**4. Cloud based solutions**

The term "*cloud computing*"1 has become popular since October 2007 when Google and IBM jointly announced their collaboration (IBM website announcement, 2010 cited in Vouk, 2008) due to its main benefits such as reduced IT overhead and flexibility in offering cheaper user access. Fitzgerald and Dennis (2010) described cloud based design as a "*circuit-switched service architecture*" that is easier to implement for organisations because "*they move the burden of* 

<sup>1</sup> Cloud computing refers to a computing platform in which users have options to use lease connection points into a network for establishing a temporary operation between computers (Fitzgerald & Dennis, 2010). Hayes (2008) described cloud computing as a software application migration from local PCs "to distant Internet servers, users and developers alike go along for the ride" (p.9).

*network design and management inside the cloud*" (p. 297). As such, Cloud computing provision has been used as a modern architecture of shared computing services. These services are mainly elevated through computing utility rental by service providers on the Internet.

After the introduction of web-based utility services by Amazon.com, many service providers became increasingly interested in utilising the cloud computing platform for launching new services that met their client group demands, including minimising labour and implementation expenses (Santos, Gummadi & Rodrigues, 2009). It is therefore surprising that the use of cloud based services for the effective communication and decision making of multiple parties is still largely overlooked given the potential benefits. As such we provide a conceptual approach of cloud provision to improve communication in event risk management contexts. In theory our concept represents a convergence of communication and decision making through the use of cloud based services.
