Scott Paquette

IDENTIFYING THE SECURITY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNMENTAL USE OF CLOUD COMPUTING

Abstract Cloud computing, which refers to an emerging computing model where machines in large data centers can be used to deliver services in a scalable manner, has become popular for corporations in need of inexpensive, large scale computing. Recently, the United States government has begun to utilize cloud computing architectures, platforms, and applications to deliver services and meet the needs of their constituents. Surrounding the use of cloud computing are many risks that can have major impacts on the information and services supported by this technology. This paper discusses the current use of cloud computing in government, and the risks–tangible and intangible–associated with its use. Examining specific cases of government cloud computing, this paper explores the level of understanding of the risks by the departments and agencies that implement this technology. This paper argues that a defined risk management program focused on cloud computing is an essential part of the government IT environment.

Information Policy in National Political Campaigns: A Comparison of the 2008 Campaigns for President of the United States and Prime Minister of Canada

The parallel 2008 campaigns for President of the United States and Prime Minister of Canada provided a unique opportunity for a comparison of the issues raised in the campaigns of two neighboring countries with many similarities. After exploring the roles of information policy in recent political campaigns, this article compares the information policy and technology issues emphasized in the platforms and positions of the major party candidates in the 2008 races, both between the candidates of each nation and across the border. The article also compares the uses of information technologies by the campaigns to organize and disseminate their messages. As information policy issues are central aspects of the political agenda in technologically advanced nations and those nations that wish to become technologically advanced, the ways in which the issues are raised in political campaigns can be quite instructive about current approaches to and future directions in information policy.

Creativity, chaos and knowledge management

With the dynamic and turbulent nature of today’s business environment, organizations have to manage under uncertain, or chaotic, circumstances. This article examines the connection between the management of an organization’s knowledge and chaos theory in order to understand what implications chaos brings to knowledge management. It uses two industry cases to illustrate both the challenges and opportunities.