CALL FOR BOOK PROPOSALS/CHAPTERS

***** Cloud Computing: Challenges, Limitations and R&D Solutions *****

Edited by: Professor Zaigham Mahmood
(Univ of Derby UK; NUST Islamabad Pakistan; NW Univ S Africa)
To be published by Springer in 2014

Chapter Proposal Submission Deadline: 31 Oct 2013 (extended)
Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 31 Dec 2013

1. Introduction

Cloud Computing is an emerging paradigm that allows cloud consumers to self-provision IT resources from cloud environments. It promises numerous benefits including reduction in capital expenditure as well as scalability and business agility. However, there are also numerous issues, challenges and limitations with respect to security of data and applications, confidentiality of sensitive data, loss of management control, lack of open standards, concerns relating to interoperability, legal and compliance issues, vendor lock-in, etc. As a result, enterprises are getting concerned and developers as well as the cloud providers are coming up with robust strategies to resolve the issues and ensure customer satisfaction. There are also numerous related topics that have become the focus of research activity. In this context, much work is also being undertaken and reported on topics, as mentioned in the following list. The purpose of the suggested volume is to highlight the issues and limitations and suggest latest research, developments and R&D solutions to benefit the computing community.

2. Suggested Topics

The topics relevant to the proposed book include:
• cloud security threats and mechanisms
• cloud interoperability and performance issues
• identity and access management (IAM)
• cloud service level agreements
• cloud pricing mechanisms
• privacy and confidentiality of data in the cloud
• legal, compliance and jurisdiction issues
• issues due to virtualisation and multi-tenancy
• strategies for processing of Big Data
• data and applications migration challenges
• mechanisms for Inter-cloud integration
• challenges of accessing evidence for forensic purposes
• developments in cloud standards
• strategies relating to open and inter-clouds
• Other topics on related research and development.

3. Aim and Objectives

The aim is to report/discuss such topics, as mentioned above, to benefit researchers, practitioners, decision makers as well as perspective cloud consumers. The purpose is to advance the existing body of knowledge in this new emerging paradigm. Hopefully, the new book will serve as a useful reference text. The objectives are:
• To capture the state-of-the-art research and practice relating to cloud issues
• To explore limitations/barriers to cloud provision and cloud environments
• To discuss recent advances/mechanisms/strategies with respect to cloud concerns
• To discuss/analyse implications of cloud paradigms for the benefit of consumers
• To present analyses/results of latest research/advances in cloud computing.

4. Submission Procedure

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit 1-2 page chapter proposals clearly stating the objective, scope and structure of the proposed chapters. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified within two weeks. Completed chapters should be approximately 10,000 words or 20 pages in length – longer chapters will also be acceptable. Full chapters will be reviewed following a double-blind peer review process to ensure relevance, quality and high information content. Proposals (and full chapters, after the acceptance of the proposal), in the form of WORD files, should be sent to: dr.z.mahmood@hotmail.co.uk

5. Important dates
• Chapter proposals due by: 31 Oct 2013
• Full chapters due by: 31 Dec 2013
• Chapter reviews feedback due by: 1 Mar 2014
• Revised chapters due by: 1 Apr 2014
• Manuscript delivery to publishers: early June 2014

6. For Inquiries:

Please contact the editor, Zaigham Mahmood at dr.z.mahmood@hotmail.co.uk
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