can increase control over its data by negotiating a customer-oriented contract with the CSP. Priya and Ward (2013) state that such an agreement should increase the liability of the CSP in the event of a security breach and increase the rights of the organization over its data. Ensuring that the CSP can only use the organization’s data in ways that the organization has stipulated is important. Many organizations are keen to ensure that unauthorized secondary usage or their data do not happen. Pearson and Yee (2012) warn that at the present, there are no technological barriers to such secondary uses and as such, the cloud service provider might misuse company data. However, this risk might be mitigated by developing legally binding agreements as to how data provided to the CSP can be used. Solutions to Dependence on the CSPs The problems of availability that are caused by the high dependency on the cloud computing provider can be solved in a number of ways. Enterprises can make use of multiple providers to ensure continuous availability. Most CSPs provide the data proliferation function which entails having data stored or processed at different data centers. Replicating data in multiple data centers ensures full-time availability since it is unlikely that all data centers wi ll be experiencing problems at the same time. Juels and Oprea (2013) state that distributing data across multiple cloud providers provides redundancy therefore ensuring that reliable cloud services can be obtained from unreliable components. The enterprise can increase their protection against data loss due to damage to the cloud infrastructure by maintaining backup storage. Organizations should demand that the service provider maintains an off-site data backup that can be used in case the cloud infrastructure collapses. The provide should also have a standby disaster recovery and continuity plan that will ensure that the clients are able to resume normal functioning in the shortest period of time after a catastrophic failure (Zissis Lekkas, 2010). Chirag et al. (2013) confirm that it is hard to prevent all the attacks to the Cloud network due to the distributed nature of the cloud. However, implementing security solutions such as firewalls, anti-malware and strong encryption techn ology will mitigate these threats. In addition to protecting the data from online attacks, it is important to ensure that physical security of the cloud computing infrastructure. This security can be assured by ensuring that the servers are located in a secure location where there is constant surveillance. Nkhoma and Dang (2013) notes that most CSPs make use of the best security technologies such as biometric screening to ensure that only authorized staff have physical access to the company’s servers. Saroj (2014) confirms that majority of the cloud data centers offer great security than on-site data centers. The safety of organizational data is therefore better secured in the cloud that it would be if the company stored the data on its own premises. The higher than average security is possible since most cloud providers have the resources and expertise to implement the best security technologies available in the market. Solution to Spying The ability of spying agencies to ac cess organizational data can be inhibited by encrypting data before transmission. Researchers agree that the greatest risk for data being transmitted to or from the cloud is poor encryption technology. Hamilton (2013) observes that organizations such as the NSA find it easy to spy on organizations since they access the data in raw text or they are provided with keys that make it possible to successfully decrypt data. Organizations should ensure that their data is always encrypted before it is transmitted over the network. Using strong encryption standards during data transmission will increase the user confidence that the data is not prone to attacks from opportunistic hackers or government intelligence agencies. In addition to this, the enterprise should demand for its data to be stored in encrypted form in the CSPs storage facilities. This would ensure that even if spying takes place, it would require significant effort to decrypt the data. The threat of spying is exacerbated if t he CSP allows government agencies free access to its databases. Cloud service providers should be able to tell their clients if the data in the cloud is being accessed by any government agency. This transparency will enable the enterprise to make an informed decision on whether to store their data on the cloud. Addressing the spying problem is critical for enterprises to have confidence in cloud solutions. Most US cloud service providers are aware of the negative effect that the NSA spying could have on this industry. In recognition of the damage that spying might have on the cloud business, many companies are enforcing security measures intended to ensure that governments are not able to illegally spy on users. Google enforces mandatory encrypting of all the data stored on its cloud on behalf of the clients. Organizations that make use of the Google cloud are allowed to manage their own encryption keys, therefore increasing the level of security. Conclusion This paper set out to di scuss the issues that an enterprise might face when it makes use of cloud computing providers as well as the solutions to these problems. It began by highlighting the increasing interest that organizations have shown to cloud computing due to the benefits that this technology offers. It then highlighted some of the major issues inherent in cloud computing. The paper has demonstrated that security remains to be the primary factor preventing most organizations from migrating to the cloud. From the facts presented in this paper, it is clear that these fears are valid since the cloud infrastructure has some major vulnerability that could lead to problems for the enterprise. It should be noted that most of the threats inherent in cloud computing are not unique to the cloud environment. Problems such as data loss, unauthorized data access and spying can occur even when the data is maintained by the organization on-site. The problems inherent in Cloud Computing can be mitigated by implemen ting the solutions proposed in this paper. References Chirag, M., Dhiren, P., Borisaniya, B., Avi, P., Rajarajan, M. (2013). A survey on security issues and solutions at different layers of Cloud computing. Journal of Supercomputing, 63(2), 561-592. Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) (2011). Cloud Computing Security and Privacy Issues. Retrieved from: cepis.org/media/CEPIS_Cloud_Computing_Security_v17.11.pdf. Hamilton, D. (October 11, 2013). Leaked Documents Implicate Microsoft in Giving Government Agencies Access to Cloud, Email, VoIP Data. Web Host Industry Review (WHIR). 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