A Comparative Review of Cloud Computing Deployment Models for Academic Libraries

Cloud computing technology has evolved as a technology of great effect and impact that provides businesses with better enhancement in dealing with business. Academic libraries that is gradually adopting this technology are getting transformed in terms of their various digital service deliveries. Many academic libraries are not aware of the availability of different types of cloud deployment models, hence it is a pressing present challenge to many academic libraries as they have no idea of the multiple model to be selected from not to mention selecting the suitable model. This review examine the major cloud deployment models including: public, private, hybrid and community cloud, evaluate their benefits, limitations and evaluate their suitability for academic library operations. Key evaluation criteria considered include costs of deployment, security, data privacy, control, scalability, ownership and maintenance. The analysis shows that each model provides very dissimilar benefits and limitations based on the various needs and capacity of institutions. Public cloud deployment model provides very high scalability with low cost of deployment but it gives limited control of data and infrastructure. Private cloud deployment on the other hand offers very high security, control and data privacy but requires high cost and technicalities. Hybrid cloud model combines the efforts of both public and private to achieve the collective benefits and the combined limitations though partly. The community cloud provides collaboration of resources thereby enhancing active sharing. In all, the review do not identify any one model as universally suitable, the choice depends on library requirements.