A Conceptual Framework for Accountability in Cloud Computing Service Provision

TL;DR

This paper reviews literature to identify four essential factors—responsibility, assurance, transparency, and remediation—that determine accountability in cloud computing service providers.

Contribution

It introduces a conceptual framework highlighting four key factors necessary for accountability in cloud service provision.

Findings

All four factors must be implemented and demonstrable for accountability.

Responsibility, assurance, transparency, and remediation are critical for accountability.

Organizations need to actively demonstrate these factors to be considered accountable.

Abstract

This paper uses a comprehensive review of the academic and professional literature in relation to accountability in the area of cloud computing service provision. It identifies four key conceptual factors that are necessary for an organisation to be considered as accountable. The four factors were found to be: responsibility, assurance, transparency and remediation. A key finding of the paper is that in order to be considered as an accountable cloud service provider, all four factors need to be implemented and be demonstrable by the organisation.