1. Apparatus for providing data storage services for a client, in accordance with a cloud computing model wherein a client platform is operably connected to a cloud storage broker and a plurality of remote cloud storage platforms, the apparatus at the cloud storage broker comprising: a user interface; a cloud storage interface; a memory; and at least one processor operably coupled to the user interface, cloud storage interface and memory and configured to: (a) receive a client request for cloud storage services associated with a data item; (b) choose selected cloud storage platforms of the plurality of remote cloud storage platforms for cloud storage of the data item, wherein each of the selected platforms are to store an allocated portion of the data item; (c) identify a first rule that defines a manner of dividing the data item into a plurality of portions, the plurality of portions corresponding in number with the plurality of selected cloud storage platforms; (d) identify a second rule that defines a manner of allocating the respective portions among the selected cloud storage platforms; and (e) communicate indicia of the first and second rules to the client, thereby enabling the client to divide the data item into portions according to the first rule and to allocate the respective portions among the selected cloud storage platforms according to the second rule.