A Systematic Mapping Study of Architectural Models for Achieving Utility in the Cloud

Cloud computing is an important model that allows for information exchange between the various aspects of the Cloud using different service types and models. The issue of deciding a specific research scopemostly in terms of architectural models used in achieving utility in the Cloud, is usually a complex process for a researcher. However, a review or survey paper assists in easily identifying likely topics of research. The objective of this work is to carry out a systematic mapping study of architectural models for achieving utility in the Cloud. A systematic mapping research allows for categorization in a subject area using a scheme based on certain classification process. The scheme used in this paper was categorized into three facets namely: topic, research and contribution facets. The results showed for example that, 30.77% of the papers reviewed on architectural models for achieving utility in Cloud computing are related to evaluation research. The breakdown identified that 5.98% of the evaluation research dealt with design, 6.84% considered applications, 10.26% focused on performance models, 3.42% discussed implementation, 1.71% was on platforms and 2.56% dealt with component models. This study vividly identified gaps in the field of architectural models for achieving utility in the Cloud.This will stimulate interest for advanced studies by both researchers and industry practitioners.