Essay Example on Efficient Business Systems: MIS, Decision Support, and Cloud Computing

Introduction

Modern businesses require Management Information Systems (MIS) to operate successfully. It allows an organization to improve and monitor its results through execution and analysis. The organization can then set a standard by using MIS and understanding its daily operation, and it allows the organization to make sound decisions using facts and accurate information. The branches of MIS in the study include cloud computing and a decision support system.

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Decision Support System

A decision support system is an information technology system useful for decision-making for unstructured problems as it is interactive (Use of Technology, 2018). Users can search the organization's database for information using a decision support system. It presents data digitally after collection. Users can get statistics on the data after acquiring it from the database using specific queries. It is useful for an organization to monitor expenses, inventory, and revenue and use particular algorithms to get projections. A forecast is a piece of essential information for decision-making in the organization. When tracking inventory, a user can see the location and present allocations, making it easier to perform different operations like selling and transfer. A user can compare revenue with inventory and determine the demand and forecast. It makes the company simpler to operate as planning is more straightforward. It is revolutionary, and the company can stay competitive in the market and make projections of future results.

A decision support system is useful in monitoring and analyzing operations trends and making predictions from sales data analysis (Stoltzfus, 2020). It is an essential technology for the company so that it can compete effectively. The company can identify issues earlier and formulate solutions before it is too late as users get notifications of a potential problem. Therefore, a company should implement a decision support system strictly to manage business operations effectively. As a company grows, the decision support system provides a data-driven approach to monitor operations and rectify problems whenever possible. The decision support system can provide an overview of the company's state with specific queries, and a user can check at any time to access relevant data.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is growing exponentially in the IT industry and is among the top growing technologies. The company can venture more into the virtual world, and it allows for elasticity and scalability. Authorized users of a company can share data through the cloud. Cloud computing enables users to use the same data at the application, host, and network levels, unlike previous technologies that utilized a dedicated model (Kayla, 2014). Therefore, it was a challenge to use the same data concurrently. Monetarily a company can adjust and monitor its resources effectively. Using cloud computing ensures that a company's resources are ever-present and accessible when necessary. Examples of clouds include hybrid, private, or public. A hybrid cloud is a combination of public and private clouds. A cloud is reliable, and it is one of the primary reasons a company should implement the same. It is secure, and safe, and maintenance work is left to the host company. They are protected as they are likely to get hits from online cyber-attacks. It uses security protocols that prevent external access to the cloud.

Examples of security mechanisms in a cloud are encryption, hashing, and digital signature (Maithili, Vinothkumar, & Latha, 2018). Encryption allows encoding data to maintain integrity and confidentiality as external parties cannot read the information unless they are the sender or receiver. It uses a cipher algorithm to encode the data. Examples of encryption methods include symmetric and asymmetric. Hashing is useful when the data only goes one way, and there is no receiver, for example, password storage for applications (Maithili, Vinothkumar, & Latha, 2018). The cloud system then uses a hash function to confirm the credibility of the message to its servers. A digital signature is essential for non-repudiation and authentication of data in a cloud. It ensures that a message is from the correct sender and reaches the appropriate receiver.

With top security, a company can avoid using firewalls, consequently saving costs. Therefore, the company can focus on securing other technology resources in-house, for example, its computers. A cloud host provides services depending on the subscription that a company takes up. A cloud is scalable, and the company can reach out to the cloud host to request, for example, more space or other services that they can provide. A cloud provides a virtual space where different computers can utilize a single software installed in the system. The company, therefore, does not need to install the same software on all its computers as it can share the one on the virtual cloud space. Operating a cloud does not require additional space, and a company can save on resources, for example, labor, while keeping its data safe elsewhere. The company does not need more space for a server as all the processes and data run online. It allows the company to remotely manage its tasks, applications, and data with the correct credentials (Samuel et al., 2017). A cloud also provides security against human error, accidents, and natural disasters as all the information is present online. The company can then save on insurance costs as they are not necessary to use a cloud.

A cloud is essential for a company that plans to scale dynamically and change most of its data frequently, and it can host large applications on either a private or a public one. The largest and most advancing cloud companies are the public ones as they add more services and technologies to their packages every time, and private clouds are not always up-to-date (Samuel et al., 2017). It is essential in the modern age for a company to utilize a cloud to facilitate its operations. More companies are opting to use a cloud as more innovations arise in the technology, and it is useful for the company as it grows (Knorr, 2017).

It is not the oldest technology, but it provides excellent services that a company should get. A company can request subscription packages to fit its needs and can scale up at any time. Scalability allows a company to add more applications to its portfolio at the right time. It is easy to switch from one provider to another and transfer the data and applications successfully. Scaling up is a simple process. The company can quickly contact the cloud provider and request changes or perform the operations through an automated system to upgrade the package. The company can also scale down its subscription package depending on the current needs whenever possible. Many cloud providers in the market make the process straightforward because it does not breach any contract regulation. Cloud providers are always willing to discuss issues if they arise through their support system.

References

Kayal, D. (2014). CMiS: A Cloud Computing Based Management Information System. 4th ed. [ebook] Bengal, India: International Research Publications House. Retrieved from https://www.ripublication.com/irph/ijict_spl/ijictv4n1spl_03.pdf.

Knorr, E. (2017, July 10). What is cloud computing? Everything you need to know now. Retrieved from https://www.infoworld.com/article/2683784/cloud-computing/what-is-cloud-computing.html

Maithili, K., Vinothkumar, V., & Latha, P. (2018). Analyzing the security mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access in cloud and network security. Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience, 15(6), 2059-2063. doi:10.1166/jctn.2018.7407

Samuel, O. W., Asogbon, G. M., Sangaiah, A. K., Fang, P., & Li, G. (2017). An integrated decision support system based on ANN and Fuzzy_AHP for heart failure risk prediction. Expert Systems with Applications, 68, 163-172. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2016.10.020

Stoltzfus, J. (2020). Decision Support Systems (DSS) Applications and Uses. Retrieved from https://www.business.com/articles/decision-support-systems-dss-applications-and-uses/

Use of Technology. (2018). What Is Management Information Systems – And Its Use in Decision Making? - Use of Technology. Retrieved from https://www.useoftechnology.com/what-is-management-information-systems/.