ACCA SBL Syllabus E. Technology And Data Analytics - Discuss Key Benefits And Risks Of Cloud And Mobile Computing - Notes ^{2 / 3}

Mobile technology includes: laptops, tablets, smartphones, GPS technologies etc

They help communication eg. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

So it helps organisations communicate internally and externally

The rise in the amount of data generated and transferred between parties using mobile technologies does however heighten the need for improved data protection.

Benefits of Mobile Technology

1. Working away from the office

2. Makes it easier for organisational stakeholders to interact with the organisation. 

   Eg. Paying online

Risks of using Mobile Technology

1. Expense of the latest devices (in case of smaller organisations).

2. Obsolescence very quickly

3. Potential unauthorised individuals gaining access to organisational data, ie hacking 

   To mitigate such risks:
   Firewalls, Passwords,Training

This is storing data in servers operated by cloud-based service providers.

Allowing on-demand access

Benefits of Cloud Computing

1. Cost effective

   (Than in house data handling)

2. Greater flexibility

   (data storage and management faster than establishing the technology in-house)

3. Data accessible anywhere

   (where there is internet connectivity)

4. Cloud computing is available to both very large organisations and smaller entities.

Risks of Cloud Computing

1. Give up control of data to an external party 

   (risk of disaster event)

2. Data held by the service provider may be stolen, lost or corrupted.

3. Service provider's own staff may interfere with data

4. Failure to keep up payments may lead to a loss of access or even the deletion of data.