Supporting Infrastructure as a Service Capacity Management through Business Scenarios SimulationSupporting Infrastructure as a Service Capacity Management through Business Scenarios Simulation

Abstract

Managing cloud services is a challenging activity. In an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) provider, maintaining service capacity at a level that meets business demands and drives profitability for the provider requires the support of models and tools. This work presents a model based on systems dynamics and multi-criteria decision-making theories, to estimate the serviceability in the delivery of IaaS services. The model allows simulations of business scenarios to support decisions that involve multiple criteria and that favor the achievement of the strategic objectives of IaaS providers in their capacity management activities. We proceeded a case study in a Brazilian IaaS provider and results indicated that the model contributed to better align management actions with the IaaS provider's business objectives through performance monitoring estimates, management behaviors and suggested decisions.