Cloud Provider #

An entity that provides cloud computing services. Providers may offer its services directly to Consumers or do so through a third party, such as an Intermediary Provider or Broker. See also Broker, Intermediary Provider, and Primary Provider.

Source: NIST Cloud Computing Security Reference Architecture

Cloud Consumer #

An organization that uses, or consumes, cloud services. Cloud Consumers are ultimately responsible for ensuring the security and compliance of the cloud services they use.

Source: NIST Cloud Computing Security Reference Architecture

CloudSocket Provider #

Organization installing, executing and managing a CloudSocket instance on a given owned or rented (i.e. cloud-based) infrastructure under its own control.

A CloudSocket Provider is paid by the Customers, and pays the ExternalService Providers. 

FHOSTER refers to CloudSocket Provider as 'Cloud Socket Instance Provider'

External Service Provider #

Organization installing, executing and managing a WS Instance on a given infrastructure under its own control. An External Service Provider autonomously defines a SLA for the External Service; He is responsible to fulfill such SLA, and is paid according to the usage of the External Service he provides.

FHOSTER refers to External Service Provider as 'Service Instance Provider'