NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture

This paper presents the first version of the NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (RA). This is a vendor neutral conceptual model that concentrates on the role and interactions of the identified actors in the cloud computing sphere. Five primary actors were identified - Cloud Service Consumer, Cloud Service Provider, Cloud Broker, Cloud Auditor and Cloud Carrier. Their roles and activities are discussed in this report. A primary goal for generating this model was to give the United States Government (USG) a method for understanding and communicating the components of a cloud computing system for Federal IT executives, Program Managers and IT procurement officials.