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Weigh up the cloud.

Six original Cambridge-style questions on cloud computing, with mark-scheme style solutions.

Original questions All questions on this page are original work, written in the Cambridge AS & A Level style. They are not from past papers. They test the same concepts and skills the syllabus rewards.
Keep these straight

Always in context.

01
Recall
[2 marks]

Explain what is meant by cloud computing.

  • The use of computing services (storage, software, processing power) provided on remote servers ... ✓
  • ... accessed over the internet, usually paid for on demand. ✓
02
Explain
[4 marks]

Describe two differences between a public cloud and a private cloud.

  • A public cloud's servers are shared by many organisations/users ... ✓
  • ... a private cloud is used by one organisation only. ✓
  • A public cloud is run by a third-party provider and paid for per use ... ✓
  • ... a private cloud gives the organisation more control over its data and security (and costs more). ✓
03
Apply
[4 marks]

A school plans to move its students' coursework into a public cloud. Give two benefits and two drawbacks for the school.

  • Benefit: students and teachers can access coursework from home or any device with an internet connection. ✓
  • Benefit: the school does not need to buy and maintain servers / the provider makes the backups. ✓
  • Drawback: if the school's internet connection fails, the coursework cannot be accessed. ✓
  • Drawback: students' personal data is held by a third party, so there are security and privacy risks. ✓
04
Explain
[2 marks]

Explain why cloud computing is described as scalable, and why this helps an online shop.

  • Storage and processing capacity can be increased (or reduced) on demand, paying only for what is used. ✓
  • The shop can add server capacity during busy periods such as sales, without buying hardware it does not need the rest of the year. ✓
05
Analysis
[4 marks]

A bank is deciding between a public cloud and a private cloud for its customer account data. Recommend one and justify your recommendation.

  • Private cloud. ✓
  • Customer account data is highly sensitive and must be protected. ✓
  • A private cloud is used only by the bank, so it controls access, security measures and where the data is stored. ✓
  • The bank can afford the higher cost, which is outweighed by the reduced risk / legal requirements. ✓
06
Analysis
[2 marks]

A student says: "Using the cloud means a company's data can never be lost." Explain why this is not correct.

  • The provider could suffer an outage, a hacking attack or go out of business, so data could become unavailable or be stolen. ✓
  • Data could still be deleted by mistake by the user, or access lost if the account or internet connection fails. ✓

Mark this once you have attempted all six and checked your working. It records a Practiced badge on the topic and adds a one-time bonus. Revealing the solutions alone does not count.