System comprising a cloud storage broker (204; 304; 404; 504) for providing data storage services for a client and a client platform (202; 302; 402; 502), in accordance with a cloud computing model, wherein the client platform (202; 302; 402; 502) is operably connected to the cloud storage broker (204; 304; 404; 504) and a plurality of remote cloud storage platforms (208; 318; 408; 508), wherein the cloud storage broker (204; 304; 404; 504) comprises: a user interface at the cloud storage broker; a cloud storage interface at the cloud storage broker; a memory at the cloud storage broker; and at least one processor operably coupled to the user interface, cloud storage interface and memory, and configured to: • receive a client request for cloud storage services associated with a data item; • in responsive to receiving a client request associated with the data item, generate a first and a second random number by means of a rule generator (316; 410; 510), to facilitate determination of how to divide and/or distribute the data item; choose selected cloud storage platforms of the plurality of remote cloud storage platforms (208; 318; 408; 508) for cloud storage of the data item, wherein each of the selected platforms are to store an allocated portion of the data item; identify a first rule that defines a manner of dividing the data item into a plurality of portions having a size determined using the first random number; identify a second rule, that defines a manner of allocating the plurality of portions among the selected cloud storage platforms, using the second random number to define a number of the selected cloud storage platforms to store the plurality of portions, the first rule and the second rule being identified separately; and communicate indicia of the first and second rules (M, N) to the client platform (202; 302; 402; 502), and wherein the client platform is configured to divide the data item into a plurality of portions, according to the first rule based on the first generated random number, and to allocate the respective portions among the selected cloud storage platforms, according to the second rule based on the second generated random number. a user interface at the cloud storage broker; a cloud storage interface at the cloud storage broker; a memory at the cloud storage broker; and at least one processor operably coupled to the user interface, cloud storage interface and memory, and configured to: • receive a client request for cloud storage services associated with a data item; • in responsive to receiving a client request associated with the data item, • receive a client request for cloud storage services associated with a data item; • in responsive to receiving a client request associated with the data item, generate a first and a second random number by means of a rule generator (316; 410; 510), to facilitate determination of how to divide and/or distribute the data item; choose selected cloud storage platforms of the plurality of remote cloud storage platforms (208; 318; 408; 508) for cloud storage of the data item, wherein each of the selected platforms are to store an allocated portion of the data item; identify a first rule that defines a manner of dividing the data item into a plurality of portions having a size determined using the first random number; identify a second rule, that defines a manner of allocating the plurality of portions among the selected cloud storage platforms, using the second random number to define a number of the selected cloud storage platforms to store the plurality of portions, the first rule and the second rule being identified separately; and communicate indicia of the first and second rules (M, N) to the client platform (202; 302; 402; 502), and wherein the client platform is configured to divide the data item into a plurality of portions, according to the first rule based on the first generated random number, and to allocate the respective portions among the selected cloud storage platforms, according to the second rule based on the second generated random number.