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The existing competition between the big service providers of cloud computing has made the service incompatible. Current provided solutions by these vendors are not really compatible with each other [10], as they tend to lock in existing customers into their provided services or infrastructure, and prevent data or software portability [11]. In addition, dominant vendors are not willing to accept the common standards, which ultimately results in incompatible platforms [12], which again increases the lock-in effect. This greatly prevents many small and medium businesses from entering the cloud market. The European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) and European Commission states that the vendor lock-in problem is a high risk that cloud infrastructures are facing [13]. It can be said that cloud compatibility is the solution for this problem, which will not only improve this situation but also benefit both consumers and providers.

Cloud compatibility can provide customers with freedom to select the appropriate service for their businesses. It allows them to compare existing offerings and evaluate their functionalities and features. It will also allow businesses to easily switch between cloud providers without unnecessary settings and formalities, as well as risking applications on the existing cloud. Moreover, it will provide opportunities for SMEs by opening an exchangeable cloud market, though this may lead to the problem of incompatible solutions due to the varying standards and frameworks that cloud services might be operating in. To avoid this issue, researchers and scientists need to come together and propose a set of principles that all providers and solutions can follow [14].