Certifications of cloud services are frequently discussed as decision support instruments and are a key action of the recently published European Union’s cloud computing strategy. However, cloud service certifications are currently still under development and the effect of cloud service certifications on users’ selection decisions yet remains unclear. This article provides an overview of the current certification environment in cloud computing, presents recommendations for designing effective cloud service certifications and shows potential for further research and development. The recommendations may be used by cloud service certification providers to improve their certifications and by cloud service users and providers to assess cloud services and cloud service certifications.
