Information System as a Service: Issues and Challenges

Information system evolved as the evolution of information technology. The current state of information technology, placed the internet as a main resources of computing. Cloud technology as the backbone of internet has been utilized as a powerful computing resources. Therefore, cloud introduced new term of service oriented technology, popular with “as a service” kind of name. In this paper, the service oriented paradigm will be used to address future trend of information system. Thus, this paper try to introduce the term “information system as a service”, holistic view of infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, software as a service, and data as a service


Introduction
The era of information system begin with the needs of automated processing in the business routine activity.Basic processing as capturing input of business transaction is the preliminary level of information system supported by computer technology.The time after, level of information system is not only characterized by repeated input capturing processes, it evolved to the development of warehouse technology to store the data captured in the input level.Database technology began to be recognized, thus better storage is needed to make sure that all information stored can be visualized, summarized as readable information.Then, the era of enterprise business level coming.In this level, information system not only takes part as capturing routines activity and storing it to produce the summary, information system has began to give more important part as to support the business top management strategic decision based on information mining and information system intelligence.
The trends of information system are related to the development of information technology.Besides the information system trends, information technology also evolved.Nowadays, internet has taken a big part on information technology paradigm.Begin with the needs of some researcher to share what they have in the computer has made tremendous revolution in the information technology.Internet is not only the tools for sharing information but also have more powerful function.It gives the chance to utilize many resources as of internet is collection of many computer resources.How powerful internet, can be imagined by how much the computers (as a resources) connected each other in the unknown dimension called the cloud.Thus, the cloud can be seen as big asset in information technology.Cloud existence has begun to be utilized as unlimited resources in computing.Many people forecasted that cloud as a technology is the future trends of computing era.So, it also can be related to the trend of information system.Information system based on cloud technology or, in the popular term, information system as a service.
:K\ LW KDV WR EHFRPH ³DV D VHUYLFH´ DQG what is its relation to the cloud technology?This paper will discuss the future trend of information system related to the development of cloud technology.

Everything as a service
Papazoglou introduce the term of service oriented computing (SOC).He gives theoretical background and promising research roadmap in WKH WHUP RI 62& +H GHVFULEHV WKH WHUP 62& DV ³D new computing paradigm that utilize services as the basic construct to support the development of rapid, low-cost and easy composition of distributed applications even in heterogeneous HQYLURQPHQWV´ > @ 7KH PRVW SURPLVLQJ ³VHUYLFH´ introduced are switching paradigm from exclusive utilization of computer resources to the cooperation of many computer resources so that every stakeholders can take part on serve and to

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Why it has to be called service?Basically the cloud has no ownership, it consist of many resources owned by many people and used by many people with no ownership way.Bhardwaj thinks that IaaS in another form of hosting with special and flexibility.The most benefit from this service is the flexibility of pricing, since the users only need to pay for the UHVRXUFHV WKDW WKH\ XVHG 6R WKDW ¶V ZK\ WKLV service has to be some components: utility computing service and billing model; automation of administrative tasks; dynamic scaling; desktop virtualization; policy-based services; and the most important thing, internet connectivity [3].The IaaS model explained by Bhardwaj can be seen in the Figure 1.We can say that Amazon Elastic Cloud (Amazon EC2) is one of the service technologies that can be seen as an IaaS.Amazon EC2 fits many aspects from Bhardwaj and Dawoud explanation.

