Ethical Hacking Essentials Practice Test

In the NIST cloud deployment reference architecture, which entity acts as an intermediary providing connectivity and transport services?

1. Cloud Auditor

2. Cloud Carrier

3. Cloud Consumer

4. Cloud Service Provider

The correct answer is: Cloud Carrier

The entity that acts as an intermediary providing connectivity and transport services in the NIST cloud deployment reference architecture is the Cloud Carrier. Cloud Carriers are responsible for the underlying transport and network infrastructure that connects consumers and providers of cloud services. They facilitate communication between the cloud service provider and the cloud consumer, ensuring that data is transmitted securely and efficiently. This role is essential as it allows different cloud environments to interoperate and provides the physical means through which information is transmitted over various networks. The focus is on the delivery and transportation aspects of cloud services, making Cloud Carriers crucial for maintaining robust and reliable connectivity between all parties involved in cloud computing. Other entities, while important in their roles, do not serve this specific purpose. For example, the Cloud Auditor is involved in compliance and verification processes, the Cloud Consumer is the end-user who accesses cloud services, and the Cloud Service Provider delivers the actual cloud services. However, none of these entities provide the intermediary functionality that the Cloud Carrier does.