Cloud broker explained

Cloud Broker is an entity that manages the use, performance and delivery of cloud services, and negotiates relationships between cloud providers and cloud consumers. As cloud computing evolves, the integration of cloud services may be too complex for cloud consumers to manage alone. In such cases, a cloud consumer may request cloud services from a cloud broker, instead of contacting a cloud provider directly," according to NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture.[1]

Overview

Cloud Brokers provides a single point of entry to manage multiple cloud services for business or technical purposes. The two important unique features of a cloud broker are the ability to provide a single consistent interface to multiple differing cloud providers and the clear visibility that the broker allows into which company is providing the services in the background.

In general, cloud brokers provide services in three categories:[2] [3]

Benefits of using a cloud broker

Benefits of using a cloud broker for a business or technical purpose include the following:[4]

Pay for what is needed: Cloud brokers provide a selected assortment of services required by the consumer.

Drawbacks of using a cloud broker

Despite the benefits that a cloud broker can provide, there are also concerns related to the use of a cloud broker:[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-02-28 . 2016-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160202071149/http://collaborate.nist.gov/twiki-cloud-computing/pub/CloudComputing/CloudSecurity/NIST_Security_Reference_Architecture_2013.05.15_v1.0.pdf . dead .
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2016-02-28 . 2016-02-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160202071149/http://collaborate.nist.gov/twiki-cloud-computing/pub/CloudComputing/CloudSecurity/NIST_Security_Reference_Architecture_2013.05.15_v1.0.pdf . dead .
  3. Web site: Cloud Computing Definition & Architecture for Cloud Service Brokers.
  4. Web site: Cloud Computing Definition & Architecture for Cloud Service Brokers (SOA & BPM Partner Community Blog). blogs.oracle.com. 2016-02-28.
  5. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.305.1686&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  6. Web site: Pros and Cons of Using A Cloud Broker - Technology Business Integrators. www.tbicentral.com. 2016-02-28.