The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing

Mell, Peter; Grance, Tim

doi:https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-145

SP 800-145

The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing

Documentation Topics

Date Published: September 2011

Author(s)

Peter Mell (NIST), Tim Grance (NIST)

Abstract

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. This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.

Keywords

Cloud Computing; SaaS; PaaS; IaaS; On-demand Self Service; Reserve Pooling; Rapid Elasticity; Measured Service; Software as a Service; Platform as a Service; Infrastructure as a Service

Control Families

None selected

Documentation

Publication:
SP 800-145 (DOI)
Local Download

Supplemental Material:
SP 800-145 (EPUB) (txt)
Press Release (other)

Related NIST Publications:
SP 500-325

Document History:
09/28/11: SP 800-145 (Final)

Topics

Security and Privacy
planning

Technologies
cloud & virtualization

Laws and Regulations
Federal Information Security Modernization Act; OMB Circular A-130