Cloud Dimensions for Requirements Specification

Abstract

Cloud computing is a business paradigm that changes the way to eval- uate information systems and computing resources. Cloud requirements can rapidly change and new service capabilities are often requested in order to adapt to new business scenarios. The existing works are generally focused in a limited number of requirements and capabilities. The aim of this contribution is to understand the multifaceted components of a service and to give guidelines towards requirements engineering for cloud computing. Thus, cloud services are analyzed by different aspects called dimensions and five dimensions are proposed (i.e., Contractual, Financial, Compliance, Operation, and Technical). Cloud dimensions are graphi- cally presented in conceptual models, because each dimension has specific entities, properties, and relationships. Different specialists and experts may be requested to evaluate particular dimensions in the service level agreement and cloud service adoption, and this approach can guide those activities, support requirements specification, and guide system analysis for cloud computing.