What are cloud computing and mobile technologies, and what are their benefits and risks?
Cloud computing and its service and deployment models, mobile technologies and their uses, and the benefits and drawbacks of each for individuals and organisations.
A CCEA A-Level Digital Technology answer on cloud computing (its service and deployment models) and mobile technologies, with the benefits and drawbacks of each for individuals and organisations.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to explain cloud computing and its service and deployment models, mobile technologies and their uses, and to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each for individuals and organisations. These are central emerging technologies in A2 1.
Cloud computing
Cloud is offered as service models: Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers ready-to-use applications over the web (for example online email or office suites); Platform as a Service (PaaS) provides a platform for developers to build and run applications; and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) rents raw computing, storage and networking. Deployment models include public cloud (shared, provider-owned), private cloud (dedicated to one organisation) and hybrid (a mix).
Mobile technologies
Mobile technologies, smartphones, tablets, mobile (cellular) data and built-in GPS, have changed how people access information and services. Constant connectivity lets people use email, banking, shopping and services anywhere; location-based services use GPS for maps, navigation and local recommendations; mobile payments enable contactless transactions; and apps have become the main way many tasks are done. The benefits are convenience and mobility; the drawbacks include security risks on lost or stolen devices, privacy concerns over location tracking, distraction and dependence, and reliance on battery and signal.
Why this matters
Cloud and mobile technologies underpin modern information systems, but both shift control and data to third parties and depend on connectivity. CCEA examines whether you can describe how they work and weigh their benefits against their security, privacy and reliability risks, which link directly to the legal and ethical topic.
Try this
Q1. State what the abbreviation SaaS stands for and give an example. [2 marks]
- Cue. Software as a Service; for example a web-based email or office application used through a browser.
Q2. Give one benefit and one drawback of cloud storage for an individual. [2 marks]
- Cue. Benefit: files are accessible from any device with internet and are backed up by the provider. Drawback: access needs an internet connection and the data is held by a third party, raising privacy concerns.
Q3. Explain how GPS in mobile devices supports location-based services. [2 marks]
- Cue. GPS provides the device's location, which apps use to give maps, navigation, local recommendations and location-tagged content relevant to where the user is.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA A2 16 marksDiscuss the benefits and drawbacks of an organisation moving its data and software to the cloud.Show worked answer →
Give a balanced discussion of benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits: data and applications are accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, supporting remote and mobile working; storage and processing scale up or down on demand, so the organisation pays for what it uses; the provider handles maintenance, updates and backups; and there is no large up-front spend on servers.
Drawbacks: the organisation depends on a reliable internet connection, so an outage stops access; data is held by a third party, raising security, privacy and data-protection concerns about where data is stored and who can access it; ongoing subscription costs can exceed owning hardware over time; and the organisation is reliant on the provider continuing to operate (vendor lock-in).
Markers reward a genuine discussion with valid points on both sides (access and scalability versus connectivity dependence and security or privacy). A one-sided answer caps the mark.
CCEA A2 14 marksDescribe two ways mobile technologies have changed how people access information and services.Show worked answer →
Choose two clear changes and explain the impact.
Constant connectivity: smartphones and mobile data let people access information, email, banking and services anywhere, at any time, rather than being tied to a desk. Location-based services: built-in GPS lets apps provide maps, navigation, local recommendations and location-tagged content tailored to where the user is.
Other valid points include mobile payments and contactless transactions, the shift to apps for everyday tasks, and instant communication through messaging and social media.
Markers reward two distinct changes each with an explanation of its impact on access to information or services. Listing devices with no explanation of the change limits the marks.
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCE Digital Technology specification — CCEA (2016)