What is a possible negative outcome of a poorly negotiated cloud service contract?

A poorly negotiated cloud service contract can lead to various negative outcomes, but the most concerning ramifications are often related to unfavorable terms. When terms are not properly negotiated, organizations may find themselves bound by conditions that do not serve their best interests, which can compromise their operational flexibility, security, and governance.

Unfavorable terms in a contract can include issues such as excessive fees for services, lack of clarity on data ownership, limited rights in the event of a data breach, or inadequate service level agreements. These terms can significantly impact an organization’s ability to scale, respond to changing business needs, or exit the agreement without incurring substantial penalties or costs.

Regarding the other choices, while lack of necessary services can be a concern and vendor lock-in can complicate future migrations, these issues often stem from unfavorable terms. Malware is typically an outcome of security vulnerabilities rather than a direct result of contract negotiations, making it less relevant in this context. Thus, the most direct negative outcome of a poorly negotiated cloud service contract often manifests through unfavorable terms that can adversely affect the business's strategy and operational capabilities.