# Cloud service agreement

Concept · [Business and metrics](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/business)

Also called: CSA, cloud services agreement, SaaS agreement, SaaS contract, SaaS sales contract

A contract between a company that sells [cloud](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/cloud) software and a business that buys it. It covers access to the product, fees, use of the customer's data, confidentiality, liability and how either side can end it. [Common Paper](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/common-paper) publishes a free, standard template for this (Cloud Service Agreement).

**For example:** A startup selling scheduling software to a group of clinics sends a cloud service agreement, with an [order form](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/order-form) that lists 40 users and the yearly fee.

## Connects to (8)

- [SaaS](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/saas): Software as a service.
- [Order form](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/order-form): A short document that records one purchase under a contract already in place: what the customer buys, how many users or units, the fees…
- [Uptime](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/uptime): The share of time a service is working and reachable.
- [Data processing agreement](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/data-processing-agreement): A contract that says how a service provider may handle personal data for its customer: what it may do with the data, how it keeps the data…
- [Master services agreement](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/master-services-agreement): A contract that sets the general terms between a client and a provider once (payment, ownership of the work, confidentiality, liability)…
- [Common Paper](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/common-paper): A contract company for startups that publishes free, standard agreements anyone may use and modify, along with software for sending…
- [AI addendum](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/ai-addendum): An add-on to a software contract for a product that uses AI.
- [Contract amendment](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/contract-amendment): A short signed document that changes, adds to or clarifies the terms of a contract already in place, without replacing the whole contract.

> This glossary is plain-language orientation, not legal or financial advice. Before you decide on a company structure, a contract, taxes or a fundraising deal, talk with a lawyer or an accountant.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/cloud-service-agreement