Platform as a service
Lawton wrote nice article on platform as a VHUYLFH 3DD6 /DZWRQ H[SODLQ WKDW ³3DD6 PRGHO is a novel approach for software suppliers who want to focus primarily on the software development cycle and the monetization of new applications, thus bypassing the investment on and maintenance of the underlying infrastructure/services for application design, GHYHORSPHQW WHVWLQJ GHSOR\PHQW DQG KRVWLQJ ´ Basically, the term PaaS refers to software GHYHORSPHQW IUDPHZRUN WKDW VXSSRUWV ³DV D VHUYLFH´ SRLQW RI YLHZ > @.
Tian gives slightly different but supporting perspective on PaaS.Tian explained PaaS in the term of virtualization environment.He describes a platform in PaaS as an environment (virtually) for software developers that can be accessed and viewed as a service.In the rest of the paper, he explained technical aspect about how to build the virtual environment as a platform of service needed in cloud virtual laboratory [6].
Another researcher, Zhou, proposed specific PaaS model for enterprise cloud technology.Zhou thinks when enterprise system adopted PaaS, it has to address specific requirements that challenges the environment of enterprise system include: cloud status (private or hybrid) to implement; openness cloud to the external environment; industry specific standards; diversity of business model and roles; time to deliver solutions; various applications and user types; users characteristic & requirements; and business agility [7].
PaaS can be seen as a framework that suits RQ ³DV D VHUYLFH´ WHFKQRORJ\ gives support for anyone who wants to develop software that utilize the cloud environments.Term PaaS totally different with IaaS.Though we can say that ³SODWIRUP´ FDQ EH VHHQ DV KDUGZDUH RI FRPSXWLQJ resources, it resembles as framework of certain envirRQPHQW :KLOH ³LQIUDVWUXFWXUH´ LV PRUH DV physical things.Google has began this initiatives by releasing Google App Engine that open wide chance for any developers to use Google cloud resources for their software.

Software as a service
Compared to IaaS and PaaS, the term software as a service (SaaS) is more popular.$FFRUGLQJ WR > @ ³6DD6 OHWV RUJDQL]DWLRQV FUHDWH new software applications dynamically to meet rapidly changing business needs.As its construction becomes automated, however, software understanding will become more GLIILFXOW ´ *ROG GHVFULEHV µZKDW WKH IXWXUH VRIWZDUH KDV WR EH ¶ LQ KLV H[SODQDWLRQ DV WKH business evolution, it needs dynamic changing software to align with.Another definition come XS IURP > @ KH VWDWHV WKDW ³6DD6 LV D PRGHO RI software deployment whereby a provider licenses an application to customers for use as a service on GHPDQG´ 7KLV GHILQLWLRQ FRUUHODWH WKLV WHUP ZLWK WZR ³DV D VHUYLFH´ WHUP GLVFXVVHG EHIRUH ,DD6 PaaS).
The big difference of traditional software with SaaS is the opposite view on software technology, software as a good or software as a service.Olsen describes this opposite paradigm, software as a service will have different approach on the life cycle and different engineering requirements than if it is treated as a good [10].The traditional software engineering treated software as a good, though it quite different, software as a service engineering have to build based on traditional approach with some aligning process.
Benneth view on SaaS (at that time Benneth GRHVQ ¶W XVH WHUP µ6DD6 ¶ EXW XVH WHUP µIXWXUH VRIWZDUH ¶ LV FRPLQJ IURP WKH XVHUV DQG developers differences.Benneth thinks that traditional software is more supply-side, developers view.Although, there are user requirements capturing, supply paradigm on software development is quite dominant.The SaaS switch its paradigm into demand-side, users view.User can access this software whenever they GHPDQG 6R WKDW ¶V ZK\ EHQQHWK FKDUDFWHUL]HG SaaS as follows: it has necessary and sufficient UHTXLUHPHQWV XVHU ¶V SHUVRQDOL]HG VHOI-adapting; fine-grained; and transparent [11].This view of Benneth is the initial researcher thinking of SaaS as a future generation of software.
Nowadays, many companies have already released their SaaS.The most popular clusters are social media software and the web-based multimedia types.The software gives users services, whether it free or pay.Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, Blogspot, Youtube, and Plurk are some examples of SaaS.

Data as a service
This term maybe is not popular as Saas, IaaS, and PaaS.Truong describes the DaaS as WHFKQRORJ\ RI GDWD VHUYLFH WKDW ³DOORZ FRQVXPHUV to create, store and manage their own data according to their specific data models and offer functionalities to allow their consumers to acquire RU SURYLGH GDWD XQGHU WKH VHUYLFH PRGHO ´ > @ Well, it is rather confusing what does the DaaS means but another paper somehow gives a missing link in understanding DaaS.Aulbach in [13] discussed about multi-tenant database that can support SaaS, he compare five database model that have a potential to become good model of DaaS.Although, Aulbach experiment conclude that there is no suitable database model yet to support Daas, from this paper we can clearly see that discussion is about storage model of data.
Truong address some problems that probably have to be considered in DaaS include: quality of data; data source; usage of data; data governance; quality of service; and service context [12].All of the problems shown that data integrity is the most important aspect on DaaS.This all reasonable because DaaS provide service to the users in the form of data, storage, and its manipulation.

