Establishing trust within a cloud computing system

A method for execution by an authentication server comprises:

• establishing trust with one or more devices of a set of devices based on a unique device level server trusted certificate of the authentication server, wherein the set of devices includes the one or more devices having a common aspect;
• and
• establishing trust with a cloud system managing unit based on at least one of:
• a unique system level server trusted certificate of the authentication server and a system level manager trusted certificate of the cloud system managing unit;
• wherein the cloud system managing unit and the one or more devices of the set of devices establish trust therebetween based on the trust between the authentication server and the one or more devices of the set of devices and the trust between the authentication server and the cloud system managing unit;
• and
• wherein the cloud system managing unit configures a cloud computing system that includes the authentication server, the set of devices, and the cloud system managing unit, wherein the configuring is based on the trust between the cloud system managing unit and the one or more devices of the set of devices, and wherein the configuring includes facilitating subsequent operation of a device of the one or more devices of the set of devices in accessing another set of devices of the cloud computing system using a signed certificate from the cloud system managing unit.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by a processing module that includes a processor and a memory, causes the processing module to:
• establish trust with one or more devices of a set of devices based on a unique device level server trusted certificate of an authentication server, wherein the set of devices includes the one or more devices having a common aspect;
• and
• establish trust with a cloud system managing unit based on at least one of:
• a unique system level server trusted certificate of the authentication server and a system level manager trusted certificate of the cloud system managing unit;
• wherein the cloud system managing unit and the one or more devices of the set of devices establish trust therebetween based on the trust between the authentication server and the one or more devices of the set of devices and the trust between the authentication server and the cloud system managing unit;
• and
• wherein the cloud system managing unit configures a cloud computing system that includes the authentication server, the set of devices, and the cloud system managing unit, wherein the configuring is based on the trust between the cloud system managing unit and the one or more devices of the set of devices, and wherein the configuring includes facilitating subsequent operation of a device of the one or more devices of the set of devices in accessing another set of devices of the cloud computing system using a signed certificate from the cloud system managing unit.