Usage-Based Access Control for Cloud Applications

The Cloud technology takes Service Oriented Architecture to the next level, where applications and infrastructure can be outsourced over the internet. It affords flexibility to businesses in terms of the on-demand scalability of services as well as the corresponding payment model. However, these advantages do not make up for the inherent security weaknesses in the Cloud. Among various concerns, Cloud providers struggle to provide adequate authorization mechanisms that would protect customer's critical data. In this regard, Usage Control (UCON) is considered to be the next generation model for digital rights management for all the service models of Cloud. Limited literature work exists on the UCON model; however, new tracks need to be laid out to make this model comply with international standards and policy languages. This chapter provides standardized UCON policy specifications, which will help in the effective development of access control for the Cloud environment.