Objectives

A4Cloud has four interlocking objectives to bring users, providers, and regulators together in chains of accountability for data in the cloud, clarifying liability and providing greater transparency overall:

• Enable cloud service providers to give their users appropriate control and transparency over how their data is used: A4Cloud will develop tools that enable cloud service providers to give their users appropriate control and transparency over how their data is used, confidence that their data is handled according to their expectations and is protected in the cloud, delivering increased levels of accountability to their customers

• Enable users to make choices about how cloud service providers may use and will protect data in the cloud: A4Cloud will create tools that enable cloud end users to make choices about how cloud service providers may use and will protect data in the cloud, and be better informed about the risks, consequences, and implementation of those choices.

• Monitor and check compliance with users’ expectations, business policies, and regulations: A4Cloud will develop tools to monitor and check compliance with users’ expectations, business policies and regulations.

• Implement accountability ethically and effectively: A4Cloud will develop recommendations and guidelines for how to achieve accountability for the use of data by cloud services, addressing commercial, legal, regulatory and end user concerns and ensuring that technical mechanisms work to support them