The Cloud Federation Stack and Third-Party Cloud Integration
To allow completely different cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, private OpenStack clouds) to communicate and trade computing capacity, engineers use a standardized Cloud Federation Stack.
1. Layers of the Cloud Federation Stack
The 4-Layer Cloud Federation Stack
Layer 4Application & Service Management Layer
Cross-cloud workflow engines, multi-cloud deployment tools
Layer 3Federation Brokerage & Negotiation Layer
Matches buyer requests with seller bids, negotiates cross-cloud SLAs
Layer 2Virtual Resource Management Layer
Converts VM images (e.g., AWS AMI to Azure VHD), provisions cross-cloud storage
Layer 1Physical Resource & Interconnect Layer
High-speed dedicated fiber trunks (DirectConnect, ExpressRoute) between data centers
2. Third-Party Services: Cloud Brokers and Aggregators
When an enterprise uses 3 or 4 different cloud providers at the same time, managing individual bills and accounts becomes a nightmare. Third-party intermediaries solve this:
1. Cloud Service Broker
- Acts as a consultant or automated software agent that negotiates contracts, compares pricing between AWS and Azure, and picks the most cost-effective provider for each workload.
- Analogy: PolicyBazaar comparing 20 different car insurance policies to find you the cheapest and best coverage!
2. Cloud Aggregator
- Combines multiple separate cloud services into a single unified dashboard or bundle.
- Example: A platform that packages AWS virtual servers + SendGrid email service + Stripe payment gateway + Twilio SMS into one turnkey business package with a single combined monthly invoice.
💡 DAVV Exam Tip
Question (5 Marks): “Draw and explain the Cloud Federation Stack. What is the role of a Cloud Broker?”
- Draw the 4-layer stack diagram shown above.
- Explain the role of the Cloud Broker using the PolicyBazaar comparison analogy.