National Institute of Standards and Technology US Department of Commerce

Brian Stanton (NIST)

Mary Theofanos (NIST)

What is the Cloud?

Cloud computing is a model for enabling ubiquitous,

convenient, on-demand network access to a shared
pool of configurable computing resources (e.g.,
networks, servers, storage, applications, and services)
that can be rapidly provisioned and released with
minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

NIST Definition of Cloud Computing (Special Publication 800-145)

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NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture
(November 2011 Release 1.0 draft)

SaaS
PaaS

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NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture
(November 2011 Release 1.0 draft)

SaaS
PaaS

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 Cloud Service Models

SaaS PaaS IaaS

Software as a Platform as a Infrastructure as

service service a service
Provides
Provides Provides
consumers with
consumers the consumers who the ability to
use of have software the provision,
applications in tools, processing,
the cloud programming storage, and
languages, and resources
services (including OS)

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 Cloud User Experience

The end user

experiences the
cloud and the

User Experience
cloud based

Application
services through
End User

Service

Cloud
the applications.
These
applications in
turn are effected
by the cloud
infrastructure

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 What is Usability?

Extent to which a system, product, or service can be used by

specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness,
efficiency, and satisfaction in a specified context of use.

Effectiveness, Efficiency, Satisfaction primary drivers for Cloud

Usability

Cloud Consumers = Organization + End Users

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 What is Usability?

efficiency accuracy and completeness with which users achieve

specified goals

resources expended in relation to the accuracy and

effectiveness
completeness with which users achieve goals

freedom from discomfort and positive attitudes

satisfaction towards the use of the product

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 Cloud Usability Framework

Our Framework provides a structure to evaluate the key

attributes of the cloud user experience.

Divided into five attributes and 20 elements

Capable
Personal
Reliable
Secure
Valuable

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Cloud Usability Framework

Device Platform
Current Independence Independence
Functions

Identity
Personalization/
Accessibility Data Ownership Management Control
Customization
(access)

Available Responsive Consistent Transparency

Identity
Security Privacy Management Trust
(authorization)

Savings User satisfaction Utility

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 Elements of Capable Attribute
Current: Based on the latest technology.

Platform Independence: Consumers want the cloud service to

be independent of the cloud hardware, Operating System,
etc. so that the service can function correctly on any device
hardware and software setup.

Device Independence: Consumers should be able to access

the cloud service using any device type fixed or mobile.

Cloud Functionality: provide functionality better than other

platforms.

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 Elements of Personal Attribute
Accessibility: The cloud users expect the cloud to be
accessible to consumers with a variety of needs.

Customization: The cloud should allow consumers to change

their user interface to suit their needs.

Control: The consumer should have a sense of control over

the functionality of the cloud service.

Data Ownership: Consumers should have ownership over the

data they store in the cloud services they use.

Identity Management (access): To ensure ease of use,

multiple access authentications will have to be implemented
in a seamless manner
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 Elements of Reliable Attribute
Available: Cloud users should expect high service availability.

Responsive: cloud consumers should want the cloud services

to have high degree of performance.

Consistent: A cloud service should exhibit the same

functionality under every situation.

Transparency: The cloud service providers service policies

and technology should be transparent to the cloud consumer
organization.
Organizational users should have virtual access, as needed, to the
cloud datacenter and have details about the cloud platforms
capabilities and planned changes.

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 Elements of Secure Attribute
Security: Cloud users expect the cloud be resistant to attacks
from unauthorized users, other cloud services, malicious
software and attacks on cloud hardware and Internet
network. Also the users expect to be protected from threats
coming from the cloud

Privacy: Cloud users expect the cloud service can prevent

leakage of data that compromises end users private data like
personal information, financial accounts, geo-location (if not
desired by the user) etc.

Identity Management (authorization): The cloud service

shouldnt allow unauthorized users to access user data or
execute any process

Trust: The user must have confidence in the cloud system

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 Elements of Valuable Attribute
Savings: cost savings, resource savings.

User satisfaction: The user satisfaction measure

should be high.

Utility: provide new features that are better than

with any other IT setup.
Distributed computing with large datasets (Big
Data)
Mobile / pervasive computing.

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Thank You

Brian.stanton@nist.gov

Mary.theofanos@nist.gov

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