Cloud Provider Evaluation

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Learning Topic

Cloud Reference Models The flexible nature of cloud computing means that you may create various server,

network, storage, application, and database configurations. This leads to endless design

possibilities and the potential to implement a variety of architectural configurations in the

cloud. The flexibility enables you to fulfill a variety of requirements for different

application types, supporting different business needs.

Reference models (or architecture) provide recommendations for proven approaches to

designing solutions for common aspects of cloud services, such as resource/service

deployment and management, security, privacy, etc. (Liu et al., 2011).

A reference architecture (RA) for the cloud RA is a generic, high-level conceptual model

that facilitates the understanding of cloud computing's operational intricacies. The RA

does not represent the system architecture of a specific cloud computing system or

vendor products or services. Instead, it is a tool for describing, discussing, and developing

a system-specific architecture using a common framework of reference (Liu et al., 2011).

The RA created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) identifies

the five major cloud actors: consumer, provider, broker, carrier, and auditor, as shown in

the diagram below.

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NIST Cloud Computing Security Reference Architecture Approach

Source: NIST, SP 500-292. In the public domain.

Actor Definition

Cloud

consumer

A person or organization that maintains a business relationship with,

and uses service from, cloud providers.

Cloud

provider

A person, organization, or entity responsible for making a service

available to interested parties.

Cloud

auditor

A party that can conduct an independent assessment of cloud services,

information system operations, performance, and security of the cloud implementation.

Cloud

broker

An entity that manages the use, performance and delivery of cloud

services, and negotiates relationships between cloud providers and cloud consumers.

Cloud

carrier

An intermediary that provides connectivity and transport of cloud

services from cloud providers to cloud consumers.

3/5/22, 12:31 PM Cloud Reference Models

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References

Liu, F., Tong, J., Mao, J., Bohn, R., Messina, J., Badger, L., & Leaf, D. (2011). Special

publication 500-292: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cloud

computing reference architecture. Retrieved from

https://www.nist.gov/publications/nist-cloud-computing-reference-architecture

NIST Cloud Computing Reference Model

(https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/dam/course-

content/tgs/cca/cca-

610/document/NISTCloudComputingReferenceModel(2)_checked.

pdf?ou=622270)

Foundations and Technological Landscape of Cloud Computing

(https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/scor/uncurated/cca/2218-

cca610/learning-resource-list/foundations-and-technological-

landscape-of-cloud-computing0.html?ou=622270)

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