Which NIST Cloud Role Provides Connectivity and Transport Services?

312-50v12 By islever Editorial Last updated

Cloud Computing

Short answer

D The cloud carrier is the NIST entity that provides connectivity and transport services between cloud consumers and cloud providers.

Question

According to the NIST cloud deployment reference architecture, which of the following provides connectivity and transport services to consumers?
  1. Cloud connector
  2. Cloud broker
  3. Cloud provider
  4. Cloud carrier Correct Answer

Key Takeaways

This item tests NIST's separation of cloud carrier (transport) from broker (service intermediation) and provider (service delivery), and the trap is assuming any intermediary role handles connectivity.

NIST's cloud reference architecture assigns connectivity and transport services to the cloud carrier, distinct from the broker and provider roles. This page confirms why option D is correct and why the other NIST actors do not own transport.

Common mistake: Choosing cloud broker because it sounds like the middleman that connects parties; in NIST terms the broker negotiates and manages service delivery, while the carrier owns connectivity and transport.

Expert Analysis

Why the Answer Is Correct

NIST SP 500-292 defines the cloud carrier as the intermediary that provides connectivity and transport of cloud services between cloud providers and cloud consumers. That is exactly the function named in the question stem: connectivity and transport services to consumers. The carrier is the network-side role, analogous to a telecommunications operator that links the consumer's access network to the provider's service. Therefore option D matches the NIST definition without stretching any other actor's responsibilities.

Why the Other Options Are Wrong

Cloud connector is not one of the NIST cloud reference architecture actors listed for this function; it is a distractor that may echo vendor terms such as a private connector. Cloud broker manages service use, performance and delivery and negotiates relationships, but it does not supply transport. Cloud provider makes cloud services available to consumers and remains accountable for service delivery, yet NIST assigns connectivity and transport to the carrier rather than the provider. Confusing broker or provider with carrier is the main trap because all three are intermediaries to some degree.

Community Comment Notes

shaody's comment aligns with the NIST wording, describing the carrier as providing "connectivity and transport services" between consumers and providers. kinaJ reinforces the distinction by outlining the broker's negotiation role and the provider's service-availability role, which helps eliminate B and C. LordXander cites "CEHv12 - 3060" as the CEH item reference, and insaniunt simply records D, both consistent with the carrier verdict. nosavotor's doubt about the "ethical hacking approach" is not a technical objection to the NIST definition and does not change the answer.

Official Reference

These links open the official vendor documentation in a new tab.

Exam Strategy

Memorize the NIST actor-to-function mapping: carrier equals transport, broker equals service intermediation and negotiation, and provider equals service availability. When a question mentions connectivity, transport, or network operators, eliminate broker and provider immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is cloud broker not the NIST entity for connectivity and transport?

The broker manages service use, performance, delivery and provider-consumer relationships; transport is assigned to the cloud carrier.

What distinguishes cloud carrier from cloud provider in NIST?

The provider makes services available, while the carrier supplies the connectivity and transport that deliver them to consumers.

More 312-50v12 FAQ →

Community Votes

D
100%

100% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.

Discussion 5 contributions

Compiled from public community threads and reader submissions, lightly edited for clarity. Handles and vote tallies are shown as recorded, and comments reflect the views of individual contributors.

From public community threads 5

  1. kinaJ 👍 1 Answered D
    Cloud connector: This term is not specifically defined in the NIST cloud deployment reference architecture. Cloud broker: This entity manages the use, performance, and delivery of cloud services, and negotiates relationships between Cloud Providers and Cloud Consumers. Cloud provider: This entity makes one or more cloud services available to consumers. They are responsible for making a service available to interested parties. Cloud carrier: This entity provides connectivity and transport of cloud services from Cloud Providers to Cloud Consumers. They act as the intermediary that provides the necessary networking and transport for cloud services to be delivered.
  2. shaody 👍 1 Answered D
    Cloud carrier - An intermediary for providing connectivity and transport services between cloud consumers and providers
  3. nosavotor 👍 1
    Im a bit hesitant about the effectiveness of this ethical hacking approach
  4. LordXander 👍 2 Answered D
    CEHv12 - 3060
  5. insaniunt 👍 1 Answered D
    D. Cloud carrier

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Comprehensive Network Scanning Sequence

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NetBIOS Enumeration on IPv6 Networks

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Ethical Hacker Liability and Organizational Risk Acceptance

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Least Likely Social Engineering Method Based on Footprinting Data

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