Welcoming IS as a service
³,QIRUPDWLRQ V\VWHP LV D VHW RI LQWHUUHODWHG elements or components that collect (input), manipulate (process), and disseminate (output) data and information and provide a feedback PHFKDQLVP WR PHHW DQ REMHFWLYH´ > @ From the definition of information system (IS), we can see that information technology infrastructure, platform or framework, software; data are parts of information system.All those computer parts must be aligned with the business process of the organization that will develop or adopt the information system.When every components of IS are going towards the service oriented technology, obviously the IS will also come forward into that directions.
Besides, the information technology evolutions that come towards that trend, business evolution also come up with the service paradigm.Traditional service paradigm in business is outsourcing trend.Many businesses outsource their non core business to other party.Well, in the IXWXUH LW GRHVQ ¶W FORVH DQ\ FKDQFH LI WKH information technology including information system will be outsourced as well.The term service oriented technology has a similar interpretation with the outsourcing.

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As it explained before, the future business process will come up with the idea that non core businesses are better to be outsourced.Although this idea is quite debatable on effectiveness and efficiency, fact that IS investment are needed very large amount of money, utilizing IS as a service is one of the solutions.
Gold in [8] also discussing the chance of the IS.The first reason is open marketplace for service.If we VHH WKLV UHDVRQ IURP WKH YHQGRU ¶V view, the chance for survive in the IT business by providing IS services is quite high.The marketplace still open for any player that provide ,6 VHUYLFH IRU WKH FRPSDQ\ ZKLFK GRHVQ ¶W ZDQW WR invest too much resources in implementing IS which is not become their core business (kind of like supporting system).
The second reason is dynamic provision in response to changing request.Rapid change in business process and information technology development, positively will give big cost in changing the IS.IS as a service will dynamically adaptive with those environments.From the view of customers, rapid change of IS environment will not harm their business, as of service oriented characteristic is on demand service, the customers can easily change their vendor if one of the YHQGRU XVHG FDQ ¶W DGDSW WKH UDSLG FKDQJH The last sentence related to the third reason, potential for one-time execution followed by unbinding.The customers can have lower expenses on maintenance the IS since they just used the service whenever they need and after need, they just can easily unbinding from its VHUYLFHV 2I FRXUVH WKLV NLQG RI VHUYLFH GRHVQ ¶W include the routines business activity.
The fourth reason is service supply network.The IS as a service will connect many organization with different resources.They can interchange their resources; serve other organization with their resources and to be served with other organization resources.Free or proprietary is not the problem.The main issue is the\ FDQ JHW ZKDWHYHU VHUYLFHV WKRXJK WKH\ GRQ ¶W own its technology.
The last reason is delivery transparency.One of the cloud characteristics is transparent.The XVHUV FDQ ¶W VHH ZKDW LV EHKLQG WKH VHUYLFHV :KHQ each organization interchanges their resources, no one can see each other background.With this aspect, the competitiveness of companies will still H[LVW DQG WKH QDWXUH RI WKH EXVLQHVV GRHVQ ¶W change at all.

IS as a service in a nutshell
Basically, the key concepts and principles of IS as a service similar and can be addressed from IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and DaaS point of view.What will be discussed in this section are two main aspect which is IS as a service environment characteristics and IS as a service generic process model.

Characteristics
The characteristics of IS as a service derived from service oriented discussion from [15].Six characteristics are: loosely coupled, whole system are divided into several parts which have low dependencies each other; implementation neutrality, which are not depending on several technology or programming language; flexible configurability, as of users need easiness and dynamic changing; persistence, although it have on-demand characteristics system have to wake at long term to make sure that the service given is still relevant for the customers; granularity, dividing part of system have to be fine-grained; and team, rather than framing centrally, IS as a service have to make it computational decentralized.

