Cloud Service Level Agreements Explained

Cloud computing is the delivery of on-demand computing resources and services over the internet on a pay-for-use basis. We examine the key components of cloud service level agreements (SLAs), which govern acceptable service delivery and satisfactory customer usage of cloud computing services.

From a technology perspective, one of the key components of the European Commission's 'Europe 2020' vision is the digital economy. In 2014, a Cloud Select Industry Group sub-group published standardised guidelines for cloud computing service level agreements (SLAs) between cloud service providers and business customers. In July 2016, the SLALOM cloud computing initiative – building on this earlier work – delivered the final version of its model contractual terms and SLAs for cloud computing. SLALOM describes itself as a "major step forward for the cloud industry, promising to lower the barriers to entry for SME cloud providers and make it easier for end users to safely migrate to