In short
A Virtual Cloud Operator (VCO) is a service provider that offers cloud services using infrastructure from a Cloud Enabler. VCOs focus on customer relationships, branding, and managed services while avoiding the complexity and cost of building their own infrastructure.
General definition
Virtual Cloud Operator role (inspired by MVNO in telecom):
- Brand ownership: Offers services under their own brand
- Customer relationships: Manages customer accounts and contracts
- Service packaging: Creates pricing and service offerings
- Market focus: Focuses on sales, support, and managed services
- No infrastructure: Uses Cloud Enaber’s physical infrastructure
VCO in whitesky
In whitesky, a VCO receives:
Platform access
- Fully branded cloud portal
- Isolated tenant environments
- Full API access
- Multi-tenancy infrastructure
Business capabilities
- Independent pricing control
- Custom service catalogs
- Customer billing and invoicing
- Reseller onboarding
Support ecosystem
- Federation with other partners
- Capacity sharing options
- Cross-location services
- whitesky platform updates
VCO typically focuses on
- Customer acquisition and relationships
- Vertical-specific solutions
- Managed services and support
- Compliance and consultancy
Cloud Enabler vs Virtual Cloud Operator
| Responsibility | Cloud Enabler | VCO |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware & datacenter | Yes | No |
| Network & connectivity | Yes | No |
| Platform operation | Yes (with whitesky) | No |
| Tenant isolation & security | Yes | No |
| Branding & go-to-market | No | Yes |
| Customer contracts | No | Yes |
| Pricing & packaging | No | Yes |
| Managed services | No | Yes |
Related concepts
- Cloud Enabler - The complementary role
- Cloud Enabler / VCO Model - Full model description
Learn more
Visit the Cloud Enabler / VCO Model page for a complete description of the model.