A MULTI-CLOUD GOVERNANCE PROTOCOL: ENSURING DATA COMPLIANCE, SECURITY, AND AUTOMATED POLICY ENFORCEMENT

Abstract

Multi-cloud strategies have become a cornerstone of modern enterprise infrastructure, with organizations leveraging multiple cloud service providers to enhance availability, mitigate vendor lock-in, and optimize performance. However, this distributed approach introduces complex governance challenges, including compliance with global regulations, data localization requirements, encryption mandates, and retention policies. This article presents a comprehensive protocol for multi-cloud data governance, incorporating a policy-definition framework, automated orchestration layer, and verification methodology. By encoding governance rules in a domain-specific language and enforcing them through software-based orchestration, organizations can maintain continuous compliance and security at scale. The protocol includes detailed designs for data location management, retention controls, and privacy enforcement, supported by cryptographic proofs and blockchain-based attestations. Case studies from healthcare and finance sectors demonstrate the protocol's practical implementation and effectiveness. The resulting framework provides a robust solution for automated, policy-driven governance that adapts to evolving regulatory requirements while maintaining operational efficiency.