Knowledge Byte: 5 Key Cloud Management Roles

Cloud service management roles are not fully defined in a single framework or standard.

In addition, the crossover among service management, the organization and cloud computing, and cloud service management had yet to be fully documented in a single repository or body of knowledge. Roles from three distinct areas will be involved directly and indirectly with cloud-based services i.e. from traditional IT, the organization and cloud services.

Management of cloud computing and cloud-based services requires:

• Roles from ITSM.
• Roles form the organization.
• Additional roles not defined in ITSM.

NIST is a reference point that has defined a number of important roles for the management of cloud services.

Various ITSM frameworks have identified many roles for the design, deployment, and operation of IT. An example is ITIL.

The following model outlines the five key cloud management roles:

This figure is the NIST cloud computing reference architecture model. It is used to show a generic high-level architecture and is intended to facilitate the understanding of the requirements, uses, characteristics, and standards of cloud computing.

This figure defines five key roles.

• Cloud Consumer
• Cloud Auditor
• Cloud Provider
• Cloud Broker
• Cloud Carrier

The full end-to-end management and delivery of services require additional roles including traditional IT and service management roles.