Revolutionizing Higher Education: A Critical Analysis of Cloud Computing's Impact, Suitability, and Challenges

This paper aims to overcome the lack of research focusing on the application of cloud computing in the higher education sector. Cloud computing is revolutionizing higher education by enabling virtual classrooms, cost savings, and enhanced security. However, challenges like security, privacy and compatibility concerns impede its wider adoption. This research, through a systematic critical review of post-2015 literature, explores the intersection of cloud services and pedagogical needs. It examines the suitability of various models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and deployment options (private, public, community, hybrid) for educational institutions. Furthermore, it analyzes key cloud features like on-demand self-service, rapid elasticity, and measured service to identify their potential for empowering learning. Additionally, it critically reviews prominent cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and identifies persistent challenges for its adoption in the higher education industry. Finally, it recommends future studies to investigate methods for overcoming these challenges, explore alternative cloud models, and analyze lesser-known providers.