= Measured service
<Measured service> is the cloud-computing characteristic in which resource use is monitored, controlled and reported through metering appropriate to the service. Examples include processor-hours, <bytes>[stored bytes], network transfer and active accounts. Metering makes usage visible to the provider and consumer; it does not require one universal billing formula.<The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing by Peter Mell and Timothy Grance>[§2, Measured service]{ref}
For example, a batch of simulations can record the number of machine-hours consumed independently of the number of simulations completed. A failed run may still consume resources. Selecting a meaningful unit therefore requires distinguishing allocated capacity, elapsed use and delivered work. These measurements support accounting and capacity decisions without by themselves measuring the scientific value or correctness of the results.
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