Organizations and humans can assume different types of predefined roles depending on how they relate to and/or interact with a Cloud and its hosted IT resources. Each of the upcoming roles participates in and carries out responsibilities in relation to Cloud-based activity. The following sections define these roles and identify their main interactions.
The organization that provides Cloud-based IT resources is the Cloud provider. When assuming the role of Cloud provider, an organization is responsible for making Cloud services available to Cloud consumers as per the agreed SLA terms. The Cloud provider is further tasked with any required management and administrative duties to ensure smooth ongoing operation of the overall Cloud infrastructure.
Cloud providers normally own IT resources that are made available for lease by Cloud consumers; however, some Cloud providers also resell IT resources leased from other Cloud providers.