**5.2 Pre-agreed contracts with fog providers**

This deployment model generates pre-agreed contracts with operators of specific FNs—negotiated at a set price. Hence, there would be a preferential selection of particular nodes by a user if multiple choices are found. This also reduces user risks, as security credentials would be included in these pre-agreed contracts and could be configured (e.g., use of particular encryption keys) beforehand. These pre-agreed contracts must comply with service-level objectives (e.g., an availability profile) that an operator needs to meet. It is, therefore, possible that a fog node operator will outsource their task to a Cloud provider. The incentive for the provider is to increase the number of potential subscribers by developing pre-agreed contracts. Capacity planning associated with such FNs depends on accurately predicting potential future demand. In this case, the deployment model involves agreeing to a cost for entering into a contract with a Fog provider. This contract also provides preferential access to the provider's fog nodes.
