SLAM: A framework for SLA management in multicloud ecosystem using blockchain

Abstract

The shift towards cloud marketplaces and API-centric services is enabling enterprises to rapidly develop and deliver their IT solutions and services. Enterprises are increasingly adopting a multicloud approach to leverage the latest innovations and unique capabilities of different cloud providers. This is resulting in multicloud systems that utilize independent services, which in turn may be dependent on other services. Clients rely on Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to ensure a minimum quality of service. However, monitoring service quality becomes difficult in a multi-level and multi-provider system due to decentralized control and lack of visibility in the entire system hierarchy. SLA violations often go undetected as multicloud systems lack automated means to monitor SLAs and conduct root cause analysis of violations. We propose SLAM, an autonomous and trusted framework for continuous SLA monitoring in a multicloud ecosystem. It is based on blockchain and leverages smart contracts to detect SLA violations and determine their root cause across the hierarchical system structure.