The risk in cloud computing is multifaceted and involves multiple participants. The entire model relies, in fact, on a shared risk model between the providers and the consumers. Enterprises using cloud assume risks as part of an interrelated service ecosystem that may not be controlled by the internal IT department. Traditional risk management design is targeted for low uncertainty environments that have few interconnections. The risk in today's networked world, however, is managed in an environment of high uncertainty and dynamically changing, interconnected systems. Key cloud computing risks include the following:

• Failure to meet financial objectives
• Inability to work within the context of corporate organization and culture
• Unsurmountable difficulties in integrating the cloud services involved
• Inability to comply with legal, contractual, and moral obligations
• Inability to recover from a disaster
• Technically inadequate cloud service
• Inadequate solution quality

A definition for each of your organization's specific risks should be developed and agreed upon at the start of any transition to cloud computing.