Generic process model
One most important thing when discussing IS is generic process model or IS development life cycle.As it has been discussed by [10] that IS as a service must have been treated differently from traditional view that treat IS as a good.The generic process model for IS as a service derived from [16] which discussed the generic process model for SOC.
Generic process model for IS as a service consists of four phases: analyzing business process, defining service composition, acquiring service components, and running services systems.The first phase is to analyze the set of available service requirements, and to identify core business processes which are expected by service consumers.The second phase is to define a service composition for each business process identified.The next phase is to search for right service components and bind them together to fulfill the service composition [16].And, the last phase is to run the service composition.The phases can be seen clearly from the Figure 2. The key artifacts on this generic process model are business process layer, service composition layer, service interface layer, and component layer.The business process represents a cohesive unit of the service that will be provided, it clearly independent from any platform or technology that will be used.It consists of several activities and workflow to identify the business process.The service composition layer is a design model for a business process that consists of unit service and service collaboration.Any activity in business process layer correspondence to one of the service composition layer unit service.
Service interface layer are middleware that connect conceptual logical view of the system to the technical aspect in the component layer.Service interface consists of unit service interface that related to each unit service in the higher level.The component implementation is the basic engine of the system.The illustration can be seen in Figure 3.

System design
One of the main different between service paradigm and conventional paradigm of information system development is the view of developers to the products itself.Conventional paradigm view the IS product as a goods, it is clearly have different point of view with service paradigm.Here will be shown how the products being built from different paradigm.Figure 4. Shows the differences between the conventional paradigm and the service paradigm.
Here, we will show one of the alternatives of database design with the service paradigm.[18] Introduced the database design for IS as a service paradigm.He proposed two different scenario of database system that will provide the storage services to any tenants that use their services.First scenario is multi-tenant with shared databases.This scenario provided multi schema with personalized features for tenants.Using this VFHQDULR SURYLGHU GRHVQ ¶W QHHG WR EXLOG VHYHUDO databases, they only have to customize their schemas so different tenant can have different schema based on their preference.Figure 5. Shows the detail design for this kind of scenario.Second scenario is multi-tenants with dedicated databases.Using this scenario, users can have their own dedicated database server.Dedicated server means dedicated resources; this is the advantages from the first scenario.Of course each scenario has different purpose, and not one of them have certain superiority, it should be different market of system that provided.Figure 6.Shows the detail design of multi-tenant dedicated database.

Discussion
The concept of IS as a service is somehow promising if we see the trend of cloud technology and service oriented computing that rise in current time.However, there are many things that have to be addressed before we say that IS as s service is the future technology and the new era of information system.One of the biggest opponents of this paradigm is Richard M. Stallman and the society of GNU and Free Software Foundation.For them, the basic idea of service is nonsense.
When the process, data, platform and software given to the other party as a service, it means the customers lost their freedom of ownership.Besides, several proprietary services will locked up the customers to make sure the customers are only using their technology.In other perspectives, IS as a service will give more chance in IT market.The numbers of vendor providing many services will increase and of course it will trigger the economic add value in ,7 EXVLQHVV )URP WKH FXVWRPHU ¶V view, IS as a service will give more efficiency and lower their cost of IT investment, or maybe none of IT investment they have to pay.They can easily pay the service they use and easily change the environment without any hesitation of legacy system left behind.

Conclusion
This paper has addressed the future trend of information system based on service or IS as a service.There are many to be found and still lot of problems to be solved.But, as information technology evolved, it is a must for the information system to be evolved in the same way.

Fig 1 .
Fig 1. Infrastructure as a service model [3].Another view of IaaS comes from Dawoud.He has similar perspective with Bhardwaj but in his paper, Dawoud give more stressed on a view that cloud as an IaaS, is different from the term ³VHUYLFH RULHQWHG DUFKLWHFWXUH´ 62$ 7KLV WZR term is kind of complementary thing, while SOA is set of principles and methodologies to facilitate the communication and integration of different kind programming languages and different platform of system developed, cloud and IaaS have focused on enabling massive computing services.Dawoud explanation about IaaS components also similar with Bhardwaj.IaaS have to include: service level agreement (SLA); utility computing; platform virtualization; network & internet connectivity; and computer hardware as its basic components to provide the services [4].We can say that Amazon Elastic Cloud (Amazon EC2) is one of the service technologies that can be seen as an IaaS.Amazon EC2 fits many aspects from Bhardwaj and Dawoud explanation.

Fig 2 .
Fig 2. Generic Process Model for IS as a Service [16].