Cloud broker

Definition

A cloud broker is/are

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[a]n entity that creates and maintains relationships with multiple cloud service providers. It acts as a liaison between cloud services customers and cloud service providers, selecting the best provider for each customer and monitoring the services. A cloud broker has no cloud resources of its own.

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[a]n entity that manages the use, performance and delivery of cloud services, and negotiates relationships between Cloud Providers and Cloud Consumers.

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parties that provide services to cloud consumers, such as enhanced security, identity management, and performance reporting, that are typically not included in the cloud provider's service contract.

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Overview

In general, a cloud broker can provide services in three categories:

• Service Intermediation: A cloud broker enhances a given service by improving some specific capability and providing value-added services to cloud consumers. The improvement can be managing access to cloud services, identity management, performance reporting, enhanced security, etc.
• Service Aggregation: A cloud broker combines and integrates multiple services into one or more new services. The broker provides data integration and ensures the secure data movement between the cloud consumer and multiple cloud providers.
• Service Arbitrage: Service arbitrage is similar to service aggregation except that the services being aggregated are not fixed. Service arbitrage means a broker has the flexibility to choose services from multiple agencies. The cloud broker, for example, can use a credit-scoring service to measure and select an agency with the best score.

Source

• NIST Special Publication 500-293, at 22. ("Overview" section.)